5 minutes with…photographer David Troeger

By Hannah Barnard on 25th August, 2020

We caught up with Aruba based photographer David Troeger to chat about underwater photography and his top tips for taking great vacation photos.

Through his lens, photographer David Troeger has captured the magnificence of Aruba’s coastal waters – one side tranquil and transparent lapping the shore, and the other a foamy cauldron whipping the land.

David Troeger | Aruba

David is relatively new to the island, arriving in Aruba seven years ago. “I picked up my first film camera in Germany when I was 10 years old. In the 20 years since then, taking pictures has been my passion, and I have had a camera with me most of the time.


But it was only when I moved to Aruba that I felt like taking my passion to a professional level. With an abundance of beautiful natural spots, I started taking more and more pictures around the island until my work started to be noticed. You’ll now see my work promoting Aruba and its businesses. Currently, I do commercial work and underwater photoshoots. The latter combines two of my greatest passions – being in the water and taking pictures.”

David Troeger | Aruba

From his first explorations of the island, David was inspired by its natural wonders and immersed himself, both literally and figuratively, in its azure and turquoise waters.

Here are a few of David’s water shots, illustrating the diversity of his techniques and the beauty of Aruba’s waters.

David Troeger | Aruba
David Troeger | Aruba

David’s tips for taking great vacation photos

Pick the right spot

There are so many good places to take pictures around Aruba, so I’ll share some of my favorite spots with you.

Eagle Beach: With the whitest and longest beaches, Eagle Beach is perfect for posing with endless turquoise water. Eagle Beach is also not as busy as Palm Beach, making it so much easier to find a spot just for yourself. Lie on the beach or go in the water halfway and have the picture taken at eye level.

Mangel Halto: A unique beach due to its vast mangroves and shallow water with unparalleled blue color. Also perfect for underwater pictures with a shipwreck within snorkeling distance. Let your creativity play free and bring a cooler with cold drinks.

Rodgers Beach: Right next to Baby Beach, this beach is a little hidden gem with lots of palm trees. During the week, you might be the only one here.

Andicuri: Located on the north shore (you’ll need a 4×4 to get there), Andicuri is one of my favorite spots to shoot waves, surfers, and wildlife.

Composition

It’s the foundation of your picture, so make sure it’s strong. Choose wisely what’s in and what’s left out of the frame. For a beach picture, you probably don’t want that person swimming in the background or that rock on the beach. On the other hand, adding a cactus in the foreground when you’re taking a picture on the north shore can add to the composition.

Light

The best times during the day to take beach portraits are around 10am and an hour before sunset. In the morning, you’ll have the sun from the front, giving you great light on your skin and really making the ocean behind you pop. During the hour before sunset, also called the golden hour, the sun has an orange glow and, right after that, usually a spectacular sunset that you can use as a perfect background.

Align the horizon

This is a relatively simple trick that can really improve your picture. In Aruba, you’re likely to have the ocean in the background of your picture, so make sure that the horizon is level. Most photo viewing apps have the ability to rotate your image (it’s built into the photos app on iPhones, for example).

For more inspiration visit David Troeger’s Instagram feed or check out his website jetl.ag.


Read more: The best action-packed activities to do in Aruba