I haven't been in the water for sunset in a while. But the opportunity finally presented itself a couple weeks ago. The sky was clear for once, there was a bump of swell in the water but apparently no one really deemed it worthwhile because the lineup was empty. Fellow photographer friend Gus Potter grabbed his board instead of a camera, and the two of us hopped in with only half an hour or so before sunset to catch a few with the one other soul already in the water.
It was a little windy and wonky, and certainly cold, but it was one of my favorite sessions this month. You just can't beat that dusky light!
Shorebreak is a specific phenomenon. When the change in bottom contours is so significant, and the wave action is high enough, these specific beach waves get jacked up and come crashing down right on the shoreline in a big way. There is obviously the danger -- if the swell is heavy enough -- of getting caught in the impact zone just like any another wave, and having a massive force of water come crashing down on your head. But perhaps the bigger shorebreak danger is getting sucked over the falls. These waves are characterized by breaking on the shore, which means next to no water upon impact if you get sucked up and over and the wave slams you into the beach. Now take all of...
Before the holidays truly kicked in, I took a weekend trip up to Maine to visit with some friends. But in true photographer fashion, I had to bring my cameras and find time on the drive up and back to do some photographing. It was on the drive back when the sun was out, the wind was low, and I made several stops to explore the coastline and take a drone flight.
I've been rather caught up with shooting in the water recently. Swimming can be rather addicting, but it's not the only way to photograph the ocean. For years I was forced to find multiple ways to photograph waves from land before I braved the waters with a water housing.
I started my photography by shooting film before I was a teenager. The analog process continues to this day because there's something about its execution, its developments, and its aesthetic that captures the hearts of thousands of people across the globe. My affinity for film photography remains despite my heavily digital workflow. I even keep an "emergency" film camera in my car at all times.
