Advice for the beach please!

[mckinleypics]

I'm headed to the Caribbean next month and would love some advice on what to bring for beach shots. I think I'm covered with lenses but I don't have any filters, other than some UV ones and one 2 stop ND filter. Wondering if polarized or gradual density filters are necessary.

[tone.tran]

I would guess a polarized filter would be really useful. With all the sky and water shots you will have, it'll be essential.

[IslandCrow]

Polarizers are extremely helpful at the beach. You often get a good amount of haze from the salt spray, and a polarizer will make a very noticable difference. Plus, if you're shooting people, they tend to be wet. . .not to mention shooting the water itself.

[Harm]

+1 on the polariser. Can't go wrong with it, esp with the beach, sun, blue skies, turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

[mckinleypics]

Thanks guys - sounds like the polarizer will be my next purchase - toyed with the idea of a Lee holder and gnd filters but that adds up really fast. Also looks like I will have to set my drink down to use them and I really don't want to have to do that.

[IslandCrow]

One way around the GND filter is to take a few shots of the properly exposed sky at various times during the day. Then, you can use Photoshop to replace any overexposed skies with those properly exposed skies.

[mckinleypics]

One way around the GND filter is to take a few shots of the properly exposed sky at various times during the day. Then, you can use Photoshop to replace any overexposed skies with those properly exposed skies.

You are giving me waaaaay too much credit on my PS skills! Thanks for the tip though!!

[IslandCrow]

You are giving me waaaaay too much credit on my PS skills! Thanks for the tip though!!

Hah, I hear you. You don't know how pleased I am with myself that I figured out how to do this much. It's not hard to learn (it can't be if I can do it), though, if you end up needing it in your bag of tricks.