Sunset Beach Park

Sunset Beach Park is one of the most iconic stretches of sand on Oahu's North Shore, famous for its massive winter swells that draw world-class surfers and give photographers dramatic wave action to work with. From November through February, position yourself at the waterline or on the dry sand with a telephoto lens, 200mm or longer, to compress the distance and isolate surfers against the towering faces of the waves. In summer the ocean flattens out, making it ideal for long exposure shots of calm water and reflections. The beach faces west, so sunset is the prime shooting window, with warm golden light spilling across the sand and silhouetting any surfers still in the water. Arrive early to claim your spot as the beach gets busy on good swell days. A wide angle lens works well for foreground sand textures leading into the scene. (Pupukea, O'ahu, Hawaii)