Some people may say that taking surf photos can be relatively simpler than any other type of photography. There is no stylist trying to repair the model’s clothes or hair. No photo studio owner bothers you to pay your bill and empty the room quickly. you don’t need computers or lighting equipment, let alone drunk girls asking you to take another picture.
But to take surf photos, you have to deal with a multitude of boards that rise quickly towards you at 100 miles per hour. The waves can be so big that it’s hard to balance them with all your surf photo equipment. If this is not enough, some waters may contain jellyfish, sharks and a reef to break their flesh to pieces.
- There are still thousands of photographers trying to get the same surf photos.
- The same wave.
- The same surfer and the same time as you.
- A very fierce competition that can make it difficult to get excellent surf photos.
When we talk about surf photos it is not enough to know only the techniques of photography, you also have to know the ocean, it is more important than taking the photo itself, if you do not know the waters you will find it difficult to get excellent surf photos.
Anyone who knows a little about the ocean will have good results with surf photos, can take photographic equipment and capture stunning images. For beginners, this may seem exaggerated and too broad, but surf photos are pure truth, experience and knowledge are fundamental in this profession.
So if you’re a photographer who wants to get in the water and take crazy surf photos, don’t get in a situation you can’t handle. Search, time and patience are the keys to getting great surf photos.
Surf photography professionals should be aware that they will face strong waves and narrow positions in the water and that it is necessary to know how to handle each of these situations. A surf photographer is often violently hit by a gigantic wave, projected onto a reef and to reach privileged positions and face the waves, anyone who wants to capture surf photos must keep their body up to date.
The first thing you have to do is put your swim on the axles, because you will need it a lot in surf photos, remember that swimming with camera is very difficult, especially in the ocean, how much surfers will be on a fiber board, the photographer can not just float, you have to keep swimming all the time.
A DSLR camera combined with an underwater box can weigh up to seven pounds, swimming in a quiet pool with all this equipment can be disturbing, at sea, waves, wind and currents will work against you, so strength and endurance are crucial.
An important point to remember is that you really need to save energy to swim. A surfer can easily turn around and take a wave to the beach, but for those who want to take surf photos, they must swim with one arm and a couple of fins across the streams to get ashore.
Keep in mind that everyone has their limits, so start slowly, with few challenges and increase over time. Your mood is as important as fitness in surf photos, you should be able to relax, you can’t panic or you can drown.
To improve your swimming, freediving and fitness skills, there are workouts and exercises that you can do in a pool, some personal trainers offer specific workouts to this type of professionals, in addition to going to the gym every day, consider swimming.
In addition, practice exercises to strengthen the muscles of your thighs, which are crucial for swimming with fins and getting out of the water with the camera to take surf photos.
First buy a surf case for your DLSR camera, it is capable of bringing stability and security to your camera. Most cases are made to order and if the company does not own your model, you will need to send them your camera.
Each camera lens will require a specific fit and function, some offer some kind of customization about it, often accompanied by an adjustable lens port, in addition, each door will cost you an extra amount to manufacture, the best thing is that it has a universal door, which can adapt to several different lenses.
Then worry about a portable shutter, which allows you to keep the camera out of the water and release the shutter. This function can be fixed or detachable and is also found in the universal option as the lens cover.
An important point to remember is that if something goes wrong with your equipment, you will have to send it to the manufacturer for repair, if the manufacturer does not have support and representatives near where you are going to take surf photos, you will need to send the equipment to another location, so it should be one of the things to consider when buying your equipment.
The right equipment is essential for your surf photos, so you need it to work properly. Having to send the manufacturer a few miles from home can take a long time to solve your problem.
One last point to consider regarding professional surf photography equipment is that even the waterproof camera housing, even if you can’t dive into great depths, only protects your equipment from splashing water.
A professional photographer who wants to take surf photos will have no problem investing a few thousand dollars in his professional equipment, however, for an applicant, it can be difficult to make this decision correctly.
For starters, there are simpler and cheaper options. They won’t have the versatility or quality factor of a professional DSLR camera, but it will allow you to try surf photography and decide if you want to take it further.
GoPros action cameras, on the other hand, are fantastic and used by athletes from all over the world, they are small, light and accessible to anyone who wants to take surf photos. They are specially designed for people who want to shoot in action for fun and an excellent starting point to see if you like taking surf photos.
GoPro Surf Edition camera specifications include
You can also add a multitude of GoPro accessories, the most recommended for surf photos would be an extension cable to get your camera out of the water.
Another option is the affordable Powershot starter camera with Canon case. Powershots are excellent compact cameras, providing fantastic surf photos for non-DLSR models. They are also generally cheaper than previous models and also have the surf box model.
Ikelite manufactures large boxes for Powershots. They are more expensive than the standards provided by Canon, but they allow you to better control the camera settings and have excellent accessories.
Getting started with cheaper, simpler equipment will help you quickly identify if surf photos are for you. The key is to understand how the ocean works and the difficulties a surf photographer may face before buying their full set of surf photo tools.
You have to agree with me that it is not so easy to find a good place to take surf photos, so start small, try the waters and, most importantly, look for amazing surfers to help you in all this, although it takes time, It will be great to have people with a complete experience to get better surf photos.
Even if you have experience in the ocean, swimming in the open ocean with a 5kg camera kit and having a pair of fins to help you with this task will likely reduce your working life expectancy – find out how it will behave in a familiar environment. Before actually venturing out, this will prevent accidents and avoid unnecessary risks.
Get familiar with the waters and meet the surfers. Watch the waves and study the currents, look for quiet peaks where local surfers tend to meet. Also, remember that not all surfers will be able to share a wave with someone nearby to take surf photos. A professional surfer will sail easily around you. , but someone who isn’t so used to a photographer can find it very difficult to avoid it in how much?
For starters, why not shoot from the beach? With a little creativity, you can get great photographs of surfers and surfers. The most important thing to remember when taking surf photos from the beach is to be versatile.
Think of something totally different from what other surf photography professionals have done, almost everything has already been done, but you can always put your mind to work and create something new and creative, don’t stop at the same place or level, move around looking for the best surf photos.
The crucial part of success is photographing what most people never see. The main reason surf photos are successful is when you can give people a perspective and a vision they can’t even imagine. Capture what you don’t expect, get a different point. with a different depth of field, angle and position, and capture everyone’s attention.
Boats are a convenient and safe alternative to taking good surf photos. Photographers can photograph beautiful waves and stunning moments safely. However, most viewers can know when an image is from a boat and when it comes to surf photographs taken directly from the water and when the photographer needs to get wet, he seems to have more courage.
Boats may be needed at certain times, especially when the swell is very large, strong currents and very dangerous water conditions. Jet skis are also another option, as you can get closer to the action and stay away from dangerous waters.
Depending on where you live, you will probably wear a wetsuit to protect yourself from the cold during the surf photo shoot. A diving suit means that you save energy and stay in the water much longer. It also offers a layer of protection against reefs and other sharp objects, such as plank fins, which can end up cutting your skin.
As the suits are sold according to thickness and design, the short model leaves the neck and arms free, while a large model will completely fill your body. A 6mm suit will keep you much warmer than a 3mm suit, however, it will also be less flexible, which means limiting your movements when you’re in the water to take surf photos. Visit some specialty dive shops to find the combination that best suits your needs.
Many surf photographers also wear helmets to protect themselves during surf photo shoots, helping to protect themselves from reefs and some surprises that can hit their head. However, helmets are not for everyone, some people have tried to wear them several times, but this can make it difficult to dive between waves and make it difficult to take surf photos. In this way, helmets are really a personal choice.
A surf photographer always uses a pair of fins in the water to swim when taking surf photos, however, each can be made of different materials, some are thinner and some thicker, but help you swim fast. Only a warning, without fins, will not be able to swim effectively with a camera in the open sea.
To ensure safety and practicality, many professional surf photographers use jet skis. You have to think about it now, especially to ensure the safety and agility needed to take surf photos. The interesting thing is that you can always find someone to drive. the jet ski when you focus on your surf photos.
Taking surf photos doesn’t just mean reading manuals and studying great surf photographers, you have to be there and chase your own surf photos, that is, it’s a matter of tenacity, hard work, perseverance and seriousness. they come from opportunities and surprises that don’t happen often, so never forget that the ocean is totally unpredictable.
As I mentioned earlier, surf photos are a matter of time. It takes a lot of practice to get into the correct position and connect with the surfer. This will be something that you will really learn, the more you will have to go out and photograph. With the boom in digital photography, it is very cheap to have a lot of surf photos on your memory card.
Go back and criticize your work, take note of what you’ve done right and wrong, this is definitely the best way to learn and improve your surf photos. The last tip is that you are sure, that you know your limits, the sea can be very dangerous and do not forget that you have to have fun above all.
And you, who should add the surf photos?Leave your budget on this article in the comments field below, it will be amazing to know what you think.