Digital Photographer - UK (2019-12)

Learn to understand the

relationship between

shooting angle and

lighting style for shadow

and highlight control

Master

angles

and

lighting

The main element of a coastal landscape

scene is the way in which the land interacts

with the ocean. This boundary between

solid and fluid landscape features is what

gives coastal shots energy and intrigue, so

it is important to focus on emphasising this

relationship. If it is not clearly visible or is given

insufficient coverage in the frame, this can

produce images that fail to engage the viewer,

since their expectations are not met.

Beach scenes are also filled with textural

contrasts that provide an endless variety of

image opportunities. The marked difference in

texture between a sandy beach, frothy waves

and streaky sky adds depth to the scene and

is one of the draws of coastal landscapes to

which photographers flock.

The success with which these qualities are

captured effectively depends greatly on the

PRE-DAWN

Pros: The first ‘blue hour’ of the day provides

soft illumination, as the sun is not directly

visible in the frame. This makes contrast

management of long exposures easier.

Cons: Unless you know an environment well,

the low light can make composition a challenge.

The softer shadows don’t pick out details

effectively, potentially creating flat images.

SUNRISE

Pros: As the sun appears over the horizon the

clouds and middleground pick up an attractive

glow, which highlights sea spray and foam for an

airy, high-key look.

Cons: The window for capturing the directional

golden light before the light intensity grows too

high is limited – sometimes the light becomes

too harsh after only three or four minutes.

MORNING

Pros: Depending on cloud cover, early morning

light can be useful for capturing high-contrast

monochrome images of coastal textures, or with the

correct ND filters, black-and-white long exposures.

Cons: Light from an hour after sunrise until early

afternoon is often too harsh for coastal photography.

Strong contrast makes highlight clipping on water a

challenge, while deep shadows are unattractive.

Time your shoot Different times of day offer various lighting options– but they all come with challenges

Pre-dawn Sunrise Morning

© Cristian Kirshbom

© Peter Fenech

© Cristian Kirshbom

© Peter Fenech

TECHNIQUES

Learn to understand the

relationship between

shooting angle and

lighting style for shadow

and highlight control

Master

angles

and

lighting

The main element of a coastal landscape

scene is the way in which the land interacts

with the ocean. This boundary between

solid and fluid landscape features is what

gives coastal shots energy and intrigue, so

itis important to focus on emphasising this

relationship. If it is not clearly visible or is given

insufficient coverage in the frame, this can

produce images that fail to engage the viewer,

since their expectations are not met.

Beach scenes are also filled with textural

contrasts that provide an endless variety of

image opportunities. The marked difference in

texture between a sandy beach, frothy waves

and streaky sky adds depth to the scene and

isone of the draws of coastal landscapes to

which photographers flock.

The success with which these qualities are

captured effectively depends greatly on the

PRE-DAWN

Pros:Thefirst‘bluehour’ofthedayprovides

softillumination,asthesunisnotdirectly

visibleintheframe.Thismakescontrast

managementoflongexposureseasier.

Cons:Unlessyouknowanenvironmentwell,

thelowlightcanmakecompositionachallenge.

Thesoftershadowsdon’tpickoutdetails

effectively,potentiallycreatingflatimages.

SUNRISE

Pros:Asthesunappearsoverthehorizonthe

cloudsandmiddlegroundpickupanattractive

glow,whichhighlightsseasprayandfoamforan

airy,high-keylook.

Cons:Thewindowforcapturingthedirectional

goldenlightbeforethelightintensitygrowstoo

highislimited–sometimesthelightbecomes

tooharshafteronlythreeorfourminutes.

MORNING

Pros: Depending on cloud cover, early morning

light can be useful for capturing high-contrast

monochrome images of coastal textures, or with the

correct ND filters, black-and-white long exposures.

Cons: Light from an hour after sunrise until early

afternoon is often too harsh for coastal photography.

Strong contrast makes highlight clipping on water a

challenge, while deep shadows are unattractive.

Time yourshoot Differenttimesofdayoffervariouslighting options– but they all come with challenges

Pre-dawn Sunrise Morning

© Cristian Kirshbom

© Peter Fenech

© Cristian Kirshbom

© Peter Fenech

TECHNIQUES