Tips for photographing snowboarders

Shooting cool photos on the slopes can look a lot easier than it is. All that snow can dominate, making your snowboarding friend look like a mere speck against a mountain of white. Still, there are a few essential tips that will instantly make your snowboarding photos bigger, bolder and more exciting.

1. Start out with a light, manageable compact waterproof camera. That way, you’ll know that the camera, and the elements, won’t interfere with that killer shot. Then get as close as you can to your subject, safely.
2. If your subject is getting air, shoot from below. Get as low as you can and focus on where you expect your snowboarder to go. This will make your photo a lot cooler... and the jump appear considerably higher than it was in reality.
3. Then think about how you are going to capture the shot: Is the snowboarder going to fly past, or head straight towards you? Adjust your shutter speed accordingly:
   • For the glide by shots, use a fast shutter speed that can capture high speed. If you’re using a compact digital camera, simply switch your settings to sports or action mode.
   • If the snowboarder is heading straight down the hill towards you, slow down the shutter speed and focus on where you expect the snowboarder to go rather than where he or she currently is.

Using a digital waterproof camera at the beach

Heading to the beach? By following a few simple rules, you can shoot exceptional photos with your compact digital camera.

Five tips for great beach shots:

1. Get up close. Great beach shots are all about the details. Rather than focusing on a vast expanse of sand and sea, move in on the little things: close ups of people, sand, shells. These little details often go a long way toward sharing your experience.
2. Focus on something.If you are shooting landscapes or seascapes, find a focal point – something that stands out in the landscape – and build your photos around it.
3. Visit the beach when it’s empty. Rather than bringing your camera during peak sunbathing hours, show up at the beach when there’s nobody there – in the winter, or very early in the morning. You’ll see a different, often more interesting beach.
4. Capture morning, and evening light. Get up early and stay out a little later and you will find the perfect light for shooting beach photos. Taking photos morning and evening will cut out the sun’s glare from sand and sea, and will bring out richer colours in your photos.
5. Use action mode to take wave shots. Shooting surf? A waterproof digital camera such as the Z33WP will let you get closer without worrying about getting your camera wet. Be sure to set your digital camera to action or sports mode capture still shots of surf and breaking waves.

How to shoot wicked surf photos with a waterproof digital camera

Anyone who has tried shooting photos of surfers knows how challenging it can be to get one killer shot. At any moment you are dealing with a whole bunch of factors: sunlight, the motion of the surfer and the wave, water, sand...

The first advice any surf photographer will give you is practice. Get out there, stand in the surf with your waterproof digital camera and take as many photos as you can. Once you start to practice, here are some digital photography tips that will make your first forays into surf photography a little bit easier.

1. Shoot at the right time of day. Don’t bother shooting surf photos in the middle of the day. The sun will become one more obstacle to work with. Get up early and catch the day’s first waves. Or shoot your photos in the late afternoon to take advantage of the indirect light.
2. Get in the water. You want to get as close to your subject as possible. If that subject is you, get a camera mount so you can attach your digital waterproof camera to your surfboard. If you’re photographing from the shore, wade right in and get up close and personal with the surfers.
3. Get the right equipment. Don’t let your camera be an obstacle to that killer surf photo. Start with a camera that is light, waterproof and portable. The Fuji Z33WP is an ideal compact waterproof digital camera. And make sure you use a floating wrist strap so you can recover your camera if it falls into the surf.