Despite my propensity to submerge precious camera gear in water, I love shooting on the coast. There is just something about the landscape, wildlife, the water, and lighting that drives me to plan coastal photo trips over and over again. Living in Northern California, most of my trips are geared towards colder conditions, but I have had the luxury of shooting in Florida and Hawaii, where you photograph while standing in the surf pretty comfortably. Ahhh - the luxury.

If you are thinking of planning a coastal photo trip, want a refresher on some tips and tricks for better images, or your are just having one of those days at work and need something to gaze upon while you chant "serenity now, serenity now", you might enjoy this post. 

Hover over any photo for additional subject and location information. 

Lighting

• Dawn and dusk are best for side lighting, as well as colorful sunrises and sunsets. 
• If you are on the west coast, sunsets tend to be the best but don't discount the opportunity for a dramatic sunrise. 
• If it is overcast or a cloudless day, I tend to focus on the details and crop out the sky because it doesn't tend to add anything to the image.

Sunset at Bean Hollow State Beach, PescadaroISO 100, f/16 @ 2seconds	Sunrise at Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, CaliforniaISO 100, f/13 @ 0.7 seconds
Sunset at Secret Beach, HawaiiISO 200, f/16 @ 30 seconds
Water surface, Molikini HawaiiISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/200 seconds This was taken from a boat, midday, with no clouds. There didn't seem to be many options for a good photo but the water pattern made me grab my camera.
Harbor Seal, Point Lobos State ReserveISO 100, f/5.6 @ 1/125 seconds It was a little overcast this day so I zoomed in to eliminate the sky. Plus, this guy was too darn cute to not get a close up of his face.

Prime conditions / seasons

• Winter tends to offer up the best sunrises and sunsets. 
• For the Pacific coast, I tend to visit most between October - February. 
• Clearing or approaching storms make for the most dramatic skies. 
• If the weather isn't offering up any clouds, you can still create good images using silhouettes

Clearing storm at sunset, Pfeifer Beach, Big SurISO 100, f/19 @ 4 seconds	Approaching storm at sunrise, Garrapata State ParkISO 50, f/22 @ 1.5 seconds
Sunrise and a clearing Storm, Bowling Ball BeachISO 100, f/22 @ 2 seconds
Sea stacks at sunset, Bandon, OregonISO 100, f/16 @ 1/60 seconds There wasn't a single cloud this evening, so rather than abandon the shoot, I focused on creating silhouettes, and this panoramic image.

Wide Angle versus Details

• Wide angle lenses [16 -35 mm range] is best for landscapes, sunrise/sunsets, and when you want to include an interesting foreground element.
• Telephoto lenses [70+ mm] are good for capturing wildlife and birds. 
• Macro lenses are awesome for shooting all of the sea life in tide pools. Don't forget your polorizer and reflector to block reflections. 

Sunset at Ukumehame Beach, HawaiiISO 400, f/11 @ 1/2 seconds A wide angle lens gave me the ability to capture this entire tree and surrounding landscape, all from a few feet away.	Sunrise, Kaanapali Beach, HawaiiISO 400, f/16 @ 0.6 seconds Hawaii has too many gorgeous sunrises to not shoot wide angle.
Sea Anemones clinging to cliff face, Pacific City, OregonISO 200, f/8 @ 0.6 seconds Tide pools are great places to take your macro lens.
Pelican in flight, Moss Landing, CaliforniaISO 500, f/5.6 @ 1/4000 seconds A good telephoto helps to capture wildlife without disturbing them
Great Blue Heron, Pebble BeachISO 400, f/7.1 @ 1/2500 seconds Patience and a long lens help capture coastal birds.
California Sea Lion, MontereyISO 500, f/8 @ 1/320 seconds This guy was sun bathing on a rock directly below me shortly after sunrise. He was a very willing subject.
Crab, Point Lobos State ReserveISO 200, f/5.6 @ 1/60 seconds If you sit very still, crabs will eventually come out of their hiding places to greet you.
Sea Anemone detailISO 100, f/25 @ 1/2 seconds This was shot in a tide pool by shading the sun with a portable reflector.
Sea Anemone detailISO 100, f/25 @ 1.6 seconds The edges of this have been intentionally blurred in Photoshop.

Tides

• The tidal height will typically need to be factored into a successful shoot. Sometimes you want a high tide but sometimes, you need a low tide to access a beach or expose certain features that would otherwise be under water or too far away to capture appropriately.
• Know the tides for the time and location you are shooting. A good resource is: Willy Weather Tides. This site shows the tide height at sunrise and sunset too, which makes planning a breeze. 

Cape Kiwanda sunset, Pacific City, OregonISO 50, f/16 @ 0.7 seconds A slow shutter speed shows the force of the massive waves in this area	Pescadaro State Beach, PescadaroISO 100, f/22 @ 30 seconds In order to get the misty effect on these rocks, I had to show up at high tide. It took a few visits before the tide height was just right.
Hole in the wall beach sunset, Davenport, CaliforniaISO 250 f/16 @ 8 seconds This beach is only accessible at low tide, by walking through a natural arch from the main beach	Sunrise at "the crack", Davenport BeachISO 100, f/22 @ 5 seconds This isn't much of a sight at low tide. You really need the waves to come crashing through the crack before it gets interesting.

Gear protection

• Try to avoid changing out lenses once you are on the beach to prevent sand and salt spray from getting the housing. 
• If you have two cameras, slap a lens on each and you should have plenty of options for compositions.
• If you have one camera, try a zoom lens to give your self options. 

Safety

• Never turn your back on the ocean or get so hyper focused that you forget what is going on around you. Sneaker waves will take you down. I speak from experience.
• Dress in layers and be prepared for cold, wind, and rain. The weather can change quickly and temperatures dip fast when the sun sets. 
• Invest in some knee high boots. I'm not proposing you go stand out in the surf - please don't - but if a small ankle high wave splashes over your feet, it's nice to have the extra insurance. These are great for tide pooling too.
• A wise friend recommended I invest in some waterproof pouches for my gear. Needless to say, I've had a few "incidents" with water so wrapping my gear is becoming a priority. 

Sea stacks at sunset, Bandon, OregonISO 100, f/16 @ 1/2 seconds This wave knocked me down and had me under water to my neck. I was lucky that I had enough composure to hold my tripod above my head so my camera and lens stayed dry. I did have to do the walk of shame back to my car though.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Stay tuned for more how to's, location guides, and trip reports.