Living by the ocean, overlooking the Bay of Fundy here in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, we often get to see some amazing surf and wave formations. Today was the aftermath of a rather intense high pressure system, one that brought with it winds averaging around 25 knots or about 45 kph. I ran down to the wharf andy got some good photos – but you do have to be careful when doing this.
First off, the salt spray is not good for your lenses so all care must be taken to protect the front element of the lens. I use a UV filter, and even then, I carefully flood the surface when cleaning, as salt really can scratch your lens filter easily. Secondly, you have to be reasonable about getting too close to the water. Every year someone is washed into the ocean in Nova Scotia, and many times they don’t come out of it alive. The waves, while beautiful, are very unpredictable, and can be quite deadly. I stay a very respectful distance away and use a zoom lens. A zoom is good anyway, as it compresses the view and makes the foreground and background come together more – great for photos of waves. Have a look, try it yourself and see what you think – but stay safe!

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