Once on location, a live compass confirms the sun is actually where the plan expected — useful when a building's real surroundings (trees, neighbouring structures) weren't fully visible from planning at home.
Check the live compass against the planned facade before setting up a tripod, to confirm current light matches the plan.
Recheck periodically during a longer session, since the sun's position shifts meaningfully over 20-30 minutes.
Tips for this niche
Useful for last-minute repositioning if an unexpected obstruction — scaffolding, a tree in leaf — blocks the planned shooting angle.
Cross-check against the moon's position too for a twilight shot where a well-placed moon can add visual interest above the building.
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This topic is covered in depth in Lesson 4: Architecture & Interiors.
Example scenario
Arriving at a planned vantage point, the live compass shows the sun sitting slightly further along than expected due to a later-than-planned start — prompting a quick repositioning to recover the intended facade lighting before it shifts further.
Common mistakes
Not accounting for site changes since planning. construction, seasonal foliage or new structures can change what was visible when the shoot was originally planned — a live check on location catches this.
Setting up once and not rechecking as the session continues. over a 20-30 minute session, the sun's position shifts enough to matter for a precisely planned composition — recheck rather than assuming the initial setup stays valid.
FAQ
Why check the sun's position live if it was already planned?
Site conditions like scaffolding, seasonal foliage or a later-than-planned start can shift what actually works on the day — a live check confirms the plan still holds before committing to a shooting position.