Although a DSLR is the best camera to use in terms of quality and creativity, taking a point and shoot is possibly the safer thing to do with beach photography. Sand is one of the biggest enemies of the camera, and while it would be annoying if your point and shoot did get damaged by sand, it would be a lot easier to deal with than if a DSLR and its lenses had sand damage. Especially if you are an amateur photographer, using a point and shoot to start with will help you anyway.
Tip #1 Points of Interest
While the beach offers many different and interesting things to shoot, choosing a subject for your point of interest can be surprisingly difficult. This is very true of landscape shots looking out to the ocean, or turning around and of the beach and beyond. The shots can come out looking rather empty and boring.
Therefore, look carefully and see what could be of interest. It could even be silly things like sandles on the coastline, a bucket and spade, rocks, sealife, or for the landscape, a large cliff or building. Use your eyes and try to look beyond the normal.
Tip #2 Timing
As with most outdoor shooting, taking photos at the middle of the day leaves you with harsh results from the bright midday sun. The best times to shoot are at sunrise, sunset and late afternoon, not only because of the softer light, but also because the beach tends to be emptier and provide you with more opportunity for a great shot.
Tip #3 Horizon
Two things to remember, the rule of thirds and a square edge. When shooting your landscape of the ocean, place the horizon a third up or a third down on your viewfinder, never dead center. Furthermore, always ensure that the horizon is actually horizontal and doesn't slope off at an angle. If you want an angled shot, make it obvious that this is what you are doing, there's nothing worse than slanted horizons.
Tip #4 Use Your Flash
In the day? Yep, in the day. This is one of the most opportune times to use your flash. If you have a bright background, then your camera will under expose the shot to compensate. This means that any dark areas in your composition will be very dark, and using the flash can help fill that area and provide you with a more balanced shot.
Tip #5 Your Battery and SD Card
If you're going to the beach for the day, then take a spare battery and sd card. Charge both batteries before going out, and that way you will always have your camera available to use when you need it. There's nothing worse than having a photo opportunity and then not being able to take advantage of it because the batteries have run out, or there's not enough space on your card.
Above all, have fun, experiment with your camera and see what it can do. Beach photography can be very rewarding and fun to do, but beware of the great sand menace too.
posted by michaelabela.weebly.com
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