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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sailboats anchored in blue water harbour

Sailboats Anchored in Blue Water Harbour


woman stands thoughtful on a beach in the morning sun

Woman Stands Thoughtful On A Beach In The Morning Sun


woman standing on beach holding pink inflatable shell toy

Woman Standing On Beach Holding Pink Inflatable Shell Toy


sandy beaches and inlets in calm ocean waters

Sandy Beaches And Inlets In Calm Ocean Waters


tropical urban beach shore

Tropical Urban Beach Shore


a pink evening sky over blue waves at the coast

A Pink Evening Sky Over Blue Waves At The Coast


aerial view of two women sitting on sandy beach in sunshine

Aerial View Of Two Women Sitting On Sandy Beach In Sunshine


beach with city in the background

Beach With City In The Background


woman does yoga stretches on a beach in the morning light

Woman Does Yoga Stretches On A Beach In The Morning Light


a woman at the beach with patterned shawl around her shoulders

A Woman At The Beach With Patterned Shawl Around Her Shoulders


rock along shoreline leads out into calm waters

Rock Along Shoreline Leads Out Into Calm Waters


husband and wife on the rocks

Husband And Wife On The Rocks


colourful bean bags on a beach under blue shades and trees

Colourful Bean Bags On A Beach Under Blue Shades And Trees


motorcycle and tracks in beach sands

Motorcycle And Tracks In Beach Sands


woman in a sweater stands on a beach in the morning

Woman In A Sweater Stands On A Beach In The Morning


ripples in sand at low tide

Ripples In Sand At Low Tide


a tattooed woman enjoys the sun on the beach

A Tattooed Woman Enjoys The Sun On The Beach


aerial view of two women sitting on sandy beach

Aerial View Of Two Women Sitting On Sandy Beach


dog enjoying a sunset beach walk

Dog Enjoying A Sunset Beach Walk


a man on a dune watches the sun set from the beach

A Man On A Dune Watches The Sun Set From The Beach


vancouver island beach view

Vancouver Island Beach View


sunset tide spilling onto rocky beach

Sunset Tide Spilling Onto Rocky Beach


buildings, beaches, and blue sea water

Buildings, Beaches, and Blue Sea Water


two people sit on the beach and watch the sunset

Two People Sit On The Beach And Watch The Sunset


sandy feet, sandy beach

Sandy Feet, Sandy Beach


sun sets behind two feathers in the sand

Sun Rises Behind Two Feathers In The Sand


a woman in a beach robe poses on the beach

A Woman In A Beach Robe Poses On The Beach


waves crash on rocky coastline

Waves Crash On Rocky Coastline


silhouettes of two people splashing on the beach

Silhouettes Of Two People Splashing On The Beach


sunlight ducks below the horizon

Sunlight Ducks Below The Horizon


two women sitting on red metal lifeguard chair at beach

Two Women Sitting On Red Metal Lifeguard Chair At Beach


a woman walks along the beach leaving footprints in the sand

A Woman Walks Along The Beach Leaving Footprints In The Sand


waves crash at the base of a cliff

Waves Crash At The Base Of A Cliff


blue and orange tide rolls into shore

Blue And Orange Tide Rolls Into Shore


a tanned woman with patterned shawl poses on beach

A Tanned Woman With Patterned Shawl Poses On Beach


a photographer crouches at his tripod on a misty beach

A Photographer Crouches At His Tripod On A Misty Beach


bubble on wave

Bubble On Wave


barefoot in the sand

Barefoot In The Sand


sun cracked cliffs overlook bathers on a sandy beach

Sun Cracked Cliffs Overlook Bathers On A Sandy Beach


grassy rooftops

Grassy Rooftops


hanging out with friends on the beach

Hanging Out With Friends On The Beach


feet walk into the water

Feet Walk Into The Water


beach scene with people enjoying the warmth

Beach Scene With People Enjoying The Warmth


lighthouse on rocks overlooks water

Lighthouse On Rocks Overlooks Water


beach with aqua blue water and a single beach umbrella

Beach With Aqua Blue Water And A Single Beach Umbrella


two people walking along the beach at sunset

Two People Walking Along The Beach At Sunset


deep blue sky over lighthouse

Deep Blue Sky Over Lighthouse


bathers wade into turquoise waters off a sandy beach

Bathers Wade Into Turquoise Waters Off A Sandy Beach


people begin to leave the beach

People Begin To Leave The Beach


setting sun reflected in low tide

Setting Sun Reflected In Low Tide


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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.