Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or an amateur with a smartphone, few landscapes offer the drama, texture, and soul-stirring serenity of the coast. From golden hour glows to moody storm fronts, beaches are ever-changing canvases that reward patient observers with jaw-dropping compositions.
This isn’t a guide to your typical tropical postcard spots. These five beaches across the globe offer a raw, immersive connection to nature – where tides, wind, and wildlife become the ultimate subjects. Pack your lenses and filters – these are not just beaches, they’re living galleries.
1. Dyrhólaey, Iceland – Where Volcanic Cliffs Meet Ice-Cold Drama
Perched along Iceland’s south coast, Dyrhólaey is a stark, cinematic dreamscape of black sands, basalt stacks, and Atlantic swells. The contrast of moody skies against glistening waves creates an ethereal palette ideal for both colour and monochrome photography. Seabirds such as puffins nest along the cliffs from May to August, adding movement and narrative to wide-angle or zoom shots. Sunset transforms the coastline into a copper-toned masterpiece, especially in summer when the golden hour lingers for hours.
Dyrhólaey, Iceland
Dyrhólaey, 871 Vik, Iceland
Opening hours: 24 hours (weather permitting)
Website
2. Whitehaven Beach, Australia – Aerial Photography Paradise
Set within Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach is famed for its swirling patterns of white silica sand and turquoise shallows – best captured from above. Whether by drone or from a seaplane, the curves and currents form nature’s own abstract painting. On ground level, photographers can focus on reflections, textures, and shifting tides. The contrast between untouched beach and dense coastal bushland also provides a compelling frame for wide panoramic shots.
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Whitsunday Island, Queensland 4802, Australia
Opening hours: 24 hours (accessible by boat or tour)
Website
3. Koekohe Beach, New Zealand – The Moeraki Boulders’ Surreal Symphony
Along the windswept Otago coast lies Koekohe Beach, home to the mysterious Moeraki Boulders – perfectly round, ancient concretions scattered along the shoreline like relics from another world. Photographers flock here at dawn to capture the boulders half-submerged in misty surf, with long exposures creating a ghostly, otherworldly effect. The changing tides and dramatic coastal skies add texture and emotion to every frame.
Koekohe Beach, New Zealand
Koekohe Beach, State Highway 1, Hampden 9410, Otago, New Zealand
Opening hours: 24 hours
Website
4. Pfeiffer Beach, California – Purple Sands and Keyhole Sunsets
Hidden along California’s rugged Big Sur coastline, Pfeiffer Beach stuns with its otherworldly purple sands (thanks to manganese garnet deposits) and its iconic “Keyhole Rock” – a natural arch that perfectly frames the setting sun in winter. This geological feature makes it one of the most sought-after locations for timed sunset shots. Morning mist and coastal fog also create a soft, haunting quality ideal for moody landscape compositions.
Pfeiffer Beach, California
Pfeiffer Beach, Sycamore Canyon Rd, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
Opening hours: 09:00 a.m. – 08:00 p.m. (hours vary by season)
Website
5. Veligandu Island, Maldives – Turquoise Perfection for Aerial and Underwater Shots
For photographers seeking an ethereal blend of serenity and vibrancy, Veligandu Island in the Maldives delivers. Surrounded by luminous turquoise waters and sugar-white sandbanks, this private island is ideal for capturing striking aerial compositions via drone. Below the surface, the shallow reefs teem with marine life – offering wide-angle opportunities for underwater photography. Sunrise and sunset here bathe the atoll in warm, diffused light, creating a dreamlike atmosphere for long exposure and portrait-style landscape shots.
Veligandu Island, Maldives
Veligandu Island Resort, North Ari Atoll, Maldives
Opening hours: Accessible via seaplane transfers from Malé (arrivals typically 06:00 a.m. – 04:00 p.m.)
Website
Find more beach destinations to discover here.
