At low tide, rocky shores reveal sea stars, anemones, urchins and crabs in pools of clear water. The challenge is timing and seeing through reflections.
Timing
- Look for minus tides (water lower than average low tide) — the lowest are often in early morning in summer and evening in winter on the Pacific coast.
- Arrive an hour before low tide and leave as the water starts rising.
- The best days combine a low tide with soft morning or evening light.
The tide finder shows the nearest NOAA stations and the next three days of high and low tides; coastal location pages include a live tide table.
Gear and settings
- A circular polarizer is essential: rotate it to cut surface glare and see into the pool.
- A wide or standard zoom for pools with context; a macro lens for anemones and nudibranchs.
- f/8–f/11 for depth; a tripod low to the rocks.
- Waterproof boots with grip; a lens cloth for spray.
Composition
- Shoot straight down for graphic patterns of sea stars and anemones.
- Get low at the pool edge with a wide lens to include the ocean or sea stacks beyond.
- Long exposures (0.5–2 s) blur incoming water swirling around rocks.
Safety and ethics
- Never turn your back on the ocean; sneaker waves can sweep people off rocks.
- Watch the incoming tide so you're not cut off below cliffs.
- Step only on bare rock — algae and barnacle beds are living habitats.
- Don't pick up or move animals; sea stars and anemones are easily damaged.
About 1 min read · Updated 2026-10-20