PhotoBoat.com Sailing, Boating and Regatta Photography: May 3, 2014

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Creating the Right Product - A Boat Photography Basic Composition Tip

Boat Photography Composition Tip - Be on a Collision Course! Well, just for a moment. Having the boat coming directly at you often provides the best photo. This is where On-Water Strategy meets Creating the Right Product. You can't have one without the other!

Composition is the foundation of photography; every photographer or photography enthusiast has studied and has a handful of rules to follow. But just knowing the rule of thirds isn't enough when it comes to boat photography composition.
This photo was taken on our first day of photography as Photo Boat, May 3rd, 2005, just off of Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, CT.

We were completely self-taught at that point, and it's pleasing to look back at this photo and see that it's well-composed.

The rule of thirds is well-followed (it is important of course), and the boat is heading straight towards the camera. While there are times that a side-on or stern shot is okay, most commonly we aim to take photos with boats coming straight at us. It provides an extra element of drama, even in lighter wind conditions, and like most composition principles, it just makes the photo feel right to the viewer. Getting this right, along with a number of other elements of course, can turn a snapshot into a professional photo.

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PhotoBoat.com

PhotoBoat's Professional Marine Photographers provide regatta and boating lifestyle photography, with specialties in commercial advertising photography, editorial photography, private yacht assignments and on-the-water event photography. Their online galleries include personal event photos, stock power and sailboat images, and marine art. They are based in Connecticut and regularly travel to Newport, Annapolis, Miami, Key West, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and other sailing hotspots.

Allen and Daniela started PhotoBoat in 2005 and have spent every day since building PhotoBoat from the ground up. Their growth has been tremendous. Their "crazy" style- harnessed into a small RIB and photographing and driving at the same time- got them noticed quickly, and their oustanding photos and professionalism have done the talking ever since.

Today the brand is known across the United States sailing community and beyond. With thousands of hours on the water photographing, they use their experience and creativity to go beyond the usual.

With as many hours logged at sea and also in front of the chalkboard, teaching sailing, their love for the sport comes out in their work, and their skills behind the "wheel" have been noticed across the country. Their "never-satisfied" attitude has made waves in the marine photography field.

Now Allen and Daniela shoot from a variety of platforms, depending on the gig and the client, but they still utilize the "dinghy" extensively to get the close-up shots that nobody else can without disturbing the race course.

Allen and Daniela both have 50 Ton Master USCG Captains licenses. When they are not on their way to or from an event or assignment in South Carolina, Maryland, Maine, or beyond, they live in Connecticut in the summer and Florida in the winter.