Stock photos via Dreamstime.com
The sun, the sand, the pristine water – a good beach vacation is something we all crave. So, when we do end up going on a much-deserved beach vacation, we want to capture the best beach photos, don’t we?
Capturing the beauty of the crashing sea waves, the glow of the sand, and the picturesque scenery is no easy task. We often find that the sight in front of us is much prettier than what we have been able to capture with our cameras, despite multiple attempts.
No need to fret – here are the top tips to help you click the best photos on your next beach vacation that will surely make all your friends really jealous:
Read up on your camera
While this may sound like a very simple thing to do, it can make a world of a difference knowing what your camera’s capabilities are. Know what each button on your camera is capable of doing and take the time to understand how to switch between different settings.
Learn about framing a shot
On the beach, we always wish to preserve the stunning contrast of the sun, sand and surf. In order to translate that onto a picture, understand the basics of framing a shot, such as the rule of thirds. Per the rule of thirds, one should place the subject in either the right or left third of the frame. This can result in beautiful and well-balanced shots.
Go for Golden Hour shots
Don’t we all love to watch the sunrises and sunsets when at the beach? Well, so does the camera. Make the most of that soft natural light and redder sky. Pictures clicked during Golden Hour, which is the time shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset, tend to be less overexposed.
Invest in a tripod
A good tripod can make capturing images of moving objects such as the sea and waves easy. It will also ensure that your images are sharp, focused and not blurry. Tripods can also be very useful to make soothing time-lapses of the crashing waves, setting/rising sun, etc.
Search for the correct focal point
Sometimes the simple reason our pictures at the beach don’t turn out the way we want them to is simply that we have chosen the wrong focal point. For example, as an amateur photographer, you are almost certain to fail while taking pictures of the crashing waves even though they look absolutely stunning to you. The reason behind this is that your shot does not have a well-defined focal point. Look for a beautiful seashell on the beach, a funny-looking cloud in the sky, and notice the difference in your pictures.
Early (or super late) bird catches the best pictures
We all want to get those grand, picturesque shots of the sea, sun and sand, and we all want the beach to be absolutely empty for us! Well, you have to make that happen – hitting the beach really early, or even really late, can do the trick.
Make the most of your smartphone
It is completely wrong to think that only expensive gear and professional cameras can help you capture pictures at the beach. Smartphone cameras have come such a long way, and in so many cases, all you need to click lovely shots is the phone in your hand. Get the most out of your smartphone by playing around with exposure time and ISO. You can also use your phone’s autofocus feature to play around with how the light bounces around in your images.
Look for a new perspective
Some out-of-the-box viewpoints can also elevate your picture game at the beach. Sure those tried-and-tested landscape shots look stunning, but what about trying to capture an interesting shape in the sand? Or perhaps make the focus of your image a funny-looking seashell you just stumbled upon?
A tilted horizon is a big no-no
There are some things that just never work and can, in fact, be a little unsettling in a photo – and one such thing is a tilted horizon. Whatever else you may or may not do while at the beach, try and make sure the horizon in your picture is iron-rod straight. Turn your camera’s gridlines on and just line up that beautiful horizon.
Be bold and try black and white
Even though when we think of a fun day at the beach, our mind is bombarded with light and colors and all shades of blue, do give black and white pictures a shot. This idea can work really well if you want to take some moody, melancholy pictures.
Stock photos via Dreamstime.com
The sun, the sand, the pristine water – a good beach vacation is something we all crave. So, when we do end up going on a much-deserved beach vacation, we want to capture the best beach photos, don’t we?
Capturing the beauty of the crashing sea waves, the glow of the sand, and the picturesque scenery is no easy task. We often find that the sight in front of us is much prettier than what we have been able to capture with our cameras, despite multiple attempts.
No need to fret – here are the top tips to help you click the best photos on your next beach vacation that will surely make all your friends really jealous:
Read up on your camera
While this may sound like a very simple thing to do, it can make a world of a difference knowing what your camera’s capabilities are. Know what each button on your camera is capable of doing and take the time to understand how to switch between different settings.
Learn about framing a shot
On the beach, we always wish to preserve the stunning contrast of the sun, sand and surf. In order to translate that onto a picture, understand the basics of framing a shot, such as the rule of thirds. Per the rule of thirds, one should place the subject in either the right or left third of the frame. This can result in beautiful and well-balanced shots.
Go for Golden Hour shots
Don’t we all love to watch the sunrises and sunsets when at the beach? Well, so does the camera. Make the most of that soft natural light and redder sky. Pictures clicked during Golden Hour, which is the time shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset, tend to be less overexposed.
Invest in a tripod
A good tripod can make capturing images of moving objects such as the sea and waves easy. It will also ensure that your images are sharp, focused and not blurry. Tripods can also be very useful to make soothing time-lapses of the crashing waves, setting/rising sun, etc.
Search for the correct focal point
Sometimes the simple reason our pictures at the beach don’t turn out the way we want them to is simply that we have chosen the wrong focal point. For example, as an amateur photographer, you are almost certain to fail while taking pictures of the crashing waves even though they look absolutely stunning to you. The reason behind this is that your shot does not have a well-defined focal point. Look for a beautiful seashell on the beach, a funny-looking cloud in the sky, and notice the difference in your pictures.
Early (or super late) bird catches the best pictures
We all want to get those grand, picturesque shots of the sea, sun and sand, and we all want the beach to be absolutely empty for us! Well, you have to make that happen – hitting the beach really early, or even really late, can do the trick.
Make the most of your smartphone
It is completely wrong to think that only expensive gear and professional cameras can help you capture pictures at the beach. Smartphone cameras have come such a long way, and in so many cases, all you need to click lovely shots is the phone in your hand. Get the most out of your smartphone by playing around with exposure time and ISO. You can also use your phone’s autofocus feature to play around with how the light bounces around in your images.
Look for a new perspective
Some out-of-the-box viewpoints can also elevate your picture game at the beach. Sure those tried-and-tested landscape shots look stunning, but what about trying to capture an interesting shape in the sand? Or perhaps make the focus of your image a funny-looking seashell you just stumbled upon?
A tilted horizon is a big no-no
There are some things that just never work and can, in fact, be a little unsettling in a photo – and one such thing is a tilted horizon. Whatever else you may or may not do while at the beach, try and make sure the horizon in your picture is iron-rod straight. Turn your camera’s gridlines on and just line up that beautiful horizon.
Be bold and try black and white
Even though when we think of a fun day at the beach, our mind is bombarded with light and colors and all shades of blue, do give black and white pictures a shot. This idea can work really well if you want to take some moody, melancholy pictures.
