GIVE US YOUR SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SITE
We will send you an E-mail every time there is a new article in your favorite section. Sign-Up For ALERTS.

Photo Tips & Techniques

The beach and having fun go hand in hand, therefore wonderful photographic opportunities present themselves. Whether it's a family trip or a day of leisure with your friends, you should always take your camera to preserve the smiles and merriment.

To get good photographs at the beach, certain techniques should be incorporated and specific precautions should be taken. Contrasty light, the danger of water, glare from the sand or swimming areas, and grit all have to be dealt with. Learning how to control the technical aspects to get well lit images along with knowing how to protect your camera against the elements will reward you with successful photographs.

Contrasty light can be tamed by using flash to fill in the deep shadows of the eye sockets, under the chin, and the nose. Flash was used in the shot of the boy laying in the water to add light under the brim of the hat that would otherwise have created a dark shadow across his face. If you're using a point and shoot with a built in flash, get close to your subject so the flash can impact the scene. If you have a powerful auxiliary flash that mounts to the top of your camera, you have the luxury of being able to shoot from a greater distance. If you don't have a flash, the top of a white styrofoam cooler or a white towel can be used to bounce light onto your subject. Use a slow ISO film in that the light level at the beach is high.

Whether your beach excursion takes you to a mountain lake or along the coast, you need to protect you camera against the elements. Water, sand, and grit are not kind to a camera. If salt water comes in contact with it or the lens, due to its corrosive nature, you'll need to wipe it down with fresh water and a damp towel. Small cameras can be placed into zip lock bags when not being used. Larger SLR's should be placed into a zipped camera bag when not being used. Be careful of blowing sand or dirt. Don't allow either to get into the rotating collars of your lenses or into the camera when changing film.

Use a polarizer to help remove glare from water surfaces, sand, and rocks. If you're using an SLR, you'll see the effect in the viewfinder as you rotate the filter. Compositionally, be aware of your backgrounds. Try to avoid distractions of other people, beach umbrellas, or beach chairs. As demonstrated by the shot of the boy playing in the sand, there's no question as to who the subject is. Lastly, staying till sunset will reward you with dramatic light. A silhouette against a colorful sunset makes a great shot.

^ Back to top

* Your Name:
* Email address:
	(Enter the code shown)
	(Your e-mail address will not show on the site and is used so that we can contact you back if needed)
* Your Comment about this article::
	Include me in the TGP Monthly Newsletter