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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a beautiful view on a cloudy day

A Beautiful View On A Cloudy Day


blue and white waves crashing

Blue And White Waves Crashing


a greying older man plays a pipe strolling by water's edge

A Greying Older Man Plays A Pipe Strolling By Water's Edge


pelican flies over beach cliffs

Pelican Flies Over Beach Cliffs


smile for the camera!

Smile For The Camera!


a single rocky stack emerges from blue waters

A Single Rocky Stack Emerges From Blue Waters


young woman looks at phone while sitting on beach blanket

Young Woman Looks At Phone While Sitting On Beach Blanket


view of crystal clear lake and colorful trees

View Of Crystal Clear Lake And Colorful Trees


rocky shores of oregon usa

Rocky Shores Of Oregon Usa


wooden fence on sandy beach

Wooden Fence On Sandy Beach


two women stretching on the beach

Two Women Stretching On The Beach


limestone hills peppered with houses overlook a sandy beach

Limestone Hills Peppered With Houses Overlook A Sandy Beach


gentle rolling waves cradle avid surfers

Gentle Rolling Waves Cradle Avid Surfers


a long stretch of sandy beach under weather limestone cliffs

A Long Stretch Of Sandy Beach Under Weather Limestone Cliffs


orange tide rolls into shore

Orange Tide Rolls Into Shore


a luscious cliffside cradles a beach

A Luscious Cliffside Cradles A Beach


tide rushes into shore on hazy morning

Tide Rushes Into Shore On Hazy Morning


a silhouette of a person riding a bike at sunset

A Silhouette Of A Person Riding A Bike At Sunset


puddles of water on the beach reflect the sunset

Puddles Of Water On the Beach Reflect The Sunset


viewing machine stood on a boardwalk

Viewing Machine Stood On A Boardwalk


a restaurant by the water

A Restaurant By The Water


people walking down a sandy beach at sunset

People Walking Down A Sandy Beach At Sunset


people stand on beach by a pier at sunset

People Stand On Beach By A Pier At Sunset


green covered cliffs meet crashing waves

Green Covered Cliffs Meet Crashing Waves


azure windows through craggy cliffs

Azure Windows Through Craggy Cliffs


skyscrapers at the beach

Skyscrapers At The Beach


pink sunset

Pink Sunset


a figure in a hoodie on a beach at the shoreline

A Figure In A Hoodie On A Beach At The Shoreline


beach walk at sunset with a pier in the distance

Beach Walk At Sunset With A Pier In The Distance


old man making some new friends

Old Man Making Some New Friends


sunset beach tides

Sunset Beach Tides


person in black walks towards the water on beach

Person In Black Walks Towards The Water On Beach


person cross legged on a yoga mat at the beach

Person Cross Legged On A Yoga Mat At The Beach


water rolls to shore on a cloudy day

Water Rolls To Shore On A Cloudy Day


calm water laps the shoreline

Calm Water Laps The Shoreline


rocky outcrops creep into the water

Rocky Outcrops Creep Into The Water


blue waves crash at base of cliff

Blue Waves Crash At Base Of Cliff


sunset falls over a watchtower and bay

Sunset Falls Over A Watchtower And Bay


aerial photo of green trees and aqua blue water

Aerial Photo Of Green Trees And Aqua Blue Water


busy beach with city buildings surrounding the coastline

Busy Beach With City Buildings Surrounding The Coastline


kayakers and surfers on a sandy beach under limestone cliffs

Kayakers And Surfers On A Sandy Beach Under Limestone Cliffs


rocky limestone cliffs loom over a sandy beach

Rocky Limestone Cliffs Loom Over A Sandy Beach


bathers bask on a sunny beach under rocky cliffs

Bathers Bask On A Sunny Beach Under Rocky Cliffs


cliffs form shadows by the sea

Cliffs Form Shadows By The Sea


woman on beach with colourful camera

Woman On Beach With Colourful Camera


still beach at sunset with person crouching

Still Beach At Sunset With Person Crouching


the craggy limestone cliff of a sandy bay

The Craggy Limestone Cliff Of A Sandy Bay


figures line rocky outcrops protruding into the sea

Figures Line Rocky Outcrops Protruding Into The Sea


sandy beach and large cliffs

Sandy Beach And Large Cliffs


flowers view

Flowers View


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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.