Beach Photography - Tips that Work
Beach Photography
When it comes to taking your camera to the beach, many photographers simply don’t. After-all, it’s long been said that all beach photos look the same, right?
The idea that all beach shots look the same, and therefore are worthless, simply isn’t true. A well taken beach photograph can make an excellent image, and learning the art of beach photography will help you in your quest to improve your photo business. With a simple knowledge of how to find that shot, and then how to capture the image, you’ll soon be dispelling the myth that beach photography isn’t worth the time.
Finding a Beach Photography Opportunity
To begin with you need to know how to find a good opportunity on the beach. One of the biggest problems with beach photography is that a beach consists of wide open spaces. The beach, the horizon, and the water in between, can make for a somewhat boring shot. This problem can be overcome in 3 easy steps.
1. Find an Opportunity - The most important thing to great beach photography is simply understanding that your photos shouldn’t be all beach and horizon. Find a focal point for your image; a cliff, people, objects, buildings, or a moored boat are just a few examples of focal points that may work well.
2. Take Advantage of Shadows - Going to the beach in the early morning, or early evening, will allow you to take advantage of offset lighting. This type of lighting creates more shadows which can add interesting elements to your beach shot.
3. Pay Attention to the Horizon – The last thing you need to do is pay attention to the horizon in your shot. If you image does capture part of the horizon, be sure to keep it square. A slightly tilted horizon will end up giving your image an offset look. Watch the horizon and plan for it in your shot before taking the actual image.
Tips for Beach Photography
Now that you have a great photo op, it’s time to talk about the image itself. Most beaches are quite bright, and thus require some simple techniques to ensure you don’t end up with underexposed images. You may want to turn auto-modes off on your camera altogether and setup the shot yourself.
At the very least you should pay attention to, and try, the following.
* Exposure Bracketing - Many beach shots will end up either overexposed, or underexposed. To compensate simply decide which element of you want exposed and focus on that. If your auto-mode shot is off, use exposure bracketing on your camera to compensate.
* Spot Metering - If your camera is capable of spot metering, use it to your advantage. Focus on the part of the image you want exposed properly, and use spot metering to expose the shot. This will ensure the subject is clear and crisp in your image.
* Filling in with the Flash - If your finding that it is difficult to properly expose the shot, try filling in with the flash. With bright backgrounds, it can be difficult to remove the shadows, etc, from facial shots. Use your flash to fill in the lighting and compensate for the very-bright background.
* Filters – Another way to add to your photos is with lens filters. Using UV filters and Polarizing filters can make it both easier to take the shot, and make the image itself more interesting.
Beach photography is really just about learning to see opportunity for a stunning photo. Using the tips in this article you should be ready to get started. So what are you waiting for? Grab your swim gear, your camera, and run out and enjoy a day at the beach!
