We have several criteria to determine what makes a photo a good photo. Technical quality is one example. Light, composition and movement also have a great impact on the strength of an image. Naturally, the rules of composition also apply to water. Thus the rule of thirds is the first rule to consider. We must also look for the dynamic frame, the dominant lines. With the horizon, the masts, the halyards, the nautical world does not lack lines.
- Frame it straight. The sea is perfectly horizontal and should remain so. The horizon line of your photos, the sea, must be perfectly straight. This is a framing that requires your body to play with the rhythm of the boat to compensate for its movement. If you miss, it doesn't matter, most photography software allows you to modify the angle of the photo. We will take care not to photograph too tightly in order to be able to reframe the photo easily.
- Find stability, forget your tripod. On a boat, it is an unusable piece of equipment. You should not use a prop either, the shocks of the boat will not allow you to fix yourself properly. Finally, the use of the viewfinder provides better stability. In contrast, holding your camera at arm's length may be more unstable. Finally, never put yourself in danger; your safety on board should guide the position you adopt.
- Increase the shutter speed to avoid "motion blur" and possibly activate the stabilizer function of your lenses. This will prevent blurred photos, but be careful with your depth of field. You can also switch to Sport mode.
- Use a polarizing filter, as you would for glasses. This filter saturates the blues of the sky and water and reduces the effects of reflection and reverberation on the water. It is particularly suitable for images in good weather and strong light and for photos using a wide angle.
- Take the right axis in relation to the light. The strong contrasts between the midnight blue of the sea and the white color of a sailboat makes for a strong contrast. Beware of underexposed images, a small exposure correction is often necessary. It is also possible to choose the "spot" mode to make the exposure on the brightest part of your subject, keeping a strong contrast.
- Always take pictures. If you are not needed for the maneuver, if there is no imminent danger, without disturbing the crew, take pictures in moments of action or stress, even if it doesn't seem like the right time, take them anyway.
- Have a foreground AND a background. This is the secret of many successful landscape photos and the same is true for marine photography.
- Turn to the sun. The light effects of the sun on the sails can make your photos surprising. Prefer photos where the subject is behind the sun, and the sun in front of you, without necessarily being in backlight. Your subject will be bathed in sunlight, with lots of relief and modeling.
- Work in black & white with strong contrasts. Changing your image from color to black and white can really enhance the subject and give your photo a more artistic look. You can set your camera to a black and white setting, or convert your image with software.
- Play with the conditions: wait for the wind to drop, for the sea to calm down, for the sun to set, for the blue hour, take advantage of the reflection quality of the water, capture the reflections, the clouds... Be creative.
The 11th tip is a bonus tip. Tidy up your boat. Don't let an empty beer bottle, an old sandwich or a pair of drying underwear disturb your composition...
If you have other tips and tricks to share with us, don't hesitate to leave a comment.
