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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person reads a novel on the sandy beach by a tree

Person Reads A Novel On The Sandy Beach By A Tree


person reads their novel sitting on a sandy beach

Person Reads Their Novel Sitting On A Sandy Beach


beach with aqua blue water and a single beach umbrella

Beach With Aqua Blue Water And A Single Beach Umbrella


persons silhouetted profile by a beach sunset

Persons Silhouetted Profile By A Beach Sunset


holding a beach bag and takes out their sunglasses

Holding A Beach Bag And Takes Out Their Sunglasses


wicker beach bag and sandals on a white sandy beach

Wicker Beach Bag And Sandals On A White Sandy Beach


black chalkboard sticking out of a white sandy beach

Black Chalkboard Sticking Out Of A White Sandy Beach


sitting behind a wicker beach bag on rockys by the beach

Sitting Behind A Wicker Beach Bag On Rockys By The Beach


sandals and a beach bag on a white sandy beach

Sandals And A Beach Bag On A White Sandy Beach


arm resting on a wicker beach bag with sunglasses on it

Arm Resting On A Wicker Beach Bag With Sunglasses On It


persons torso facing wavy blue water

Persons Torso Facing Wavy Blue Water


persons legs walking towards the water on a beach

Persons Legs Walking Towards The Water On A Beach


sandy beach with sandals sunglasses and a beach bag

Sandy Beach With Sandals Sunglasses And A Beach Bag


three pairs of summer shoes and a beach bag on the beach

Three Pairs Of Summer Shoes And A Beach Bag On The Beach


sunglasses hanging from the side of a beach bag

Sunglasses Hanging From The Side Of A Beach Bag


person faces the water and holds their shoes in hand

Person Faces The Water And Holds Their Shoes In Hand


photo of a legs standing on a sandy beach next to a beach bag

Photo Of A Legs Standing On A Sandy Beach Next To A Beach Bag


woman reads her book sitting on a wooden log on the beach

Woman Reads Her Book Sitting On A Wooden Log On The Beach


busy beach with city buildings surrounding the coastline

Busy Beach With City Buildings Surrounding The Coastline


the setting sun over still water on a city coast

The Setting Sun Over Still Water On A City Coast


two people walk the beach with a lighthouse in the distance

Two People Walk The Beach With A Lighthouse In The Distance


sand with a metal structure in the middle

Sand With A Metal Structure In The Middle


macro photo of bubbles on a sandy beach

Macro Photo Of Bubbles On A Sandy Beach


close up of waves and bubbles on the shore at sunset

Close Up Of Waves And Bubbles On The Shore At Sunset


close up of lapping waves on a sandy beach

Close Up Of Lapping Waves On A Sandy Beach


sandy beach and sand dunes under deep blue sky

Sandy Beach And Sand Dunes Under Deep Blue Sky


golden light on a sandy beach with lapping waves

Golden Light On A Sandy Beach With Lapping Waves


person in a floral dress stands on a beach facing the water

Person In A Floral Dress Stands On A Beach Facing The Water


woman in floral dress sits by a wooden boardwalk

Woman In Floral Dress Sits By A Wooden Boardwalk


woman in a facemask takes a selfie with her phone

Woman In A Facemask Takes A Selfie With Her Phone


woman in glasses smiles by the rocky shoreline

Woman In Glasses Smiles By The Rocky Shoreline


persons torso standing on a sandy beach

Persons Torso Standing On A Sandy Beach


woman in a facemask takes a cellphone selfie

Woman In A Facemask Takes A Cellphone Selfie


person holds a facemask out in front of them

Person Holds A Facemask Out In Front Of Them


black boots and legs on a sandy beach at sunset

Black Boots And Legs On A Sandy Beach At Sunset


person sits on steps by a beach looking at their phone

Person Sits On Steps By A Beach Looking At Their Phone


person stands on sandy beach looking out to the water

Person Stands On Sandy Beach Looking Out To The Water


person carries their blue and white surfboard to the ocean

Person Carries Their Blue And White Surfboard To The Ocean


person carries surfboard on the beach

Person Carries Surfboard On The Beach


person dressed in black looks out to a sandy beach

Person Dressed In Black Looks Out To A Sandy Beach


two people sit on a beach throwing a ball for two dogs

Two People Sit On A Beach Throwing A Ball For Two Dogs


person cross legged on a yoga mat at the beach

Person Cross Legged On A Yoga Mat At The Beach


landscape of a sandy beach and rolling hills

Landscape Of A Sandy Beach And Rolling Hills


woman in sunglasses takes a selfie at the beach

Woman In Sunglasses Takes A Selfie At The Beach


woman smiles and stands in front of sandy hills

Woman Smiles And Stands In Front Of Sandy Hills


stone archway frames a person walking to beach

Stone Archway Frames A Person Walking To Beach


two people jump high on a sandy beach

Two People Jump High On A Sandy Beach


person jumping on beach creating a floating illusion

Person Jumping On Beach Creating A Floating Illusion


person in a warm jacket looks out to the ocean

Person In A Warm Jacket Looks Out To The Ocean


person sits on a mat at the beach and looks out to the water

Person Sits On A Mat At The Beach And Looks Out To The Water


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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.