The Joy of Photographing by the Sea

Sunday 3 December 2023, 20:02 by Nando Harmsen | 3,430 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

The beach and sea have a strong personal appeal for me. I find it hard to say why, but I love photographing in that environment. In this article, I explain what makes being there and photographing there so appealing.

This article was written in response to my question about what the readers of this blog would like to read. This subject, a view on photographing by the sea and on the beach, was suggested by Marcel Govaerts, for which I am grateful.

It is probably clear that I enjoy photographing by the sea. I like being on the Opal Coast in France, or in the fjords of Lofoten, where sea and land come together in a rugged way.

Ridges in the sand at Cap Blanc Nez
The sea in the Netherlands appeals to me slightly less, since everything is so flat. Just sand and sea, and the dunes, of course. Despite that, this coast also has its own unique appearance and atmosphere. If I get the chance, I also enjoy going to the Dutch coast.

The flat emptiness of a sandy beach.
The sea, surf and beach are an ever-changing environment. There is the constant movement of the water, with the sound that has been ringing out continuously for millions of years. The rocks between which the water flows, or the sand that moves as if it has a life of its own.

Ridges in the sand, formed by wind and water. Tidal pools reflecting the sunlight in myriads of sparkles. And life can be found everywhere, just as the sea symbolises life.

Incoming tide on the Opal Coast.
Photographing the sea and beach offers endless possibilities. But you have to take the time to see them. Photographing without letting yourself be filled with the feelings that the sea and beach evoke will not quickly produce an expressive photo.

I photograph the landscape, and focus less on the details. Yet one is unmistakably connected to the other. That could be a shell or a stone. It could be the ridges on the beach or tidal pools.

Peaceful silence in a tidal pool at dawn.
What attracts me most is a combination of the seemingly endless view and the movement of the water. Preferably around and between rocks. But also with tidal streams on the beach. I like capturing the movement of the water as it flows towards the sea or washes onto the land.

Mussels at ebb tide in the evening twilight, just before night falls.

The unimaginable power of the surf at incoming tide.
I use grey filters to show the movement of the water, or to make that movement invisible. Short long shutter speeds are used to show the movement of the water. Long, long shutter speeds are used to turn that water into a smooth surface.

Dawn.
It is fantastic when there are human elements in the image as well. A ship, a lighthouse, or people and kitesurfers, if they are there. Not in detail, but within that landscape. It only emphasises that emptiness or infinity even more.

A cold, misty day on the beach with a lone kitesurfer emphasising the emptiness and solitude.
It is a shame that I do not live closer to the sea, so that I could go there every day. On the other hand, now every trip there is an adventure. A moment to look forward to and get excited about. I am already looking forward to that moment again.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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1 comment

Donald Willemsen wrote on Sunday 3 December 2023 at 21:34 | reply
Nando, an inspiring article with stunning photos that make me want to go to the Opal Coast again. I was there earlier this year. From where I live, it is doable as a day trip. Unfortunately, because of my physical limitations, I cannot reach most of the beautiful beaches there to capture those beautiful chalk cliffs properly, for example. I did take photos, but not the ones I would like to take. That is frustrating when there are so many beautiful sources of inspiration (including yours) to see.
Translated from Dutch.

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