Seascapes are a great inspiration for nurturing your photographic creativity. You might not always travel to a destination near the sea, but when you do, make sure to make full use of it. The mood of the Ocean is ever-changing and as a photographer, you have to understand how to capture the true beauty of the Ocean through your lens. The light, the surrounding elements, the wave, the beach everything come into consideration. In this article, I am going to share some tips to improve your seascape photography as a beginner:
Decide Your Hour:
The most popular time to do seascape photography is obviously the golden hour. As the sea is a vast reflecting surface of the sky, it is obvious that the golden hour light, with its reflection, can create magic in your frame. You can also plan for a more challenging time like the blue hour, which is before or after sunrise. Blue hour photography can add some moody tone to your photos. Although the post-processing of blue hour photography can be a bit challenging for a beginner.
Use the Wave Accordingly:
Let the waves decide your shutter speed & exposure. When the sea in front of you has smaller waves calmly moving across the beach, you might want to lower your shutter speed the blur movements. This will create a dreamy feel to your photo. But when you have strong tides, you have to think differently. You can not capture silky, smooth photos like smaller waves in this situation. Here you have to increase your shutter speed by a lot to freeze the moment. Capture the strength of the wave. Try capturing a wave just before it crushes onto the beach. It will be challenging, but it will help you grow as a photographer.
Use Elements Around the Beach:
Look for anything that can add more drama to your photo. A log, stones or flowers. It may be some moving crab or a traveler at a distance. Do not shy away from using what mother nature offers you to use. You can use inanimate objects like a log or a rock to create a leading line. Even the shorelines can be great leading lines to use. Use live subjects like a crab or a person to add motion. You can also use dead shells to compose your photos as you like.
Post Processing Tips:
Adjust the white balance first to have a good starting point. If your photos are taken during golden hour, then move your WB to warmer tones. For blue-hour photos go for a bluer tone. Check for graininess in your photo if you had to shoot with a higher ISO. Use texture or clarity options to minimize the grains. Use masking to bring more focus towards your subject.
Some Things to Consider:
First and foremost, be respectful of nature. Do not harm any animals or vegetation around you. If you are capturing an unknown traveler, try to get their permission. Always take your tripod with you. Beware of how close to the water you are taking your camera. A little splash is enough to ruin your camera or lens.
Wish you have a great time doing seascape photography. Use it to grow your photography senses. Happy shooting!
