An Early Morning Fishing Expedition

I shot this just after sunrise. Light was low but clear, casting long shadows and warming the palette without oversaturating the sand. The three men—two pushing, one walking alongside—form a diagonal that pulls the eye from left to right, through netting, boat, and beach. The scene holds movement without blur. Every element is in transition.

I framed from distance using a moderate telephoto to compress the layers—foreground vegetation, safety fencing, beach, and deep field of straw umbrellas. The shallow depth of field separates the action while still referencing the beach’s infrastructure. I let the background stay busy. It adds context, not confusion.

Exposure was tricky. Highlights off the boat’s rubber surface could have clipped, but I underexposed slightly and recovered mids in post. Shadows on the figures were preserved with just enough lift to hold texture in the clothing. ISO 400 kept grain tight. Shutter at 1/500s, aperture at f/5.6 for zone clarity.

Technically, the focus sits on the lead subject—the man in red—while the others fall a half stop behind. Motion is implied in the way the cart’s frame skews under tension and the pulling angle of the rope. The pirate flag on the left introduces unintended humour, breaking what would otherwise be a strictly functional image.

No artificial grading. The warm tones are from natural light, enhanced only by a mild contrast bump. I kept the greens subdued. This isn’t a tropical fantasy. It’s Adriatic coast, pre-tourist hours, real work. No drama, no posing.

What carries the photograph is balance: labour, routine, landscape. The men aren’t performing. They’re just early. The boat will be in the water in minutes.