Beach pictures

Relax in our sunny collection of beach photos. You’ll find royalty-free images of stunning seaside sunsets, white sand beaches, clear blue oceans, powerful waves, beach pictures with people, starfish, conch shells, seashells, boats, and more.

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gray ripples

Gray Ripples


aerial view of waves washing up along sandy beach

Aerial View Of Waves Washing Up Along Sandy Beach


sea glass in the sand

Sea Glass In The Sand


person running on the beach under setting sun

Person Running On The Beach Under Setting Sun


wooden fence lines a sandy beach and grassy hill

Wooden Fence Lines A Sandy Beach And Grassy Hill


blue hour over the horizon from beach

Blue Hour Over The Horizon From Beach


abstract image of beach scene

Abstract Image Of Beach Scene


penticton wineries overlook okanagan lake from cliffside

Penticton Wineries Overlook Okanagan Lake From Cliffside


a stoney mound on the beach

A Stoney Mound On The Beach


solitary surfer paddles out to the waves

Solitary Surfer Paddles Out To The Waves


wood fire on a cold day by the water

Wood Fire On A Cold Day By The Water


aerial view of coastal city and roller coaster

Aerial View Of Coastal City And Roller Coaster


straw parasols on a beach in greece

Straw Parasols On A Beach In Greece


northern california rocky shore

Northern California Rocky Shore


portrait image of sunny day at beach

Portrait Image Of Sunny Day At Beach


straw parasols on a sandy beach

Straw Parasols On A Sandy Beach


white wedding dress on a beach

White Wedding Dress On A Beach


lone man stands on a pier at sunset

Lone Man Stands On A Pier At Sunset


woman watches paddlers

Woman Watches Paddlers


rocky seashore sunset

Rocky Seashore Sunset


waves crash under morning sun

Waves Crash Under Morning Sun


tide rolling in

Tide Rolling In


family taking photos by the sea

Family Taking Photos By The Sea


a white horse in a field walled off from a  beach

A White Horse In A Field Walled Off From A Beach


grey foggy beach

Grey Foggy Beach


paddling on a cloudy day

Paddling On A Cloudy Day


bride and groom walk the beach

Bride And Groom Walk The Beach


a lifeguard sits in raised white stand

A Lifeguard Sits In Raised White Stand


sandy path leads into a shrub-covered hill

Sandy Path Leads Into A Shrub-Covered Hill


calm pacific ocean at sunset off california coastline

Calm Pacific Ocean At Sunset Off California Coastline


kite flying at beach

Kite Flying At Beach


jogger on a sandy beach

Jogger On A Sandy Beach


man in black on the beach

Man In Black On The Beach


sea meets sand

Sea Meets Sand


swimmers and surfers scattered along gentle waves

Swimmers And Surfers Scattered Along Gentle Waves


contrast between sand and sea

Contrast Between Sand And Sea


wine and cheese picnic on the beach

Wine And Cheese Picnic On The Beach


sunrise over wavy ocean on sandy beach

Sunrise Over Wavy Ocean On Sandy Beach


winter paddling

Winter Paddling


rocky cliffs stand over sandy beach

Rocky Cliffs Stand Over Sandy Beach


haystack rock oregon

Haystack Rock Oregon


beachside skyscrapes stretch the distance

Beachside Skyscrapers Extend Into The Distance


viewing machine looking into the distance

Viewing Machine Looking Into The Distance


sun sets over the water

Sun Sets Over The Water


aerial view of sandy beach with two women laying on blankets

Aerial View Of Sandy Beach With Two Women Laying On Blankets


smooth rocks on sandy beach

Smooth Rocks On Sandy Beach


families and footprints on a sandy beach

Families And Footprints On A Sandy Beach


clear blue sea surrounds a small bank of sand

Clear Blue Sea Surrounds A Small Bank Of Sand


a child with long brown hair inspects pebbles on the beach

A Child With Long Brown Hair Inspects Pebbles On the Beach


women exercising on the sand

Women Exercising On The Sand


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Stunning Beach Pictures and Travel Photography

Travel photography is one of the most interesting genres of photographic journalism. As far as the subjects covered - the genre is one of the most open. Travel photographers are visual artists who specialize in capturing the essence of a time and place through the lens of a visitor observing a location and its culture.

From wide-shots of white sand beaches to action shots of intense weather patterns to serene photos of your personal tropical paradise complete with stunning shots of beach-fronts and surfs - travel photography is a truly diverse and fascinating art

Turning Your Vacation Photos into Art

The art of travel photography is so much more than simply snapping shots on location. Framing, timing, color and composition all have a significant role to play in truly capturing the character of your location.

Framing a Tropical Island

When photographers talk about “framing” an image they’re talking about using the objects around the subject you’re capturing to situate them and draw the viewer’s attention to them. Surrounding palm trees, rocks, branches and even doors or windows are great way to do this. You’ll want to be mindful of what surrounds your subject and use it to your advantage.

For example, maybe you’re on the ocean in the middle of the caribbean snapping shots of bottlenose dolphins bouncing up and down over the water. A stagnant shot of this scene would be great - but what might really put the photo over-the-edge would be managing to frame the dolphin against the backdrop of a tropical island or even the decor of the boat.

Colors of the Surf and the Ocean

Color is an important aspect in any photography - but in travel photography it’s especially important. Remember that the colors in your photographs can set the mood and convey the character of the location.

If you’re snapping shots of a tropical surf in Hawaii for example - it would make sense to use bright, saturated blues, yellows, and pinks. Whereas if you’re photographing the country-side of Scotland - more muted greys and soft greens would make more sense.

It’s no secret that colors opposite each other on the color wheel](https://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory) play well together - but with photographs of real scenes, you’re not able to alter the colours of objects (at least not until post-production). Similar to framing - finding the right colours to play off each other is about having an artistic eye and being able to spot scenes and compositions in real life that can play off each other.

When travelling - you want to keep an eye out for scenes with contrasting colours that you can incorporate into your shots. Beaches, surfs, islands, cities and nature reserves are great places to find colours that naturally play off of each other.