Beach baby: Ocean photography tips you shouldn’t miss

Beaches offer boundless opportunities for photographers – hobbyists and professionals alike – to explore the beauty, colors, and light of nature. Coupled with people, other nature elements such as sand and mountains, and sometimes even an urban backdrop, beaches can produce the best photos ever, says photographer Jim Feldkamp.

Image source: Pixabay.com 
Beaches can also pose a number of challenges, from the potential damage of water to the camera to unforeseen circumstances in huge, open spaces.  Here are some ocean photography tips to consider when shooting in this location.

Play with colors: Colors have an important role in the mood of a given scene, and as a photographer you can play with colors to achieve your desired mood for the photo. Attain feelings of joys and optimism through warm hues or get a feeling of calm and even sadness with cold shades.

Have a sense of timing: When shooting at the beach, the start and end of every day are the most ideal time. At these times there are thinner crowds, the sun shines or sets with often marvelous effects, and there’s a play of colors and shadows.

Image source: Pixabay.com 
Go for action shots: Capture action through continuous (burst) shooting mode for multiple shots, where you can hold down the shutter button for as long as you want. Burst mode ups your chance of getting your desired beach shot. Remember a few things, though, such as avoiding harsh shadows from the bright sun and keeping the ocean horizon in the background straight.

Create silhouettes: Jim Feldkamp also suggests taking backlight photos, particularly when the sun is close to the horizon. Silhouettes are a no-fail source of drama, and you just need to place your subject between your camera and the sun.

Jim Feldkamp hails from San Francisco, California, and enjoys photography and outdoor recreation. More musings from Jim on this page.

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