Use light to sculpt the scene and add drama

Light is the most important tool in photography – and learning how natural light behaves is essential for shooting seascapes

Some photographers insist that seascapes, and indeed landscapes, must be shot just after sunrise or just before sunset, when the sun is close to the horizon, with the camera facing the direction of the sun. This is indeed fairly sound advice, but it’s not the only option, and may not always produce the best images.

You can also position yourself so that the sun is to the side or even behind you, rather than shooting towards it. You can also shoot before sunrise or after sunset, to take advantage of more colour in the sky or to capture the cool hues of the ‘blue hour’.

Light and the position of the sun will of course be governed by the time of year, the time of day and the weather, so apps such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris can be a great way to plan shoots based on sunrise and sunset position. Don’t forget to check the weather and tide times for your chosen location as well.

Light coming from the side

Light from the side just after sunrise or before sunset, when the sun is low, produces strong dramatic light; it’s a great way to emphasise texture in the scene while providing the ability to shoot for longer.

Light from behind you

With the sun behind you, the subject will often be evenly lit. The sky opposite the setting sun can still catch colourful scattered light from the sun. This helps if you want detail in your subject.