The quiet hour before a gathering opens is its own picture, and almost nobody shoots it. Vehicles unloading, covers coming off, stalls going up, the nervous checks, the calm before the crowd. The reveal of a cover being pulled back is a gift.

Where it works: car shows (cloths coming off the paintwork), markets (traders setting up in the half-light), fairs, fetes — any event with a build-up.

Best time: the first hour, or before official opening if you can get in.

Look for: the cover coming off, the empty aisles, the participants relaxed and unperformed before the public arrives. The light is usually lower and cleaner too.