How Close Can You Get Before Falling In?
Someone stopped and asked if I was okay. I was fine, just sprawled across the sand, tripod digging into my knees, trying to get closer. And that’s exactly the point—sometimes you need to get way closer to make your photos come alive. I mean, your memory card might be screaming “flat and lifeless,” but we can fix that. We’re walking the beach together here, telling stories, swapping tips, laughing at my precarious positions—come on, join me.
Let’s change that. Not the trip—you can’t—but your photography. Right here, right now.
The Problem: Your Beach Shots Look Flat
You know the scene. You captured a morning sunrise, a heart-shaped depression in a rock, the surf glinting off every little ridge… and somehow your photo looks like the middle of a snoozefest. People look at your photos and ask: “Wait… what am I looking at?” That tiny rock? That patch of sand? Your story is lost in translation.
Getting closer fixes that. Getting closer means filling the frame, focusing your viewer’s attention, and telling your story so clearly it practically jumps off the page and steals your wallet.
- Closer = intimacy: Capture the textures, the details, the subtle drama in a scene.
- Closer = story: Instead of showing “everything,” you highlight the story within the frame.
- Closer = impact: Big landscapes can be impressive, but details make them unforgettable.
Even experts forget this. Beginners miss it entirely. And honestly? You’re never “done” mastering the fundamentals.
Lean In and Love Your Subject
Step one: approach the scene like it owes you money (gently, of course). Fill the frame with your subject—your heart-shaped rock, your tide pool, your lonely piece of driftwood. Step two: adjust your angle, your tripod height, and your focus until the story is crystal clear. Step three: press that shutter and breathe.
It’s simple, but it’s fundamental. Beginners and seasoned pros alike can fall into the trap of “too far away.” This tip alone will elevate your landscape and seascape shots exponentially.
Pro Tip
Fun fact: I’ve face-planted into sand trying to “get close” on a sunrise shoot. Your photos are worth it. Your knees, maybe not.
Behind the Scenes (BTS)
Here’s me sprawled like a beach-dwelling acrobat, tripod dug into sand, carefully avoiding puddles, and occasionally looking like I lost a wrestling match with Mother Nature. In the photos, you’ll see the setup: tripod low, lens hugging the heart-shaped rock, light bouncing perfectly off the morning surf.
Tip from your friendly beach guide (that’s me): always check your footing, always check your camera settings, and always, always have someone ready to ask if you’re okay. The answer should be: “Yep, just getting closer to the magic.”
Get the Gear: What I Use
I am a huge fan of graduated neutral density filters to help take my skies, and neutral density filters to darken the entire frame, helping me create my long exposures!
Try This Now
Next time you’re out with your camera, pick one subject and move closer. See the difference. Take multiple shots. Experiment. Get uncomfortable. Embrace the awkward.
And when you’re ready for a deep dive, reach out for a workshop. I’ll show you how to master layers, angles, and framing so your next memory card tells the story you actually remember.
Bring the Story Home
Want your photos to speak louder and pull people in? Grab one of my fine art books or prints and see how intimacy and detail transform a scene. Bring the feeling from the frame into your own space, and let your photography tell a story that resonates.
Dive deeper into the lessons and stories with my fine art photography books
Learn hands-on techniques in my photography workshops—practical, fun, and inspiring.
Bring peace, beauty, and storytelling into your space with fine art prints.
Get Close – Bonus Challenge
Grab a tiny subject—a flower, shell, or even a leaf—and fill the frame. Take three shots: wide, medium, and tight. Focus on details and see how closeness makes your viewer feel like they’re right there.
