Surfers Reflection on Venice Beach
Venice Beach's broad, flat shoreline becomes a mirror at low tide, with thin sheets of water left behind by retreating waves reflecting the sky, surfers, and anyone walking the sand. The reflection shots work best when you get low, almost pressing your wide-angle lens to the wet sand, letting the sky double itself in the shallow water while silhouetted figures move through the frame. The magic window is the 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, when the sky holds pink and orange tones and the ambient light stays soft without harsh shadows. Check tide charts in advance and aim for a low tide that falls within an hour of sunset for the best combination of wet sand and color. A wide-angle lens lets you stretch the reflections across the foreground while keeping the horizon and sky as your backdrop. Parking along Ocean Front Walk fills quickly, so arrive early. (Venice, Los Angeles, California, United States)
