Unique Angles and Perspectives for Beach Pictures

You don't always have to point your camera straight ahead, or directly at the beach. Look for unique and interesting angles for your beach pictures.

It's all in the perspective
What if you get down on eye level with your baby playing in the sand? You could stand straight above a crawling crab, or point straight up to the swaying branches of a palm tree.
Look for unique and unusual angles and perspectives for your beach pictures.

Splashes of color
Since beaches often feature rather bland colors, like shades of sand and driftwood, also keep an eye out for interesting splashes of color. A bright red beach umbrella, green palm leaf or hot pink sandals can add real verve to your beach pictures.

Jazz Up Your Beach Pictures

Don't just shoot the beach. I mean, how is that different than all your other beach pictures? Instead, look for interesting items to serve as a focal point with the beach as the backdrop.

Look for Unique Still-Life Images
Check the area for an interesting focal point. Perhaps it is a lone and empty beach chair, or a bottle of greasy, sandy suntan lotion, or maybe even a surfboard propped against a palm tree. Place this item in the foreground, and keep the beach scene in the background.

The sun and its impact
We've all seen beach pictures gone bad, with the subjects (usually family and friends) partially or completely obscured by shadows and bright backlighting.

Sometimes you want this, say if you're shooting a couple hand-in-hand at sunset. Many times, you don't. Be sure you have the sun behind you, the photographer, not the people or things you are shooting at the beach.

A slightly overcast day can actually be better than a sunny day, and morning and afternoon have better lighting than midday with the long shadows from an overhead sun.

The Rule Every Beach Photographer Should Know

There is one mistake quite commonly made when photographing the beach: putting the horizon line dead center. While it might make sense, as it is symetrical, it violates the photography rule of thirds. You should always be aware of lines when shooting beach pictures.

The rule of thirds
Take a look at your previous beach photos. Is there a horizon line in the middle? How does it look to you? This actually slices the photo in half for observers, and is disconcerting.

Instead, stick to the rule of thirds. This means you should place the horizon in the bottom or top third of the beach picture instead.

Frame your beach picture
No, this isn't about the frame you buy later. This is about giving an anchor to your image. Look for natural frames for beach photos, such as a rocky outcropping or a leaning palm tree. You are looking for something that naturally places a frame around the target of your picture, the beach.

Get rid of bad lines
Before you shoot, really examine all areas of the image. Is there something distracting or ugly in your shot that you didn't intend to capture? Cars, electrical lines, a stray sunbather (who you don't intend to get in the picture, such as a topless sunbather in a family portrait) all can take a good picture and ruin it.

Also be sure your horizon line is straight. Sometimes, especially if an element in the foreground distracts you, you can end up with a lopsided beach.

How to Take Great Beach Pictures

Beach pictures could be the most common images captured by photographers. Beaches set the scene for family vacations, weddings and intimate getaways. There is a reason beaches are so photographed. They are beautiful. But there are many common mistakes made in beach photography. Follow this tutorial to find out how to take great beach pictures that are creative and impressive.

Cliche beach pictures
Have you noticed all beach pictures look the same? There's the standard sunset shot, or the posed family members with shadows blacking out their faces? Avoid some of those beach photography pitfalls.

Think outside the LCD box
First of all, really gaze slowly around you. Look down, look up. Are there unique details or small items you can capture? You could spend hours simply on macro beach photography, capturing seashells, crabs or small toys on the beach. How charming would a close-up of your child's sand castle be, paired next to a photo of your child at the beach?