Photographing Coastal Landscapes

Class Preview

Master technical skills to capture the coast in awe-inspiring images!

Planning & Possibilities

Meet your instructor, landscape photographer Kurt Budliger, and discover the amazing coastal scenes you can capture: from grand vistas to intimate scenes, natural and man-made. Kurt offers invaluable advice for scouting locations, planning your day, and researching and working with tides.

Elements of a Great Photo

Learn how to maximize natural light and atmospheric conditions for dynamic compositions that will resonate with your viewer. Gain a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of light and learn how to harness the beauty of the golden and blue hours. Capture dramatic clouds, fog and other weather phenomena to create photos with energy and movement that provide your viewer with a sense of being there.

Harnessing Dynamic Range

Minimize post-processing time as Kurt shows you how to use the histogram and live view features to properly expose for dynamic range in the field, making sure you keep the details in your highlights and shadows. Then, see how some simple polarizers, graduated neutral density filters and exposure adjustments will not only bring out details and saturate colors, but also convey moods and evoke emotions.

Dynamic Compositions

Learn professional composition tips for identifying and capturing patterns, adding balance to photos and searching out “power shapes.” Discover how lens selection greatly affects images and how to work through a scene to make sure you don’t miss the shot.

Capturing Wave Action

Master proper exposure for water as Kurt demonstrates capturing the action of a crashing wave as well as the quiet, misty beauty created from a long exposure. Discover how to adjust settings to turn the light you have into the light you want, and witness the different photos captured just by adjusting shutter speed. Push your camera to its limits as Kurt shows you how adding a filter (and cable release) allows you to open the shutter for long periods of time to create ethereal, otherworldly shots.

Working in the Wet Zone

Gather practical tips for keeping yourself and your gear safe. Kurt offers advice for what to wear, how to keep gear dry and safety tips for walking around an unstable coastline. Learn how and when to get yourself into position and what to do if your camera gets wet — or even soaked. Then, learn how to clean your camera and tripod to prevent saltwater corrosion.

Post-Processing

Discover the best post-processing tools and effects for bringing out the natural beauty and raw power of your amazing seascape photos. Kurt offers professional tips for using the histogram on raw files to optimize dynamic range. Then, see how to improve the color, vibrance and brightness of your photos using Kurt’s shortcuts and tricks. Finally, learn how to dodge and burn your photos to lead the viewer’s eye.