One of the great advantages of taking my vacation in Barbados is the opportunity to photograph the wonderful sunsets. I have just returned from my ninth trip, and Barbados is such a beautiful island that I never tire of visiting it. The sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6 pm, making it easy to know when to set up for the best shots. This photography course online article uses my experiences to pass on some helpful tips if you want to make the most of the sun going down on your holiday. I will look at technical aspects of this genre in a subsequent article.
Firstly, get to know the locals. You will find that there are one or two dedicated souls who come out two or three times each week to capture the sun going down. They will know the best vantagepoints, other local beaches worth checking out - and will be pleased to show you the photographs they have taken recently. I have found these people a great source of inspiration and help. The wonderful thing about (most) photographers is that they appreciate everyone else's shots and will do their best to help others capture great images too.
Every night is unique. When I first began capturing Barbados sunsets, I generally stayed on the local beach and took my shots from there. Plenty of people think one sunset shot will look like any other. In fact, for ten nights I took my shots at the same location - however, the results looked liked ten different beaches. Movements in cloud formations, slight changes in conditions and effects as the sun slowly fades from view make every single picture a whole new experience.
Remember your points of interest. While a sunset is a memorable, and often moving, experience, even these sensational shots require something else for the viewer's eye to be drawn to if you are to make the shot interesting as well. If you have been following a photography course online, you will be aware of composition - and a decent sunset shot needs to encapsulate this concept. Include a group of early evening bathers, or a local youth with his dog. Maybe a jogger running along the beach, or a boat or two bobbing about in the water.
Finally, allow plenty of time. If I know the sun sets at 6pm, I am set up an hour before. This will make sure you begin to capture the subtle changes that occur in the final 30 minutes before sunset. Also, this will attract the attention of the locals (as mentioned above) and give you the opportunity to swap stories and advice with them. It's also worth hanging around for a while after the sun has disappeared from view to see if there is anything else worth capturing. For example, I was able to film dozens of baby turtles hatching immediately after sunset, and making their way down to the shoreline - an incredible experience.
I hope this article will inspire you to capture sunsets on your vacation, and if you are currently following a photography course online, (or considering one) will find the tips helpful when carrying out your assignments.
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