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Beach & sea

Beach photos look effortless when the light is right and brutal when it isn't. The difference is almost entirely *when* you shoot and where you put the sun — plus one small thing about the horizon.

A woman on the beach at golden hour, sun low behind her, warm light, a level horizon line behind.

The annotated breakdown is inside.

The usual miss

Midday at the beach is the worst light of the day, and it's exactly when most people shoot. The sun is straight overhead, blasting hard shadows under the eyes, bleaching the highlights, and making her squint into a grimace. Add a horizon line tilted at five degrees and sliced straight through her neck, and you've got the classic disappointing holiday photo.