Beach photography

[snap]

Next week I'll be going to a family gathering in So. Calif. on a beach. I have never taken digital pictures on a beach and am worried about blowout, and people being underexposed. I'm trying to remember what I have read various places about shooting in this type of situation. I recall that one writer recommended "shooting to the right" (with reference to a histogram), actually slightly overexposing, then correcting in post processing. Another suggested using a fill flash. Should I have with me a ND filter? Should I use an automatic setting or shoot in, say, AV and make some sort of adjustments?

[wutske]

The ND filter will help.
I do suggest not to overexposure anything, because details get lost, while underexposing something can be corrected using software.

[memphishooter]

overexposing is kiss of death in digital because you lose detail you cannot get back. Shoot under and bring it up in post- way better.

[joolm]

um... what they said... lol... overexposure is only good if you want it done purposely (and your going for overexposed artistic shots, etc...)

[GaryS]

Use a flash, if you can!

Shots of people at the beach come out tons better with a fill flash, cause it takes all the harsh shadows off their faces.

My own preference is for people to wear sunglasses if it is very bright out... I hate pictures of people squinting.

[DonSchap]

It'll knock down about an f-stop of light... and reduce the glare, enormously. You can add an NDx2 or NDx4 to that, if necessary.

Don't let sunlight ruin your photographs... LOL :D

[FLiPMaRC]

Beach pics from last Sunday (7/16/06). I don't have an ND filter yet :( So all I used was a CP filter.

http://bsprogs.com/files/108/LI%20BBQ%20Beach%20Meet/IMG_0316-800.jpg
http://bsprogs.com/files/108/LI%20BBQ%20Beach%20Meet/IMG_0416-800.jpg
http://bsprogs.com/files/108/LI%20BBQ%20Beach%20Meet/IMG_0415-800.jpg
http://bsprogs.com/files/108/LI%20BBQ%20Beach%20Meet/IMG_0513-800.jpg
http://bsprogs.com/files/108/LI%20BBQ%20Beach%20Meet/IMG_0515-800.jpg