Chasing Light: A Day in the Life of a Beach Photographer

Spent a day at the beach experimenting with my camera gear, particularly with wide-angle lenses and magnetic filters. Despite the harsh lighting and some challenges—like losing yet another drone—I managed to capture a few good shots, especially with the help of a circular polarizer. The conditions weren’t ideal, but every outing is a chance to learn and improve. Photography isn’t always about perfect conditions; it’s about embracing the unexpected and making the most of every moment.

Greetings from the sun-drenched sands! I know, I know—who heads out with a camera on a perfect beach day like this? Most would be content to lounge with a novel or splash in the surf, but not me. Nope. I’ve got all day to play around with my gear, and my inner photographer couldn’t resist the call of the ocean and some dramatic skies. Plus, where else would I accidentally crash a drone?

I’ve been here a couple of hours, catching the tail end of high tide. My mission for the day? Experimentation. I’ve been playing with a wide-angle lens and testing my patience with some long-exposure shots. Now, I must admit, the weather is a bit too bright for long exposures, but it’s still great practice. Besides, I plan to stick around most of the day and see what the ever-changing tides might offer.

The Gear Game

Let’s talk equipment—minimalist style. Today, I’ve kept things simple. I’m using my trusty Nikon Z6 paired with the 14-30mm and 24-70mm lenses. For filters, I’m relying on my Kentfaith magnetic filters: a circular polarizer (CPL) and a 10-stop ND filter. All of this is perched on a Kentfaith carbon fibre tripod, which, if you caught my last video, you know I’ve grown quite fond of. But here’s the kicker: those magnetic filters? They come with their own set of challenges.

If you’ve ever tried stacking magnetic filters on a wide-angle lens, you know what I’m talking about—vignetting. The kind that creeps into the corners of your shots and makes you wonder if you’re suddenly developing tunnel vision. I’ve made a couple of test shots at 14mm to show the effect of stacking these filters. The first shot, with just the CPL, is pretty clean. In the second shot, where I added the ND filter, not so much. Lesson learned: always leave some room in the camera to crop out that pesky vignetting.

no filter 

The Highs and Lows (Mostly Lows) of the Day

So, how did the day go? Let’s just say it was a mixed bag. The light wasn’t exactly on my side—way too harsh for my liking. But hey, that’s part of the game, right? You work with what you’ve got. I did manage to get a few good shots, but my drone wasn’t so lucky. Yes, dear readers, I’ve lost yet another drone. That’s two drones in one year. This time, it met its demise on a rock while I was busy capturing some quick shots. Note to self: The next drone should come with collision avoidance because clearly, I need all the help I can get.

Still, it wasn’t all bad. The beach was stunning, and the weather, though challenging for photography, made for a pretty enjoyable day. I wandered around, waiting for the tide to retreat a bit more, and then turned my attention to the rock pools. Those jagged edges and crystal-clear waters were too tempting to pass up. I went in with my wide-angle lens again, hoping to capture the contrast between the calm water and the dramatic rocks.

The Rock Pool Challenge

Let me tell you, getting a good shot of those rock pools was no walk in the park. I was hoping for a bit more seaweed, maybe a splash of colour to break up the rocky monotony, but no such luck. I did find a patch of lush green seaweed here and there, but it wasn’t enough to really make the composition pop. So, I decided to try a different approach: getting as low as possible to the ground. And you know what? It worked… kind of.

The first few shots were a bit of a disaster—harsh lighting, sunspots, every speck of dust on my filter glaring back at me. Nothing a little Photoshop couldn’t handle, but sometimes, you just have to embrace the imperfections. I decided to include one of those shots in the post to show that even on bad days, there’s always something to learn.

Redemption with a Polarizer

After a few failed attempts, I decided to throw on the CPL to cut down on some of the glare. And finally, there was a glimmer of hope. The polarizer worked wonders, and the next shot was definitely an improvement, but the harsh lighting still detracted from the overall effect. I made a mental note to come back to this spot when the lighting is a bit more subdued.

To switch things up, I decided to process one of the shots in black and white. The result? Probably my favourite photo from the second half of the day. There’s something about the simplicity of monochrome that takes a mediocre shot and gives it a bit of elegance. So, I’m calling that a win.

A Photographer’s Day Out—Not All Sunshine and Rainbows

As the day wore on, the light got even harsher, and I decided it was time to call it quits. Three hours in, with a handful of good photos, and a fried drone, I figured I’d pushed my luck far enough for one day. Sure, I was hoping for a bit more magic, but that’s the thing with photography—you don’t always get the perfect conditions.

A few of my friends often ask, “Why do you bother going out when the weather isn’t perfect for photography?” Well, the answer is simple: practice. You can’t always wait for the golden hour or the perfect cloud cover. Sometimes, you have to make do with what you’ve got, and those are the days that really teach you something. Plus, every outing is a new adventure—even if it ends with a drone in the ocean.

So, I’m headed back to the office now to take a closer look at the day’s shots. Overall, it’s a mixed bag, but that’s just how it goes. Lost a drone, captured some good photos, and learned a few new lessons. Practice makes perfect, after all. And who knows? Maybe next time, the weather gods will be a bit kinder.

Until then, keep chasing that light, and remember: photography is about the journey, not just the destination. And if that journey involves losing a drone or two… well, at least it makes for a good story.