TheFuturePhotographer

  • Coming Trends
  • Camera Tech
    • SLR
  • Effects
  • Editing
    • Software
  • Mobile Camera Insights
  • Contact

How to Capture Seascapes – 6 Tips (and More)

Posted by Charlie Nicholson.

Email, RSS Follow
Pin It

Seascapes have always been a favorite subject for all photographers. A seascape can be defined as being a combination of land, coastline, and sea. The seashore, the coastline, and even the oceanfront, there’s no limitation to what you can capture on camera as long as you’re in the right spot.

As with similar types of photography, such as landscape or cityscape, you must be patient and observant.  You can’t control nature, but you can keep an eye on the surroundings and wait for the perfect moment.

seascapes seagulls flowing water

Photographing Seascapes – 6 Tips You Must Know

Go out of season

You might want to stay away from crowded beaches, packed with tourists and ice cream trucks. It might be a bit more difficult to make actual art in these conditions. You will probably end up with a bunch of pictures of sunbathers in unflattering poses. This is why going off-season is a better option. You get to have the beach all to yourself, and you can shoot at either angle you want without the risk of someone photobombing your picture.

Another great thing about going off season is that you stand a better chance of finding a good spot to camp out. This way, you can get up early in the morning, make your way out of the tent, and you can start snapping picture right away. Mornings are a good time to catch the ideal light and the renowned ‘’golden hour”.

Pick your beach wisely

A common beach will most likely not allow for something other than some ordinary images. And if you really want to stand out, you will have to do better than that. Do a thorough research before going out, just to avoid the disappointment. Look for the most scenic beaches. You can ask the locals for indications, or you can do a search on a photography website (Flickr, Deviantart, etc.) and see where other photographers have taken stunning images.

bicheno seascape scenic beach rocks

Be patient

Timing is everything, especially in photography. And when you’re trying to photograph seascapes, the need to be patient becomes more obvious. Why? Because besides the lighting and the weather conditions, you also have the tricky tide.

Some might say that any time of day is good enough for seascapes. We beg to differ. We think that the golden hour is the ideal time frame you must consider in this situation, just as in most others. The golden hour comes about one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise. That’s when the sun is low in the sky, thus creating a warm light that really makes the colors pop. So wait for that perfect time; otherwise, you will end up with a harsher light that will provide more washed out colors.

You may think we would recommend sunny, clear blue-skied days, but let’s peek beyond the ordinary. Storm clouds, rain, fog or mist, can work wonderfully in your favor. You’ll be able to take some dramatic shots that stand a better chance of awing the viewer.

And then we have the tide. Here’s how you work both high tide and low tide to your advantage. If you visit the beach during high tide, then you will be able to shoot crashing waves. When you visit the beach during low tide, you will be allowed to capture smaller objects that are otherwise more hidden – shells, starfish, crabs, and more.

The iconic lighthouses

Lighthouses will instantly improve your picture. Take out your wide-angle lens and use a slow shutter speed to capture the light beaming out of the lighthouse. Set a wide aperture (of about f/16) and don’t forget to bring a tripod to avoid image blurring.

lighthouse wintertime freozen sea

 

Create a flat sea

To achieve this effect, you need a 10-stop neutral density filter. Before putting the filter on the camera, you first need to focus and to set the exposure. Once it’s on, you won’t be able to focus. Since the exposure will be long, you must bring a tripod and safely secure it to remain as stable as possible.

Create water trails

Another fun way to “play” with your composition is by creating sea/ocean trails. To accomplish the look, set the shutter speed somewhere between two seconds and eight seconds. Run some tests and see what works best. You’ll also have to use the neutral density filter, but this time, a 3-stop or a 6-stop filter will work better than the 10-stop one.

What to Pack – The Gear

Now that you know the basics, you must make sure you pack the minimum necessary camera equipment. Here are a few items that you need to carry with you.

Wide-angle lens

Choose a focal length wider than 35mm to best convey that sense of grandeur. However, you can shoot seascapes with pretty much any type of lens. Although you are not limited to a wide-angle lens, it would be ideal if you could get your hands on one. You will see why photographers favor these lenses for any “-scape” photography.

Tripod

photographers on the beach shooting seascapes with a tripod

A tripod should be an indispensable item in every photographer’s kit. A tripod will both prevent camera shake and keep it on the right level. If you plan on doing long exposures (and you will want to), you can’t avoid purchasing a rugged tripod.

Filters

You will also need the two most common filters for seascapes: a graduated neutral density filter and a neutral density filter.

The graduated neutral filters are often used at sunrise and at sunset. This is when the sky is far brighter than the foreground. Because this type of filter has a dark end, you can place it over the brightest part of the frame in order to achieve a balanced exposure.

Neutral density filters are used when you set a longer shutter speed than you would usually do in a certain light condition. You will commonly find 3-stops, 6-stops, and 10-stops filters, depending on their strength.

Microfiber cloth

Regardless of the weather, you will probably have to deal with salt and sand. This is why you must carry a microfiber cloth with you and wipe the camera clean after you’re done shooting.

IMAGE SOURCE: 1, 2, 3, 4

Email, RSS Follow
Pin It

About Charlie Nicholson

An avid techie, Charlie Nicholson is also the father of two lovely kids. Between his web design projects and freelance writing projects, Charlie makes time to provide insightful articles for thefuturephotographer.com. Not only is he keen on slicing through technical details, but he is also a part-time photographer. In his spare time, he spends hours escaping the city and heading to the great outdoors with his family. Charlie believes it is nature that provides the greatest inspiration for his photography projects and takes every chance to try a new camera in his favorite setting. His children are often subjects in Charlie’s photographic endeavors. Charlie is a valued member of our team who’s always there to remind us that practice yields the most satisfying bounties.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • RSS
still life photography

Many photographers focus on a single genre to produce high-quality images. However, if you’re new to the hobby, then you may be trying to narrow down your specialty. Photography has about 15 genres that you can experiment with, including still life photography. Quick Navigation What is Still Life Photography?Tools of the TradeThe Right CameraThe Best […]

canon t6i

Smartphone cameras are able to capture some high-quality pictures and with each smartphone model that’s manufactured the camera features improve. Although smartphone cameras have the ability to take some great instant shots, many serious photographers feel limited and want something different. Quick Navigation What You Need To Know About A DSLR CameraWhat’s The Canon t6i?SpecsWhat […]

Nikon D7200 Review: Taking A Deeper Look at Its Specifications

The Nikon d7200 is a Wifi enabled camera for photography. As a DSLR camera, the Nikon d7200 is a high tech piece of equipment capable of taking professional level photographs, recording bursts of video, and applying filters to images for improved quality. It is Nikon’s first DSLR camera with built-in Wifi. Quick Navigation What Is […]

10 Tips for Macro Photography

Macro photography – the field of producing photographs of small things at larger than life size – has produced some of the most amazing images we’ve ever seen. From tiny changes in color on insects to the magnified radiance of gems, there’s no end to the incredible pictures you can take. However, there are a […]

RSS Best of the Rest!

  • Sony RX100 Review: A Detailed Look
  • Sony A7 Detailed Camera Review
  • How To Get Started In The Fashion Photography Industry
  • Canon T5i Camera Review
  • Still Life Photography: The Tips and Tricks of the Trade
  • Canon T6i Review: A Complete Look at Its Specifications and Features
  • Nikon D7200 Full Camera Review
  • Macro Photography: Basic Tips to Keep in Mind
  • Nikon D500 Review: A Deeper Look at Its Specifications and Features
  • Best Monitor For Photo Editing: Top 7 Models to Look for in the Market

Recent Comments

  • james braselton on The Best Digital Camera for Kids in 2015
  • Sheila Thompson on The Best Digital Camera for Kids in 2015

Copyright © 2023 TheFuturePhotographer.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Sitemap · Contact