Most photographers plan their shoots around light. Sunrise, sunset, golden hour, blue hour. But along the coast, there’s another variable that can matter just as much—sometimes more: the tide.
King tides are one of those natural events that quietly transform familiar places. A beach you’ve walked a hundred times can suddenly look dramatic, compressed, and unpredictable. For photographers, that kind of change is worth paying attention to.
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Photo captured by Johanneke Kroesbergen-Kamps
What Are King Tides?
King tides are the highest tides of the year. They occur when the gravitational pull of the moon and sun align in a way that amplifies tidal range—typically when the moon is both full or new and at its closest point to Earth (called perigee). When this alignment happens, high tides rise higher than normal, and low tides drop lower than usual.
They’re not storms, and they’re not caused by weather. King tides are predictable and show up on tide charts well in advance. In California, they usually occur a few times each winter and early spring, often coinciding with calm, clear mornings that are ideal for photography.
Why King Tides Change the Way the Coast Looks
At high tide, the ocean moves into places it doesn’t normally reach. Beaches narrow or disappear entirely. Waves crash directly against cliffs, rocks, and sea walls. Tide pools vanish, only to reappear later in different forms. Familiar foregrounds are submerged, and new ones emerge.
This compression of space dramatically changes composition. Where you might usually have wide expanses of sand, you suddenly have leading lines formed by water edges. Rocks that typically sit dry and quiet become wave-splashed focal points. Reflections appear on wet sand well beyond the usual shoreline.
The result is a coastline that feels more dynamic, more powerful, and often more dramatic—without traveling anywhere new.
Photo captured by Colin Hobson
King Tides Create Built-In Drama
Photographs tend to resonate when they show something unexpected. King tides provide that naturally. Viewers may not consciously know why an image feels different, but they sense the tension created by higher waterlines, stronger wave action, and tighter framing.
For seascape photographers, this means images with more energy. For landscape photographers, it’s an opportunity to show scale and motion. For those interested in storytelling, king tides hint at forces larger than the moment—cycles, change, and the constant reshaping of the coast.
Even minimal compositions benefit. A simple rock, pier, or stretch of coastline can feel entirely new when the waterline climbs higher than usual.
Timing Becomes Part of the Craft
Because king tides are predictable, they reward planning. Knowing when peak high tide occurs lets photographers scout locations ahead of time and anticipate how the scene will change minute by minute. Shooting just before or after peak tide often produces the most interesting transitions, when water is actively advancing or retreating.
This turns coastal photography into more than reacting to light. It becomes about timing, observation, and understanding how the environment behaves. In many ways, king tides are a reminder that photography isn’t just about settings—it’s about being in the right place at the right moment.
Photo captured by Alexander Van Steenberge
A Chance to Learn and Experiment
King tide conditions naturally encourage experimentation. Long exposures become more dramatic as waves surge higher and crash harder. Fast shutter speeds can freeze splashes in places you wouldn’t normally expect water to reach. Bracketing becomes useful as bright foam contrasts with dark rocks and shadows.
Because the scene is unfamiliar, photographers are often forced out of habitual compositions. That alone can lead to growth. When the coastline refuses to behave the way you expect, you’re pushed to see it differently.
Words of Caution: Safety Comes First
As visually exciting as king tides are, they demand respect. Higher tides mean less room to escape incoming waves, and water can reach areas that are usually safe. Slippery rocks, sneaker waves, and sudden surges are real risks.
Photographers should avoid turning their backs on the ocean, especially during peak tide. Tripods placed too close to the water can be knocked over without warning. Wet rocks that are normally dry may be far more slippery than expected. It’s also important to respect closures, warning signs, and local guidance—no photo is worth risking injury.
Planning an exit route is just as important as planning the shot. If the tide is coming in, always know where you’ll move next.
King Tides as a Storytelling Opportunity
Beyond aesthetics, king tides offer photographers a chance to document change. These tides are often used by scientists and coastal planners as previews of future sea-level conditions. Photographs taken during king tides can quietly illustrate how vulnerable certain coastlines, roads, and structures may be.
For photographers interested in environmental storytelling, this adds another layer of meaning. Images aren’t just beautiful—they’re informative. They show how landscapes respond when water pushes just a little higher than normal.
Photo captured by Ronan POTIER
Why Paying Attention Matters
King tides don’t require exotic locations or extreme weather. They reward awareness, planning, and curiosity. Photographers who pay attention to tides gain access to scenes most people never see, even at familiar locations.
In coastal photography, light may set the mood—but the tide sets the stage. And during king tides, that stage changes dramatically.
For photographers willing to learn its timing and respect its power, king tides offer some of the most compelling coastal moments of the year.
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