Beach Photography 101

It’s that time of year where the beaches of Clearwater Beach, FL are flocked with Florida snowbirds. We can’t blame them though, with beautiful weather and breathtaking sunsets it’s no wonder Clearwater Beach is one of the top spots for Florida snowbirds to get their feet wet. When visiting our spectacular beaches, besides your beach gear you should have one other thing on hand, your camera. Here you’ll see natural beauty, a variety of lighting and vivid colors. Beaches are naturally great places to take some of your favorite artistic pictures, and digital cameras now allow even a photography novice to take incredible shots. So in case you need a little help capturing the moment perfectly, here are some tips on beach photography.

Focal Points

While capturing images of the gorgeous scenery at sea it quite a spectacle, often there is no point of interest. When snapping a picture, try and find a subject or a focal point as a place for your picture viewers to rest their eyes.  Some great examples are footprints, life guard stands, sand castles or a crashing wave. Get creative and allow your subject to tell the story of the photo.

Play with the Horizon

A picture looking out to the sea is certainly one that will capture the true essence of Clearwater Beach, especially during one of our awe inspiring sunsets. However, often these pictures all look the same. Play with the horizon and try not to let it split your picture right down the middle. Also, try to keep the horizon square in your view finder to avoid a slanted picture.

Flash

When you take portrait pictures of friends or family in the bright beach light you’ll often notice there are shadows across their faces, usually casted by noses, hats or glasses. To avoid this, turn on your flash. Without a flash you could end up with a silhouette (which can also be pretty cool). If your subjects end up looking overexposed from the flash try taking a few steps back and zooming in to reach your desired framing.

Black and White

Although Clearwater Beach is full of an array of bright and warm colors, a black and white beach shot can completely change the feel of a photo. Take a few black and white shots to convey a romantic mood in your pictures. Black and white also gives beach shots taken on an overcast day more oomph, as these can sometimes look colorless.

While visiting Clearwater Beach always remember your camera, because we can assure you there will be many great photo opportunities and you’ll be glad you have it with you.