Subject: Mark and Beth by the sea in Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

This beach portrait is a glimpse into the casual, intimate life of the couple. Mark and Beth are avid ocean athletes and are passionate about the sea and all the life and mysteries within. The lines of the photo are clean and non-traditional and work powerfully together. The colors really capture that feeling of a great summer beach memory.

As a professional photographer, the mid-day sun can be a real challenge. Often, powerful lights are required to ‘overpower’ the sun’s bright light. More practically, a type of diffuser is used to block some of the sun’s direct light. The diffusers come in many different shapes and configurations. I have to admit this is the first time I have used a beach umbrella as a diffuser. Not only does it serve to help manage the bright sun, it also serves as a visual element adding to the photograph’s overall composition.