(And while it’s possible to handle this problem through careful exposure – see the previous tip – flash will give you a more balanced photo.) This is an especially important technique when shooting into the sun if you photograph without a flash, you risk turning your subject into a silhouette. The flash will add a bit of fill light to your subject, reducing the harsh highlight-shadow contrast, and you’ll get a much more pleasing result. Just activate your on-camera flash, then let it fire! (If your camera doesn’t have a pop-up flash, you can always bring an external flash and mount it to your hot shoe.) These can be pretty unflattering, plus they tend to be accompanied by harsh, unpleasant highlights.Īnd while it’s difficult to completely eliminate harsh shadows and highlights when working in direct sunlight, you can easily mitigate them: If you photograph people at the beach on a bright, sunny day, then you’ll often notice heavy shadows on your subjects’ faces and necks (cast by hats, glasses, noses, and chins). That way, even if one of your shots doesn’t look great, you’ll have a very nice backup or two! In other words, take multiple shots of the same scene at slightly different exposure levels (for this, you can either adjust the shutter speed manually or you can use your camera’s exposure compensation option). (I find that I get the best results when I overexpose by a stop or two, but this really depends on the situation.)Īnyway, in addition to the above advice, I highly recommend you bracket your exposures. Simply take a test shot, check the image on your LCD (the histogram can be very helpful, here!), and make any necessary changes to your camera settings. My recommendation is to switch over to your camera’s Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode, both of which allow you to adjust the exposure to compensate for any issues. In fact, beaches are one of those places where camera Auto modes go on the fritz they try to make the sand a neutral gray color, and in the process, they underexpose your entire shot. ![]() Sand reflects light all around and the sun beats down, so you’ll often end up with images that lose detail in the highlights and/or the shadows (due to overexposure and underexposure, respectively). One of the biggest challenges of beach photography is the brightness. ![]() You can also head out in fog or even snow, both of which can look incredible when incorporated into a minimalistic beach composition. Of course, you’ll need to take steps to stay safe, and if rain starts to pour, be sure to protect your camera with a waterproof cover.īut if you’re willing to head out when everyone else heads inside, the photography opportunities are often amazing!īy the way, stormy weather isn’t the only way to capture moody images. The golden hours – that is, the hour or two just after sunrise and the hour or two just before sunset – are some of the absolute best times for beach photography.įor one, there are fewer people at the end of the day, which means you can capture plenty of beach landscapes that don’t feature distracting sunbathers and swimmers.Īnd the golden hours offer amazing light the low sun blankets the beach with lovely warm colors, plus it creates interesting shadows (which can act as a focal point – see the previous tip!). Head to the beach during the golden hours If you can adjust your camera so that the point of interest sits off to one side, your photo will look much more dynamic. A central composition – where the focal point sits smack-dab in the middle of the shot – often looks boring and static. Once you’ve found a focal point, carefully consider where to position it in the frame. Note that a focal point doesn’t need to be big, either even intimate compositions can have focal points, such as a pattern in the sand, a set of footprints, or a crab on a rock. ![]() I often go to the water’s edge and then turn completely around to see what’s in my frame that way, I can see colorful umbrellas, lifeguard stands, interesting buildings, and much more. Include an interesting focal point, something that draws the eye and acts as a compositional anchor.Ī focal point can be anything eye-catching, from boats on the horizon to people splashing in the water to a monumental wave. In other words, before tapping that shutter button, you should think about what is in your frame and how it is positioned.Ĭomposition is a complex topic, but the basic advice is simple: If you want to capture beautiful beach photos, you must pay careful attention to your composition.
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