Is it possible to tell the difference between photographs of dusk and photographs of dawn?

Question

Two friends were recently arguing over what is more beautiful, dusk or dawn. Then I started thinking that aside from the fact that at dawn the sun is rising over time, and thus the darkness is decreasing (and viceversa at dusk), still images of each should not be essentially different, and a viewer could not tell the difference, aside from clues in these images such as clocks or human activity, which is more active at dusk.

So, two images of a country-side landscape, one at dusk and one at dawn should not be any different, or is there some physical difference in the lighting conditions at both times?

Other way of seeing this question is: take a video of dusk filmed by a stationary camera. Take this video and play it backwards. Can I claim is a filming of a dawn? (assuming no birds or other animals are seen flying/walking backwards)

Answer 1

you can tell by the shadows in the picture. the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, casting shadows in different directions at dawn and dusk.

Answer 2

In snow country, snow will stay longer in the shadows (north side of feature casting shadow).  Moss on trees grows on the north side too.

Landmarks may help.

Natually this is all useless if one also has to consider pictures taken in the southern hemisphere or between the tropics of cancer and capricorn.

Look for bats leaving caves.  More bats per unit time leave at sunset than return at sunrise in the same time.

Some plants may have afternoon flowers.

There still may be dew on leaves, grass and other surfaces a sunrise.

In a digital world, look at the timestamp digital image

Answer 3

There is no difference. Photographers often want to shoot in the early morning or late afternoon to get a certain soft lighting - a warm golden glow.

You're right, the only way you can tell is if there's a building or landmark that would give you an idea (due to where the shadows fall), but since you're talking about a landscape, someone who didn't know the area would have no idea whether you shot in early morning or late afternoon.

Your final question is not clear. Why would playing a video backwards - whether dawn or dusk - be any different than playing it forward? Or is this a philosophical question?

Answer 4

ya but now accurately..

dawn is usually red color u can see properly....

but the dusk is usually colored by violet... but its now alwayz the same at all the places but i find this at most of the places..