Beach photos? I'll end up repeating what some have said. Light, as always. And 'magic hour' at the beach depends on which coast, doesn't it? But whether at the illuminated cliffs, or straight into the sun, it helps to have some hint of interest in foreground, and then something to draw the eye in and away from the edges of the photo, as always. You have to be careful, as well. People are swept out, on occasion. So be aware of the waves coming in. It can be dangerous.
Shorebirds are good. If you can catch a close-up of a group in flight, as they go from point A along the beach to point B, heading toward you, and where some, or at least one or two, are in perfect focus, then you have the classic 'flock shot'. The birds have to fill the photo, though. And the background should be a blur. Really bright flash might be needed, with diffuser. You can get people crossing just before, after, or in front of the low sun. Just don't let the sun bloom too much (ND, etc). A good sunset shot, like a good lake reflection, might be best with clean, simple elements. But I think it's difficult to get these, at least where a majority of people like them, at least for a moment, where they don't also look like someone airbrushed the whole thing - the blurred/muted/fuzz light effect. Perhaps an aspect might serve better, and save the well capture full sunset for some REALLY large format that can give more the emotion of the thing.
The sand formations can be interesting, where people haven't crossed them. Oddly, the sand 'etchings' often tend to suggest marine shapes, fish, of various identifiable types, even, waves, and so on. Or you can go for footprints in the sand. But again, a curve, or arch or ridge or something to draw the eye from the sharp foregound print up and over and out and back. People just playing on the beach can make for a number of good shots, again with flash fill, no redeye, and clean focus if not on everyone. You have the sitting and musing shot, with the limb of the face highlighted against a darkening background. But there are so many things one could suggest.
The beach can be murder on the equipment. A really wind-blown day might be fantastic for shooting. But will you have a camera when you get home? I don't think you need a full on box. If you ever watching the making of videos on film dvds, you'll invariably see the cameramen have rigged some protection for the camera in all but underwater or surface of the water shots (which tend to require housings). Just maybe a garbage bag, something heavier, with a clear back for viewing and not too thick in place to interfere with the controls. Heck, use duct tape to piece it together. Just make it look ugly, but closed and secure. Protect the camera, and otherwise protect the lens, and assuming you have crystal clear plastic or a protective lens on the front, ideally with a BIG hood that you probably jury rigged yourself to prevent the artifacts if shooting near the sun. Then again, if you think that would look silly, and after all you're not shooting a film, then just go without. But, I can tell you, the beach can be murder on camera equipment.
|
