Need help

[BradT]

Always have trouble getting pictures of waves. How can I do better.

[Iguanasan]

That's a pretty open-ended question. "How do I take better pictures of ___________?" First off, what makes you think these photos are not good? I don't want to actually provide a critique at the moment. I'm more interested to hear your thoughts on why these ones are not working for you? What's the difference between these shots and your vision of what they should be?

[BradT]

I used a low aperture to get a better shutter speed to stop the motion. I would like to get the water to appear brighter. I know Lake Ontario water does not have the best colour, but it should be better. When I tried brightening in Photoshop it didn't look right. Played with tone mapping but it just got darker.
Is it better to have the light behind the wave, to the side, or in front?
Thanks
Brad

[Marko]

I like these shots. They have good composition last one is my fave..
You obviously have a specific image of what the shot should look like in your head. But that image may or may not be realistic. How a shot gets rendered is a product of the existing lighting conditions. Those conditions can be be massaged slightly though dodging and burning OR in this day of digital photography, you can make a green image look blue. Personally I like more realistic images that are selectively dodged and burned.

You are aking for rules here. There are no rules. If the sun is behind the water it will look one way. If the sun is side lighting the water it will look another way. There is no way to predict which photo would be better if they went head to head in a poker match.

My best advice to you right now would be to study the light. So deliberately go out when the light is front lighting the water..backlighting the water. ....sidelighting the water etc
Take images of the different way the light lights the waves and then decide for yourself what your eye likes.
Hope that may help

[John Marks]

I'm with Marko on this..

Not a thing wrong with your pictures. Different light is going to yield different results and with the nature of waves, every photo is going to be a surprise.

My only thought would be as Marko says, try different lighting conditions.

That being said, your shots here look very good.

[Barefoot]

There's a fellow by the name of David Orias that really has it down pat. I like to see a stiff wind blowing from off the beach that creates a spray just before the wave breaks. I looks like you're on your way to develop your own unique style.