Beach photography!

I am getting excited about our upcoming beach vacation!!!! Last year I had a very limited interest in photography. I liked taking pictures, but I knew absolutely nothing about it and I had an old 2 mp Canon p&s camera.

But this year is different.

This year I have Mr. Nikon D40. My best buddy. My obsession. My love. (OK, there are a few things I love more than my Nikon, but he is way up there in the list.)

And this year my photography obsession has enabled me to learn so much more. I still have so much more to learn, but I have a very good understanding of all the basics in regards to the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed and ISO), as well as the basics about composition.

So this year, I have been not only planning on how to make this a fun and stress-free vacation, but also how I can try to take some spectacular beach pictures!

I have found some great tips that I never knew before:

1. The best time to take beach pictures is during the "off hours". In the early morning and late afternoon/evening are the times when the light is warm and beautiful. The beaches are empty, the scenes are breathtaking. Another off time for beach photography are the times when storm is moving in and the skies are threatening, the waves are crashing, and, again, the scene is just beautiful.

In addition to the beautiful lighting you get in the off-hours, you also won't have the problem of harsh shadows on faces. Taking photos when the sun is high and above you is never flattering for people. However, one way to lighten up faces during this time is to use fill flash.

I never thought of using a flash during a bright sunny day, but I have since tried it and am amazed at how much it will brighten up an otherwise dark face.

2. If you have an SLR camera, NEVER change lenses outside. This is probably commonsense to most, but the beach air is filled with salt and sand and none of that is good for your precious sensor.

3. Humidity and A/C is a deadly combination for a camera. Have you noticed how your camera gets all fogged up when you take it out of the a/c and into the steamy summer heat? That moisture is not good for your camera.

To help prevent it, place your camera in a plastic ziploc bag and place it outside (somewhere safe) about a half hour before you need it. Once the camera comes up to temperature, you can take it out and start shooting. I have also read about using silica gel packs, which will absorb the moisture. I need to find some. Sounds like a great idea.

4. Don't just take pictures of sand and water... period. I know the beach and the water are gorgeous. And I used to take a million pictures of the scene because I just couldn't get enough of it.

However, when I got home and looked at the pictures, they really were just blah. The best beach photos have some type of focal point to add interest to the scene. Try including rocks, or birds, or shells, or footprints or something that stands out and makes "just another beach picture" into an AMAZING beach picture.

Now, first I want to say that I DID NOT TAKE THE PHOTO BELOW! I got this photo from the Digital Photography School blog. To me, THIS is an amazing beach photo.

You can see the colors are incredible, the light is perfect, and the photographer reflected in the water is a perfect focal point. This is an example of one of the things I hope to be doing next week. I want to be that photographer in that scene.

(as seen in DPS, not mine)

Wish me luck, I think I am going to need it!