Red Beach

Red Beach sits on the southern coast of Santorini, backed by towering volcanic cliffs streaked in deep reds, ochres, and blacks that make it one of the most visually striking shorelines in the Mediterranean. The compressed layers of volcanic rock create natural texture and color that rewards wide shots framing the cliffs against the sea, as well as tighter compositions isolating the abstract patterns in the stone. Shoot from the rocky shoreline to include the dark pebbles as foreground interest, or climb partway up the coastal path for an elevated perspective that shows the full sweep of the cliff face meeting the vivid blue water. Morning light hits the cliffs directly and brings out their warmth before the crowds arrive; midday can work well too since the saturated colors hold up in strong sun. A wide angle lens suits the scale here, but a short telephoto lets you isolate cliff detail. Access is by boat from Akrotiri or a short rocky path. (Santorini, South Aegean, Greece)