Sunshine, Sand and Vitamin Sea or if you prefer, walking in Paradise.

A line of Australia’s anthem proclaims that we are girt by sea.

The coastline of Australia is long, very long. Depending on how it’s measured and the scale of the map it is nearly 70, 000km. Another weird fact is that Australia has far more coast per person than any other continent on the planet so to see a crowded beach outside a tourist hotspot like Bondi, Surfers, St Kilda or City Beach, or during a holiday season or on a weekend is very unusual and for me that makes it an almost perfect paradise.

Walking along the shoreline with my camera feels different. After a click, invariably you will be noticed and when you are, you can’t just turn and pretend you are part of the crowd. Because there simply isn’t one. Nada. In fact walking on sand and likening it to the asphalt I am accustomed to, is equally as strange. The concept of getting my head around that this is ‘street’ is, for me, problematic as well. Although there may be similarities, street photography is a far cry from beach photography. 

Since time and tide waits for no one let me move on. 

On the beach you will be seen, with or without a camera and regardless of camouflage. Think on it. Walking along the shoreline in ‘street clothes’ is, to state the obvious, inappropriate and marks you out as odd or peculiar at the very least.  I’ve alluded to the reason, you are on your own, and there is no mob to blend into. But just as challenging is wearing a swimming costume, a bikini, board shorts or a cozzie and trying to figure out where to put your camera? It’s hard enough taking care of the budgies! 

In my case size does matter. I place my camera in my short’s pocket and pretend that I’m being normal when I take, it, the camera, out, drop to my knees, turn to face my victim, read subject, compose and click. I pretend to look at flotsam and jetsam as I meander down the beach but I’m not sure how convincing as camouflage that is.

I use a compact camera, a Sony rx100m3; brush and puffer; lens cleaner spray; cotton buds; sun glasses; wide brimmed hat; UV cream and a back pack for things not worn, rounds out my beach photography gear.

Weather at almost any time of the day is an enemy and amplifies things by orders of magnitude. A wind on the street is welcome. When managed by buildings, trees, bushes, buses, cars and people it is gently reduced to become a breeze. On the beach a breeze is not so gentle. There are no buffers and it tends to amplify and turn into a fiend of a gale that carries sand particles into personal places and crevices where they are not welcome. Not to mention that sand finds its way onto the camera lens, under knobs, behind LCD screens, focus rings, you name it, everywhere. And as if to make further comedy out of a ‘not so comedic’ turn of events, it gets better. For good measure the minute molecules of sea spray will also help to bond the annihilation of sand onto everything it has already reached and coat everything else with salt that the sand hasn’t!

Then there is the sun, it is fierce and harsh. You protect yourself with UV cream which in turn too finds its way onto the camera no matter how often you wipe your hands! If the camera is still able to do its thing after its battle with wind, sand and sea salt, aperture set on at least f8 or smaller and ISO set to 100 becomes your friend in an effort to tame the sun’s brilliant harshness. And if you are very lucky and the weather god smiles on you, you’ll get some clouds. Which will bring that sweet, sweet cooling cover of shade……. But deep down you know that it’s just wishful thinking. Because after thirty minutes or so you seriously start thinking it’s time to get back off the beach because you are starting to dehydrate and hallucinate. And the combination of sun, the heat, thirst and your hunger are driving you to Chish ‘n Fips and a cold one

I’m floundering like a fish out of water [pun intended, but necessary] as I ponder the question, is it, street photography? For me, no. Not really. BUT I’ve had it from good authority and greater minds as well as lots of thoughtful to-ing and fro-ing that it is and at times I’m heading into the ‘street’ camp. The good thing is that addressing the comparisons, similarities, overlaps and exclusions about public place, people, walkers, thoroughfares, bicycles, cars and trucks, trailers, boats, helicopters, dune buggies, etc. to grasp what it is that makes street photography ‘street’ photography -has if nothing else, set me thinking. Which, in my case, isn’t a bad thing.

So if you too still have reservations as do I, I understand but, regardless, let me tread on your toes, gently, because I will keep walking in my ‘sandy-yard’ while taking pictures!

Just as a ball on the beach becomes a communal play thing for all in its proximity, so to your camera forces you to overcome your worst imaginings about people and turns you from an isolate into a model charmer. Applying interpersonal tango steps to engage with your subject and you can cancel her or his negative concerns about your photography. And furthermore, at times your compassionate, thoughtful interaction will, in joy of joys, create a real friend. Be prepared!

And, here’s the thing, so far, now with fingers and everything else crossed for the future, my personal interactions have, all, but once, been positive. Not once have I been asked to delete a frame, nor been called an old fart or worse. In fact providing my online handle has resulted in real friends and real work.

Remember, I did say at the outset, ‘I walk in paradise.

There are challenges of walking along the shoreline compared to walking a street but they are minor, relatively easily overcome with a smile and a word or two of explanation and the benefits are greater than fresh air, blue skies, and even dare I say it, even greater than your best shot!

End Note: The faint skyline at the back of some of my pictures is Surfers Paradise. Not sure why it is called that as it is probably the worst surfing beach not only in Queensland but probably in Australia.

Harrie Miller

Since 2016 I’ve resided in Melbourne. Now I live in the Gold Coast, a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. 
I’ve been a teacher for longer than I care to admit. I’ve taught across a spectrum of ages and institutions, from Infants children, to Primary, High School, College and adults at University. Prior to teaching I was in the electrical trades and in industrial electronics. Not long ago I worked in two art galleries in Western Australia. Now I try to travel as often as I can to see the many facets of our changing world and its vast and diverse people.