Atlantic City for the Holidays

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays!

Those of you that know me personally also know that I am very proud of the fact that I am from Atlantic City, NJ. Those of us South-Jersey-Shore folk are quick to pour praise on our wonderful beaches, and to fondly recall memories on our boardwalks. Many of us will also tell you that the off-seasons - when all the tourists have gone home - are the best time to come visit. It is likely because we are treated to the amazing displays of nature that you see below, on a near-daily basis.

Autumn Sunsets on the Beach are a South Jersey Special

I was home recently for Thanksgiving, visiting with my family and spending the weekend at the shore.  After a few days of stuffing myself, enjoying a few holiday beverages, and watching movies, cabin fever began to kick in. So I decided to get out for a bit, and braved the elements on a very cold weekend to shoot a little on the beach.  

I had recently discovered Thomas Heaton's YouTube channel, and specifically, his video on using zoom lenses for landscape photography. Essentially, his message was that many nature photographers will use a wide angle lens to fit in as much of the landscape as possible in their shots, when in practice, the effect of seeing a grand vista in person doesn't necessarily translate as well in pictures. Rather, what your eye typically picks out in those scenarios when you are faced with a beautiful view, is the many individual details of the entire scene.

Thomas Heaton had some good tips for using zoom lenses for landscape photography

While not advising photographers to completely abandon their wide angle lenses, he  did recommended using a zoom lens in some scenarios to capture those individual details of the overall scene. Rather than have one shot that fits everything in, why not have a bunch of shots to go home with?

So - that's what I tried on this cold November evening. I grabbed my 70-200mm f/2.8, and ran out to catch the last few minutes of the sunset on the beach. I was not disappointed in the views that were presented. I only lasted about 30 minutes in the cold as the sun went down, but I had a blast and landed some good shots!

There's Nothing Better Than an Empty Beach

Really - there are few things better in life than coming off the boardwalk and over the sand dunes to a completely empty beach; sand stretching all the way down to the ocean with unobstructed views in any direction. There truly is something magical in feeling the cool salty air on your face, listening to the sea birds cawing in the distance, hearing the ocean swells gently breaking on the sand - and nothing else. Talk about zen moments, this is definitely one of them. Especially in a traditionally busy area like the beaches of Atlantic City, with the casinos looming on the horizon.

So, that would be my advise to you this Fall or coming Winter - find yourself a busy beach, or other touristy area that is usually never empty in the Summer. Try going there when the weather is approaching freezing, and nobody in their right mind is out for a walk. It's an entirely different experience - sometimes eerie if you're not accustomed to it, but definitely worth the acclimation process. Make sure you bring your camera and zoom lens, and try picking out some of the details rather than the whole scene. It is a fun change from how I had been shooting landscapes in the past!