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Without all of these elements you’ll struggle to consistently take professional-looking surf photos. Australia, gold coast - surfers paradise stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images.Capturing the perfect surf photo is part luck, part skill, part persistence and part technology. Visit the gold coast - surfers paradise stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Browse 7,271 surfers paradise stock photos and images available or search for surfers paradise beach or surfers paradise australia to find more great stock photos and pictures.
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The more frames your camera can capture every second, the more opportunities you have for getting the shot. This generally means purchasing a DSLR, which has the ability to snap more than 4 frames in a second. Cameras for surf photographyFor excellent results you’ll need a solid piece of equipment. Let’s get started on your photography journey by looking at the most important piece of the puzzle: your camera. Amid the glistening waves and youthful grins in Jeff Divine's photos of 1970s surfers, there's something conspicuously absent from the sun.
For surf photography you’ll want a lens that zooms to at least 200mm. First on the list is a decent lens. For now, we want sharp detail!The benefit (and drawback) of a DSLR camera is that you need accessories. Blurry images suck, unless you get skilled enough to capture intentional motion blurs… but that kind of thing is for another day.
Both offer extensive camera ranges that start with absolute beginner models and culminate in beasts suited for professionals only. What you need to prioritise is shutter speed (frames per second) and glass (photographer-speak for lenses).The most well known DSLR brands are Canon and Nikon. Any camera with 15 megapixels or more will be perfectly fine. Your ideal lens for surf photography is going to be closer to 500mm, enabling you to capture the facial expressions of your subjects as they grimace their way through top turns.So you need a camera that can be attached to a zoom lens, which leads me to… How to choose a cameraDespite what some camera store salesmen might tell you, don’t worry too much about megapixels.
Some of the world’s best surf photographers, like Chris Burkard, shoot exclusively on Sony.Choosing your camera body is a huge decision. Once you’ve picked your brand you’re going to be using only lenses compatible with your brand’s particular lens mount. There are a few exceptions to this rule, just to keep you confused.But don’t feel limited to the “big two” brands – there are also amazing DSLR cameras on offer from Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, amongst others. The Nikon D3300 is for beginners, the D5 is for pros. The Canon 1D is for pros, the 1300D is for beginners.
As a surf photographer, your camera is going to get bashed around. Camera build qualityThe cheapest DSLR cameras are made of plastic. Instead you can think about weight and camera dimensions. But if you only need one or two lenses then this shouldn’t bother you. If you chose Sony, for example, you’re locked into a smaller brand’s ecosystem, with somewhat less choice.
This is why you might want to consider a more expensive body that is comprised of magnesium alloy (or metal and plastic blends), rather than plain old plastic. You may even drop it into a bowl of Mi Goreng (I did).Salt water is not a friend to cameras either. Your friends will treat it with less love than you do, especially when its their turn behind the lens.
Something with an 15 megapixel sensor and 4 or 5 frames per second shutter speed will be cool. I travelled the world with a Canon Rebel T2i (an old, sub $1000 model), took photos that were published in international travel magazines, and had no problems whatsoever.My recommendation for an enthusiast is the Canon 70D, which has rugged construction, 7 frames per second shutter speed, awesome video capability, and is considerably lighter than some of the big boys with similar specs.If you must start cheap, get yourself a second hand DSLR. If you look after your camera, even a plastic model should last you many years.
The trade-off, of course, is quality.To use a surfing metaphor, if you’re going on a worldwide surf trip you could take one “all-purpose” surfboard. These lenses are great if you only want to travel with one “all-purpose” piece of glass. I’ll explain…There are lenses out there that can zoom out to a wide angle, allowing shots of landscapes, then zoom right in on specific objects.
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I’m not going to go into aperture settings for now but, basically, the more expensive lenses often allow more light through them, meaning faster functionality and better performance in a range of lighting conditions. One that covers a good wide angle focal range (example 18-55mm) and one exclusively for action shots (70-200mm is a good start). But if you’re not worried about publishing your photos in print then an all-purpose lens is great!My recommendation for professional-looking shots is two lenses.
The kit lenses that come with many entry level cameras are basic and more suited to capturing family holidays than action sports. “Awesome!” you’ll think – but awesome it often isn’t. If you were to get a 500mm prime lens you would be able to snap pretty excellent action shots.When you buy a new DSLR you’ll often find a lens or two are included in the price. This often translates to excellent performance (less moving parts) but also means that you’re going to have to move yourself around to get the perfect shot. They have only one focal length.
There are specialist lens manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron who build excellent lenses, often significantly cheaper than the brand versions. You can also purchase a 2x extender, which turns it into a 140-400mm zoom.You don’t have to buy lenses from the company who manufactured your camera. The Canon 70-200mm F4 lens is amazing. They are regarded with great reverence for their ability to get the shot. I’d much rather be walking around with a cheap DSLR and a great lens than the other way around.So consider buying a cheap body by itself (will be cheaper than a package with kit lenses) and then seek out a second hand “L” lens or similar that is perfect for surf photography. For example Canon have a range of “L” lenses, which are their professional, best quality models. Simply owning a nice camera doesn’t mean you’ll create great shots.If you know what you want to capture (you do: surfing!) then you can take a more strategic approach to lens purchase.
Pics Of Surfers Upgrade When You
It’s certainly not easy and does give you a whole lot more to worry about from a security perspective.But when you’re sitting on some tropical island listening to the whir of your camera capturing perfect waves with crystal clarity, your effort is quickly repaid. If you go and buy old second hand manual focus lenses you’ll have lots of fun – but you will need to persevere.The thought of travelling with a hand luggage full of expensive lenses, as well as a heavy camera body, is enough to deter many potential photography enthusiasts. So you can start there and upgrade when you require more sharpness and performance.Autofocus and image stabilisation are essentials. If you’re shooting in bright daylight and use a tripod, you’ll get great images perhaps even with the kit lenses.
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