ANDREW’S TOP 10 TIPS

1 CHECK THE WEATHER

Always check the weather as close to your shoot as possible for the most accurate forecast. I use the Met Office website to check the weather in the UK.

2 SHOOT IN THE RAIN

Don’t be perturbed by inclement weather; most camera kit has some degree of weather sealing, and can take a few splashes. Bleak and rainy conditions can often make for dramatic lighting and atmospheric images.

3 EXPAND YOUR DYNAMIC RANGE

Cameras can only capture a limited range of tones from shadows to highlights in a single frame. It’s often worth taking a bracket of photos several stops apart, both underexposed and overexposed, then merging them into an ‘HDR’ (high dynamic range) image in software.

4 DRESS FOR THE WEATHER

Wear warm and waterproof clothing so that you’re ready for anything! For this shoot, I had wellies on, so that I could shoot in the sea up to knee-deep, and an old jacket that I didn’t mind getting muddy, so I could lay on the beach when I needed to.

5 RINSE OFF YOUR TRIPOD

Salt water from the sea can cause corrosion in the metal parts of your tripod, so after you’ve been shooting in sea water, rinse them off thoroughly with bottled water or a garden hose.

6 BUY QUALITY LENSES

While a camera body is important, it’s the lenses that are arguably more important. Get the best-quality glass you can afford, and it will last a lifetime if you look after it.

7 AVOID STACKING FILTERS

When you use filters such as an ND or a polariser, first remove any UV filters you may have attached: putting too many filters in front of the lens is likely to diminish image quality.

8 BRING A WATERPROOF BAG

In addition to my camera backpack, I also carry a dry bag, which I can put my camera and a few lenses inside during a heavy downpour.

9 KNOW YOUR TIDE TIMES

For coastal shoots, it’s important to check the tide times beforehand, so you’re aware when high and low tides occur throughout the day.

10

DON’T GIVE UP!

While there’s a certain amount of luck with photography, the more you practise, the better your chances of capturing that perfect shot will become. Persistence pays!