When working on new seascape photography for my gallery, I almost always head out with a vision of the final photograph in my mind. I am far more likely to create a photograph that I would hang as a print on my wall if I take an organized approach.
Newport Harbor at Dusk
I will often visit a potential location in advance during the daylight to get a feel for the location. Not only does this help me create the photograph in that vision, it makes it much safer when you know the area before exploring it in the dark.
With the The Photographer’s Ephemeris application on a smart phone I can see which direction the sun will rise and set. A notebook to jot down some ideas, and to make some simple sketches helps as well!
I will also spend a good deal of time researching a location on the computer, determining accessibility and seeing different photographs that have been created there before.
Tidal information will let me know how much of the seashore will be exposed, and whether the tide is rising or falling. Trust me, there is nothing worse then getting all set up for the perfect composition only to find that the rising tide will put your camera underwater when the light is just right!
While having a vision for a photograph is helpful, we also have to keep our eyes and our minds open to creating a photograph that is different from that vision.
On a recent summer evening I ventured down to Newport Harbor in Rhode Island to create a photograph of the setting sun behind the Newport Bridge. My research at home helped me to pick a location that would put the setting sun behind the bridge, and looking at Google Images helped me to see the photograph that I could create.
I had every intention of making the Newport Bridge itself the dominate design element in my composition, and had completely dismissed the thought of including the Goat Island lighthouse in the photograph.
Once on location I was happily creating the photographs that I had visioned when something unexpected happened. The lighthouse turned on. Now, anyone can tell you that a lighthouse turning on at night should not be something unexpected! What was unexpected was the color of the light, which was a brilliant green! I knew right then that the photograph should be of the entire Newport Harbor including the lighthouse, and not just a photograph of the Newport Bridge! You
I quickly packed up my gear and moved to a new location that allowed me to get the lighthouse into the composition. At the end of the night, my favorite photograph is the one that you see here. The photograph that I had no intention of taking!
This photograph is a great example of how keeping an open mind can lead you to create something from the unexpected! You can see more examples of my seascape photography and purchase a print in my fine art print gallery!