Beach pictures are one of the most common type captured by photographers. Beaches are commonly the site of family vacations, weddings, honeymoons, intimate getaways, etc. Beaches are beautiful, that is why they are so often photographed. Beaches are also the site of many common photography mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them!
First of all, avoid clichés. You don’t want beach pictures that look the same as every other beach picture out there. Forget the standard sunset shot….buy a postcard for that. Don’t make the mistake of taking a picture of the posed family members with the shadows blocking out their faces.
Look around you. Are there small, unique details that you could capture? Macro photography could fill a whole day at the beach. A beach is an ecosystem all its own, full of life….I will spare you the scientific details…just TRUST me! Capture the small details.
Remember the rule of thirds? And the bit we discussed about framing? Don’t put the horizon line dead center. While it might make sense to you because it is symmetrical, it violates the “rule of thirds.” It’s not a hard and fast rule, but one to be followed in this instance. Be aware of lines when you shoot beach pictures. Cutting your picture in half is not visually pleasing. Place the horizon in the top or bottom third of the picture. Place trees, or other vertical lines in the left or right third of the picture. Use those details to frame out your picture.
Also, try and make sure your horizon line is straight…otherwise what you wind up with is a lopsided looking beach.
Don’t just shoot the beach…try looking for other interesting details that you can take pictures of, and make them your focal point, with the beach doing what it does best…serving as a backdrop.
Unique still life images are great too. An empty beach chare, a bottle of suntan lotion, a surfboard propped against a tree…these are all interesting pictures.
Lighting is important! Avoid shooting directly at the sun, and try to avoid shooting pictures when the sun is directly overhead. The only time the sun should be behind your subject (camera facing the sun) is when you want a drastic silhouette.