If you are up to date on your weather news in New York City, then you surely heard about the high surf that post-tropical storm Hermine delivered to the beaches of Long Island this past week. These storms provide a unique opportunity to capture some amazing images if you put in a little time and effort. To be successful at shooting an epic swell event you have to be ready for anything. In a single day of shooting I have used everything from a fisheye to a 600, and just about everything in between. “Surf photography” technically encompasses action photos, landscapes and portraiture, so mix it up and be ready for the unexpected – do that and great shots will surely come your way. Below are seven tips to improve your chances of getting a great shot next time you are down at the beach.
1. Safety First.
Stay up to date on the weather, and never put yourself in harm’s way for a shot. The weather during these surf events can often be changing rapidly, so having a waterproof bag or umbrella could save your gear. Blowing sand, rain and saltwater spray can be the norm so take the proper precautions and you and your gear should survive to shoot another day.
2. Find the right spot.
This is a pretty basic principal, but I can’t tell you how many people don’t go the extra mile (or actually extra few feet) to get to just the right spot to shoot. A few factors can play into this such as the length of your lens, the wave height, and lighting conditions. Try to find a spot that is slightly elevated so when your friend gets the wave of his life he is not blocked by the waves and ocean spray from the ones that just rolled in. Next shoot with the sun (if it is out) at your back. If you shoot looking into the sun or in the general direction of the sun the glare off the water can make it near impossible for you to see and track your subject.
3. Bring a tripod and image stabilized lens.
If you are going to shoot surfing action photos, you will need a longer lens, and you will be shooting in potentially adverse weather conditions, so camera shake is a real problem. To overcome this we can do a couple of things, buy a lens with an image stabilizer, shoot at a faster shutter speed or mount to a tripod. Doing all three is the way to go and will just about ensure that your photos will tack sharp.
Best set up: 400mm – 600mm IS lens, Heavy Duty Tripod and Camera Body that shoots 7FPS or Faster
4. Make sure your subject is on their surfboard.
This is one is kind of obvious, but I see it all the time. When a surfer fly’s out the back of the wave (without their surfboard) I often hear cheers on the beach from spectators that are not familiar with the sport. Even though it is impressive to the untrained eye, this is not a surfing move it is a “dismount”. So make sure the surfer is on the board. Much like other board sports, if the subject is falling or out of control that is not the right time to snap a photo.
5. Not all waves are created equal.
These storm events go through many phases. But surfers are generally looking for specific conditions. Big surf and “onshore” winds (wind blowing from the ocean to the land) is not ideal for surfing. These conditions make the ocean confused and hard to read so surfers generally shy away from conditions like this. An ideal day is when an ocean storm passes near to the coast but does not make landfall. This provides “offshore” conditions (wind blowing from the land to ocean) and large ocean swells. These days many internet sites have tools to predict these conditions so look them up to increase your chances of scoring that epic day
6. Mix it up.
Don’t grow roots, move around and improve your angle as the lighting and surf conditions change through the day. That great spot you were standing in at 8am is now the wrong spot at 4pm. This will also give your shots some variety. No one wants to look at 42 shots of a similar subject from the same angle and lens/camera combo. Move, change your lens and keep an eye out for interesting moments.
7. Don’t forget about the sunset.
No better place than the beach to get a great sunset photo. This all happens fast so make sure you are ready, choose your lens and stick with it. The peak colors only last a few minutes so you don’t want to be digging around in your bag when it all happens.
*The photos featured in this post were taken by a professional surf photographer with extensive water safety training.
