CREATE ARTISTIC SEASCAPES

Discover how to plan, shoot and edit incredible coastal masterpieces, using natural light, textures, and colour

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Water adopts a magical quality within the landscape. Whether it takes the form of a glassy lake, a bubbling stream, or a tumbling waterfall, its fluidity adds a sense of energy and contrast of tone. Of all the bodies of water a photographer may encounter, the ocean is an undisputed favorite. In addition to all the characteristics above, the sea introduces a sense of finality to the landscape - a compositional full stop. For the same reason that it's often a therapeutic experience to stand on a seashore and gaze out to the horizon, capturing this boundary within a photograph provides a unique imbalance of detail, which can be used to focus the attention of the viewer.

There are of course challenges when it comes to achieving this. It's all too easy to create images that are detail-heavy in one area and lack interest in others. Furthermore, exposure can be tricky when scenes feature a large expanse of reflective material, meaning we need to adjust our usual workflow to compensate for brightness hotspots. Overcome these, and you can use the natural rhythm of the coastal environment to capture an unrivaled variety of patterns and textures.

Over the next few pages, we'll delve into the pro's secrets for capturing seaside masterpieces. We'll show you how to identify the best subjects, how to expose in challenging light, convey movement in a scene, and master the distribution of texture and detail. Let's head to the coast!

WORK WITH TEXTURE

Natural patterns give your shots extra impact