As I look back on last summer’s photos, I’ve noticed that 99% of them feature my young daughter participating in some type of water activity.
Ironically, I don’t own a waterproof camera.
Granted, most of the photos were taken from the safety of a dry pool deck or sandy stretch of beach, but there are instances where I waded into the water in order to capture a unique angle. Fortunately, my camera survived the water exposure.
I took a risk by venturing into deep water with my camera, but it paid off. This is not to say that you have to jeopardize your expensive picture-taking device. However, snapping a sea of boring static shots when your kids are living it up at the beach can make for dull vacation albums.
A simple way to spice up summer shots is to experiment with different angles. For example, by kneeling down in the sand or standing on a rock you can change your perspective and add some drama to a photo. Also, look for opportunities to snap some action shots. This should be a breeze if you have young kids as your subjects. Shoot your children splashing in the white wash or jumping into a lake from a tire swing. If you fear getting your camera wet, then stay on shore and capture people playing volleyball or Frisbee. You could also crouch down low to get interesting angles of your children making sand sculptures.
As you search for unique camera angles, keep in mind that lighting will affect the outcome of your summer shots. If you are taking photos at the beach, watch out for harsh shadows that form on your subjects during the mid-day hours. Bright sunlight can also cause your children to squint and wash out backgrounds. To avoid this, shoot in the shade or use a fill-in flash to eliminate shadows.
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