Imaging during Sunrise/Sunset

[NickRose2006]

I've always been seeing amazing Sunrise/Sunset photos on Spaceweather.com but wondered how some of the photographers take these pictures with a unfiltered lens. I thought taking pictures with a unfiltered lens would damage the camera sensor.

[King]

There is always a risk but at the golden hour (sunrise/sunset) longer wavelengths are emitted which are less dangerous. The number one trick I think is to point to one side so the camera isn't directly pointed at the Sun. You can always center itvia cropping afterwards.

Using a non-magnifying lens would help too.

Recently I've taken to equipping my 1000D with my eclipse shades so that's much safer. The results aren't half bad; even caught that huge sunspot region last session!