Seascape photography is an important part of landscape imagery that can be done anytime of the year. If you are struggling with taking good seascape images, you should have a look at this video.
Taking good images may require good gear, but that’s not always the case. Rather than relying on high-quality gear, using the correct gear is more important for certain shooting techniques. Besides the gear and correct techniques, designing the frame has significant effects on the final images.
In this 10-minute video, Tom Mackie of Landscape Photography iQ shares his tips and techniques about how he creates his compositions by using the foreground and background elements in his scene. He demonstrates the utilization of these elements by explaining the mood he wants the achieve in his image. In addition, he mentions the gear he uses, including how and when to use circular polarizer and neutral density filters. While showing the viewers how he creates his seascape images, he also shares his tips about how to study the location prior to the shooting by checking the tide times, sun location, etc.
If you have any extra tips about capturing good seascape images, please share in the comments section below.
I do a lot of seascapes and here are some of my "must haves" and "should dos" to up your seascape game:
1. Remote trigger, wired or wireless. This might be one of the top pieces of kit you'll need if you're trying to shoot crashing waves up close at those 1/8th-ish shutter speeds. It is a pain in the ass trying to use the 2 second timer.
2. Sturdy tripod if you're going to get it wet. The cheaper CF tripods have a bit too much flex in their legs for my taste. Crashing waves on the legs create vibrations that will introduce the possibility of softer photos.
3. Getting wet. I'm not saying you have to get wet, but many of my better seascapes were a result of accepting that I was going to get wet. It is typical for me to get knee deep wet every time I go seascaping.
4. A 2 stop Reverse ND grad is great for unobstructed seascape horizons when the Sun is touching or just below the horizon line.
5. A travel size, (2 ounce spray bottle), of DISTILLED water and some Kimtech Science wipes. Do I need to explain why?
https://www.amazon.com/Kimtech-Science-Wipes-Kimwipes-KCC34155-06/dp/B00...
6. Headlamp, because I almost always arrive before sunrise and leave after sunset blue hours.
I'm sure there are others, but those are the tops that I can remember.
These are great tips Ryan, thanks for sharing!
#5...let me guess. I was recently so aborbed in low-level wave photos...failed to notice the incoming wave!
Doosh. Camera + 2 lenses scored a face full of water. Luckily the all survived. What a dill.