Miami’s South Beach is a fabulous destination to visit, whether you are into people watching, enjoying the beach, or fascinated by the art deco architecture – South Beach has it all. This area is home to more than 960 Art Deco structures… it is, literally, a photographer’s dreamland. In this Miami South Beach photo adventure, I will point out some very special places to visit, provide tips on how to photograph these sites, and suggest the best ways to get there.
Enjoy the adventure!
Miami South Beach Lifeguard Hut
Miami South Beach is known for its beaches, glamorous nightspots, and celebrity-chef eateries, but I have always been attracted to the unique Art Deco structures. South Beach’s Art Deco District claims the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s architecture in the world and is an architectural wonder and photographic wonderland. This photo was taken with a 70-200mm lens in AV mode at f/9, 1/80 second, ISO 100.
South Beach Sunrise
If you are an early bird, you will be delighted to see Miami’s famous South Beach sunrise. Start at the crossroads of 8th Street and Ocean Drive, after enjoying a coffee at the famous News Cafe. The ocean is right in front of you. You can walk on the beach path and enjoy the sunrise. The early morning sunlight reflecting on the Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive makes for some awesome photos. This photo was taken with a 70-200mm lens in AV mode at f/5.6, 1/1000 second, ISO 100.
Classic Cars
As you stroll along Ocean Drive and the Miami Beach district, you never know what kind of amazing, rare, or vintage cars may be rolling down the street or parked at the trendy locations. The Beach district has lots of these vintage cars just waiting to be photographed. This photo was taken with a 24-105mm lens in AV mode at f/9, 1/40 second, ISO 125.
Watching the Storm
The beach always provides interesting activities to photograph. Here, we had a group of storm watchers, yet the sun was still shining. At times, I like to experiment with my Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic lens module. The lens is totally tiltable and all the settings are done manually (including drop-in aperture rings) – but the results can certainly be different from anything else I have used.
Neon Ocean Drive
When the sun goes down, the neon glow of the Art Deco District comes alive, and the photographic magic begins. Containing 960 historic structures, the Miami Beach Architectural District, located in the South Beach Art Deco neighbourhood, is full of photographic gems. Featured in countless films and television series — older readers may recognize it from the classic 1980s TV show Miami Vice. This photo was taken with a 16-35mm lens in AV mode at f/9, 1/40 second, ISO 500.
Flamingo Gardens
If you love flamingoes like my wife loves flamingoes, you must visit Flamingo Gardens in Fort Lauderdale. It’s about a 45-minute drive north from South beach. A botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary for rare, threatened, and endangered native animals, everything about this 60-acre tropical paradise is beautiful and full of photographic opportunities. Containing some of the last natural jungle growth in South Florida, Flamingo Gardens is one of the oldest Botanical gardens in this part of the State – it is a fascinating place to visit. This photo was taken with a 70-200mm lens in AV mode at f/9, 1/160 second, ISO 125.
Morning Boardwalk Run
The Miami Beach Boardwalk is a great route to walk the beach strip and get some great photos. This boardwalk runs about 4 miles along some of the prettiest beaches in Miami. Starting at the southern-most end of the boardwalk, you’ll find yourself a Nikki Beach, with its beautiful views of the ocean. The Boardwalk runs right up to Indian Beach Park in the north end. There is no shortage of great photographic opportunities along the way. This photo was taken with a 24-105mm lens in TV mode at 1/500 second, f/4, ISO 12,800.
Bird Lover
From South Beach to Sunny Isles Beach and beyond, Miami’s white sand beach is fantastic. Stroll the beach along Ocean Drive and you will find yourself in the heart of Miami’s most famous beach. South Beach stretches from South Pointe Park Beach all the way to Collins Park on 21st and 22nd Streets. Go early and you’ll not only enjoy the sunrise with very few people there, but you get to see other special sights like this lady feeding the birds. This photo was taken with a 24-105mm lens in TV mode at 1/250 second, f/10, ISO 100.
Romantic Miami Boardwalk
One of the 10 BEST romantic things to do in Miami Beach is to take your special person on a boardwalk stroll and drop in to one of the many fabulous restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Dress up or dress down – it doesn’t matter – romance will be in the air as you breathe in the fresh air. The “All You Need is Love” mural at the airport will remind you to crank up the romantic juices. This photo was taken with a 11-24mm lens in TV mode at 1/40 second, f/10, ISO 1250.
I hope you enjoyed our adventure to Miami South Beach and that you will stay in touch with us.
Peter Dulis.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Dulis is a Canadian photographer and visual storyteller living in Toronto, Ontario. His work has been published in a number of magazines such as Graphic Arts Magazine, Visual Wilderness, Luminous Landscape, and Photo News. Peter has been recognized for photographic excellence. “I’ve had the chance to meet and work with some incredible people in the industry. Photography isn’t just about making photographs; it’s about choosing a life of curiosity, exploration, and wonder, immersing yourself in the world around you.”
Peter shares many of his tips and techniques in his monthly newsletter: https://photographyadventures.ca/newsletter-sign-up/
