Some photos look calm. This one was not.
I was standing there before sunrise, half awake, shoes already wet, watching the waves come in… and thinking,
“Okay… today confirm kena splash.”
And yes… I did 😄
But this is exactly the kind of scene I love—waves, movement, a bit of chaos… and somehow, if you get it right, everything falls into place.
The Moment I Saw the Shot
When I reached the spot, the boat was already there, nicely parked like it was waiting for me.
Then I noticed the rope.
That rope changed everything.
Instead of just shooting the boat like everyone else, I thought:
“Eh… this one can lead the whole picture.”
And then the waves started coming in from both sides.
That’s when I knew—this is not just a photo of a boat.
This is about movement.
How I Composed This (and got wet)
Let me break it down simply.
The Rope – Your “GPS”
This rope is doing all the hard work.
It pulls your eyes from the front… straight to the boat.
No confusion. No distraction.
If the rope wasn’t there? Honestly… this shot probably wouldn’t work.
The Boat – The Hero
I placed the boat right in the centre.
Normally people say don’t centre your subject…
But sometimes rules are like traffic lights at 3am—can bend a bit 😄
Here, centre works because everything is pointing towards it.
The Waves – Free Special Effects
Now the fun part.
The waves were coming in from left, right, and straight toward me.
Instead of avoiding them, I used them.
Those arrows you see? That’s exactly how the water was moving.
It creates this natural “push” into the frame. Like the whole sea is helping you compose the shot.
Foreground – The Part Most People Ignore
Most people will stand back and zoom in.
I went the opposite way.
I got low… very low… almost regretted my life choices 😄
Because the rocks and splashing water in front give depth.
Without this, the image will feel very flat and boring.
The Settings (and Why Timing Is Everything)
This shot is all about shutter speed.
Too fast → messy water
Too slow → everything becomes soup
So I went for around:
- Shutter: about 0.5 to 1 second
- Aperture: f/8 – f/11
- ISO: 100
But honestly? The exact number is not the point.
The real trick is… watching the waves.
Every wave is different. Some are nice and smooth. Some come in like they are angry with you.
You just have to wait… and press at the right moment.
Filters – the quiet heroes
Without filters, this shot won’t happen.
ND Filter
This helps slow down your shutter speed.
Otherwise, everything will be too bright and you can’t get that soft water effect.
GND Filter
Sunrise sky is bright. Foreground is dark.
If you don’t balance it, either:
- Sky is nice, foreground too dark
- Or foreground nice, sky completely blown
So the GND helps keep both.
Simple, but very important.
Editing – Keeping It Natural (Don’t Overcook)
When I edit, I always remind myself:
“This is not Instagram curry. Don’t overcook.”
What I did:
- Lower highlights → bring back sky detail
- Lift shadows → show the rocks and water
- Warm up slightly → because sunrise should feel warm
Then small small adjustments:
- A bit of contrast
- Slight clarity on rocks
- Keep water soft (important)
I also brightened the rope slightly… just to help guide your eyes.
Very subtle. If people can see your editing, you’ve already done too much.
Things That Can Go Wrong (and Usually Do)
Let’s be honest… many shots didn’t make it 😄
- Wave too strong → water splash all over lens
- Timing off → water looks messy
- Composition slightly off → whole flow gone
Seascape photography is like fishing.
Sometimes you get a good catch.
Sometimes you just get wet.
Final Thoughts
What I love about this image is not the boat.
It’s how everything works together.
The rope leads you in.
The waves push you forward.
And the boat just sits there… waiting.
That’s the magic.
Not just what you see—but how things move inside your frame.
If you enjoy this kind of photography and want to learn it hands-on (with less guessing and hopefully less getting soaked 😄), you’re always welcome to join my workshops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Europe, and Lofoten Norway.
We’ll chase light, waves… and maybe run from a few of them too.
