Portugal Miradouro de Alagoa, Terceira, Azores Islands
The coastline around Miradouro de Alagoa perfectly captures the raw power of the Atlantic Ocean. Located on the rugged northeastern side of Flores, this stretch of coast is defined by black volcanic cliffs, offshore rock formations, and waves that can become spectacularly violent when strong Atlantic swells reach the island.
This photograph captures that power. The person standing between the dark volcanic rocks gives the scene an incredible sense of scale, while enormous waves explode against the cliffs on either side. Combined with the sunlight illuminating the sea spray, it creates one of those moments where Flores feels genuinely wild.
This photograph captures that power. The person standing between the dark volcanic rocks gives the scene an incredible sense of scale, while enormous waves explode against the cliffs on either side. Combined with the sunlight illuminating the sea spray, it creates one of those moments where Flores feels genuinely wild.
Photography Tips
For scenes like this, scale is everything. Including a person among the volcanic rocks immediately communicates just how enormous the waves and surrounding landscape really are.
Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the exploding water and preserve individual droplets of sea spray. Shooting slightly against the light can work particularly well, as sunlight passing through the spray makes the waves appear even more dramatic.
A longer focal length can also compress the scene and make the waves appear even larger behind your subject. Just be extremely careful with positioning: powerful swells can send waves and spray much farther onto the rocks than expected.
I like to use the app windy to check wind and waves direction!
Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the exploding water and preserve individual droplets of sea spray. Shooting slightly against the light can work particularly well, as sunlight passing through the spray makes the waves appear even more dramatic.
A longer focal length can also compress the scene and make the waves appear even larger behind your subject. Just be extremely careful with positioning: powerful swells can send waves and spray much farther onto the rocks than expected.
I like to use the app windy to check wind and waves direction!
Travel Information
Miradouro de Alagoa is located on the northeastern coast of Flores, near the village of Cedros. The area offers beautiful views across one of the island's most rugged sections of coastline and is particularly impressive when the Atlantic is active.
Paths and rocky areas run closer to the ocean, but conditions should always determine how far you go. During large swells, strong winds or storms, keep well away from exposed rocks and cliff edges. Waves on Flores can be significantly larger than they initially appear from shore, and individual sets can reach much farther inland than previous waves.
If conditions are rough, the safer viewpoints farther back still provide spectacular perspectives—and often make it easier to appreciate the true scale of the Atlantic.
Paths and rocky areas run closer to the ocean, but conditions should always determine how far you go. During large swells, strong winds or storms, keep well away from exposed rocks and cliff edges. Waves on Flores can be significantly larger than they initially appear from shore, and individual sets can reach much farther inland than previous waves.
If conditions are rough, the safer viewpoints farther back still provide spectacular perspectives—and often make it easier to appreciate the true scale of the Atlantic.
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