The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Surf Photography

While we give private surf lessons in San Diego, PB Surf Shop sees another beautiful side of surfing, namely surf photography. Learning how to get a fleeting moment on film is a skill that’s worth learning. Besides San Diego surfing lessons, we also offer instruction in capturing great action shots of surfers doing their thing in our beautiful oceans.

Introduction

Photographing a surfer “in the zone” amid the natural beauty of the ocean is exciting. Learning how to properly photograph these moments requires an understanding of composition, light, and timing. Photographers also need certain equipment to stand up to the punishing effects of water, sand, and wind.

As one of the country’s best surf schools, here are our best surfing photography tips.

Why Surf Photography Captures the Soul of the Ocean

From minute to minute, the ocean changes. No two waves are the same. This is part of the appeal of surfing itself – the thrilling challenge.

Shooting surf photography is a way to capture a moment in time that will never come again. And that, at its heart, is the soul of the ocean itself.

Essential Gear for Surf Photography

Because conditions are windy and watery, certain gear is crucial.

• Lenses: A telephoto lens helps shoot the surfer from a safe distance. A wide-angle lens shoots the overall scene.
• Tripod: Provides stability in tricky conditions. This is also important for photographers working for a long period of time.
• Housing: Because you’re near the water, a waterproof camera or camera housing protects your gear.
• Filters: Polarizing filters help increase contrast and reduce the reflections bouncing off the water.

Understanding Surf Conditions and Lighting

Every surfer knows to first check the surf forecast to determine wave quality. This applies to surf photographers, too. Know if you’ll see small waves, exciting swells, crashing waves, or how the wind and tide are impacting the water.

The “golden hours” of sunrise and sunset provide a warm glow. Overcast days offer diffused light, while shooting directly into the sun provides backlighting. Decide what kind of image you hope to capture, and adjust your settings accordingly.

The Best Spots for Surf Photography in Pacific Beach, San Diego

Since 1962, PB Surf Shop has taught people who want to learn how to surf. We know all the best spots, both for surfing and for San Diego surf photography. Here are our favorites.

• Crystal Pier: A great vantage point to take shots of both longboarders and more experienced surfers.
• Tourmaline Surfing Park: The surf is consistent, making it popular with longboarders.
• Law Street Beach: Larger waves and high swells make this a favorite spot for experienced surfers.
• Mission Beach: There’s a lively scene here. This gives you plenty of photo opportunities in addition to great surfing shots.
• Windansea Beach: Breathtaking views, rocky coastline, and jaw-dropping sunsets.

Composition and Timing: Capturing the Perfect Wave

When it comes to Composition:

• Create an imaginary grid of nine segments. Instead of dead center, place the surfer at one of the intersecting lines.
• Focus on a straight horizon. That line makes the image look professional.
• Try a variety of angles for a unique perspective. A low angle near the water adds drama. An overhead shot, like from a cliff, provides a powerful overview.
• Let rocks, sand, and water add depth to the photo, drawing the viewer in.
• Photographers use natural lines (shoreline, horizon, waves) to direct the eye to the main subject.

When it comes to Timing:

• Anticipate the action. Understand how waves break so you can “see” what moves the surfer will take.
• Use a continuous shooting mode for images in quick succession.
• Photographers need a fast shutter (1/1000th of a second) to capture fast-moving images or water droplets.
• Use continuous auto-focus. This lets you keep things sharp through the frame.
• “Golden Hour” at sunrise/sunset creates soft, inviting images.
• Pack your patience. There may be exciting moments, but plenty of lulls, too.

Camera Settings for Surf Photography Beginners

• Choose Shutter Priority mode. This allows you to control the shot and freeze the action.
• Use continuous auto-focus for moving subjects.
• Have your camera set to shoot in “raw” mode. This allows more flexibility in editing.
• Shutter speed. Setting it high ensures that lots of action gets captured. A good speed is 1/1000th of a second or faster.
• Aperture settings. Bright conditions call for f/8. Lower light calls for a lower aperture (like f/5.6).

Shooting from Shore, Water, and Air

No matter the location, focus on a few basics to get top-notch results. A fast shutter speed (1/1000th of a second, minimum), continuous autofocus, and Shutter Priority mode to adjust the aperture automatically.

From the Shore:

• Use a telephoto or a long lens.
• Play with composition. Place the focal point in the third of the frame, which leans either right or left.
• Early morning or late afternoon offers softer, more dramatic light.

From the Water:

• Use a bodyboard to stay stable in the water.
• Protect your camera with waterproof housing.
• Surf photographers know to anticipate the waves and stay away from the impact zone.
• A 45-degree angle provides a dynamic shot of the surfer.

From the Air:

• Avoid bracing your arms or the camera against the window of the plane; images will be subject to vibrations and blur.
• Use a wide-angle lens for a bigger field of view.
• Don’t shoot into the sun.

Editing Surf Photography for Maximum Impact

There’s a lot of easy-to-use photo editing software, like Lightroom. Here are the basic things for photographers focus on.

• Crop the image to remove distracting elements.
• Adjust the color and saturation to bring out the best elements of the photo.
• White balance. Adjusting it will make the water look the most natural.
• Use editing tools to bring out details in the surfer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When you’re just starting out, everyone makes goofs. These are the most common mistakes surf photographers learn to avoid.

• Not protecting your equipment (especially camera bodies) from water, sand, and heat.
• Being careless regarding safety. It’s all too easy to go to extreme lengths for the perfect shot, but be aware of currents, heavy surf, how waves break, and their impact zone.
• Relying on the same kind of shot. The best surf photographers experiment with different angles.
• Out-of-fous. Using auto-focus will ensure images are clear, especially when shooting in quick succession
• Incorrect exposure. A slower shutter speed will result in blurry images. One that’s too fast can make the image too dark.
• Not building relationships. Get to know local surfers and surf photographers to arrange shoots and let them know when you’ll be around the scene.

Building Your Pacific Beach Surf Photography Portfolio

Like any skill, becoming good at taking surf photos takes practice. It’s important to master basics like camera settings, composition, and the effective use of lighting. The “golden hours” of sunrise and sunset are optimal. Find interesting surroundings to frame the shot, and position yourself strategically.

In creating your portfolio, choose your best work. Pick images that reflect a consistent style. Create a dedicated portfolio site online that allows you to include features like a blog and social media integration. Many surf photographers offer prints of their amazing surf photos for sale.

Final Wave: Keep It Simple, Keep It Real

Surf photography is an exciting challenge for photographers at all skill levels. One of our top tips is this: keep it simple. Just focus on mastering the technical basics, and let Nature (and surfers) do the rest.

PB Surf Shop is your source for how to do surfing, in all of its many aspects.