SHOOTING STEPS
1 PLAN AHEAD By utilising planning apps such as PhotoPills or TPE in the run-up to a shoot, you can ensure you know the position of the sun at the time of the shoot, the tide levels (low-mid incoming tide works well for wave motion shots), the cloud forecast and the wind forecast.
2 ROCK HOP When you arrive on location look for where the waves are landing on rocks or the beach and see if you can spot any white water. Take a moment to watch the waves – often they will come higher than you expect, so don’t set up too near any areas where there are likely to be significant splashes.
3 SET UP AND COMPOSE Look for some rocks near the shore that waves are moving over. I find that the classic rule of thirds works well with this type of scene. Set up your tripod fairly low down so that the viewer gets the feeling of being in amongst the rocks.
4 SELECT SETTINGS Set your base ISO and an aperture that will give you a decent depth of field (if in doubt f/8 to f/11 is my normal range). To capture wave motion, aim for a shutter speed somewhere between 1/5th to 1 sec depending on the speed of the waves – 1/2 sec is a good starting point.
5 SHOOT AND ADJUST Take three or four exposures and review your shot, especially the sea – you want to make sure you have some contrast in the wave. If it is too white, then speed up the shutter slightly. Remember that each wave will be different, so there is no exact science – just keep reviewing and adjusting as necessary.
6 WATCH, CHECK AND CLEAN Watch the waves and be prepared to snatch your gear away if a rogue wave is heading for you. Even if you don’t get much water on your camera you are likely top get some spray on your lens or filter, so check and wipe them regularly to ensure you don’t get any spots in your shot.