- Beach
- Ocean
- Water
- standing on rock
- Soft Light
- Rule of thirds
- Rock
- Playful
- Overcast
- Outdoor
- Natural Light
- Bright
- Natural
- Movement
- Morning
- holding each other
- full body
- Energetic
- Dancing
- Center Framed
- Wide
The story behind the image
Nati and Jose are outstanding humans full of energy. They are constantly smiling, loving life and each other. This frame is so extremely peaceful to me. Every time I look at it, it takes me back to an early morning on a black sand beach where Nati and Jose were dancing on top of stone.
I wouldn’t change anything specific in this picture but I would make sure to hold the shutter down and to be able to create a gif afterwards. I would love to see the dress fly and the waves coming in.
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
Dancing is such an incredible way of moving. Everyone dances in a unique way and joining forces on the dance floor can be magical to me. Lots of my couples sadly wouldn’t feel comfortable in front of the camera if I would ask them to dance. And feeling comfortable is the most important to me.
If I know that one of the two is a dancer before the shoot I can’t let this go. First thing that came to my mind was the last lifting figure in dirty dancing. I asked Nati to step on a stone so Jose could pick her up and lift her. Totally did not work! So they climbed the stone together and made their own movie scene.
What did you say?
Jose I heard you are a breakdancer. I don’t think breakdancing on the beach would work – especially with the cloths you are wearing – but I would love you two to dance. Could I ask you to lift Nati up once she climbs on the stone. And Nati can you jump a little to make it easier for him.
Composition
I have a thing for putting my couples in the center-center of images but there was more thought to this composition.
Since they were standing on a stone I naturally had to shoot from a lower angle. I wanted them to be in sync with the mountains behind them while being the “highest” one. Their dark hair slightly sticking out while their white cloths keep flowing with the water.
Besides Nati and Jose the stone and sand were important parts of the composition. I wanted the stone to be seen as well as the remaining footprints in the black sand. Telling a side story of how they got to this stone in first place.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I focused on the Natalias Hair using Autofocus. I always shoot Single Point Autofocus with my Canon 5D Mark IV but it always surprises me. It rarely is 100% where I wanted it to be but thats the charming thing about not being a machine.
Focus Mode
Single Shot
Focus POints
Single Focus Point
Focused on
the bride's hair
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/2000 @ f/2 ISO200 WB-Auto
The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:
Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.
Light & Weather
This was meant to be a sunrise session but unfortunately our transportation didn’t show up and we couldn’t get to the location soon enough – this is a reminder that things can go wrong. So in the end it was a morning session on a cloudy day, leaving us with soft light through the clouds and reflected light from the sea. In this light you can easily shoot from any direction and any angle without risking to over- or underexpose. I was hoping the light would enhance the foreground intimacy as much as the stunning surroundings and the light didn’t let me down.
Light Type
Natural Light
Time of day
Morning
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
I used my “own” preset — which is not fully true since I didn’t make it from scratch but it evolved with me over the years. The base was from Julia and Gil’s Film Collection back in 2018. Colors in Spain are in general a little warmer than the colors in Germany and I wanted that to be seen in the pictures I took on Teneriffa, which is why I increased the overall warmth. It was important to me though that I wouldn’t color in the black sand instead I wanted to desaturate it. I also gave the bottom of the picture a dark gradient to darken the sand putting the focus on the couple.
Editing Software
Preset Used
Challenges
Shooting at the beach is beautiful but also a little scary for my equipment. Most Sessions I shoot with two cameras. One I am absolutely aware of since it is in front of my face and one which is tangling around my hip. Sometimes I get so caught up in the moment that I forget about the second camera and slowly walk into the water – deeper and deeper. Be cautious about your technical belongings. Also watch the couples cloths you can go in the water at the end but you don’t want them soaked within minutes.
Solutions
When you shoot at the beach start away from the water, put your couple on little high tops and concentrate on standing prompts and the longer you shoot the closer you get to the water. Maybe even end in the water – but please only take the camera in your hand.
Location
Location Name
Playa de Benijo
Location aDDRESS
Playa de Benijo. Almaciga, 10 38129 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Loation Type
Beach / Coastal
Country
Spain
I learned to be more cautious about my surroundings. Scanning the given playground a little more careful before starting to shoot. And if I would’ve had more time, I would have loved to get them a little more sandy and steamy. Maybe even take an underwater camera.
