I guess it's time to think about going to the beach except in the coldest places, and of course you're going to bring your digital camera.

Beaches don't always offer very many opportunities for scenic shots, but when they do they can be spectacular, especially sunrises and sunsets.

The majority of beach pictures are of people, and beach conditions are very much like snow conditions, because sand, like snow, causes false meter readings which lead to underexposed subjects.

So keep that in mind and check out these tips, which include both basic and advanced advice for better beach pictures.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.