"And then there it was, straight ahead, a 25-foot perfect right pitched off the reef of Pillar Point... To my astonishment, [photographer] Mike Peralta donned his wetsuit, tied a water-housed camera around his leg, and jumped overboard. He swam directly into the mayhem, poised at the base of a 25-foot wave clicking pictures."
If you thought surf photographers just sat on the beach with a telephoto lens, think again. Photographers devote as much passion to capturing the perfect wave as surfers put into riding it. On this particular day in Half Moon Bay, CA, one photographer swam into the colossal barrel of Mavericks with diving fins; another rode into the impact zone on a Jet Ski?; and the rest were positioned in deep water on the shoulder of the wave.
Wizards of Water Photography
Surf photographers seldom sit on the sidelines. In pursuit of the ocean's "wild moods," photographers literally dive in after the surfer. This ocean-level perspective is an effective way to convey the power of a wave and the experience of riding it.
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Of course, shooting from within an ocean wave pushes photographic equipment to its limits. For professional photographer Tim McKenna, the "wide array of possible angles and variety of equipment used" define surf photography. Some of these surf-specific techniques include:
- Underwater Photography. A watertight housing for the camera allows ultimate mobility and water-level perspective. Using swim fins, the photographer positions himself in the wave's impact zone, snaps the shot, and quickly dives out of the way.
- Fish-Eye Lenses. For inside-the-tube shots or close-ups, 14 to 16-mm fish-eye lenses provide incredible perspective. The photographer anticipates the wave formation and the path of the surfer, often coming within a foot of the passing surfer inside the tube.
- Telephoto Photography. 600-1200 mm/f4 telephoto lenses allow for beach shots, and 300-mm lenses for water-level shorts from a bodyboard or floating mat.
- Board-Mounted Equipment. For a 'boards-eye' view, photographers mount a remote-controlled camera on the front of the surfer's board.
- Watercraft and Helicopters. Certain angles are accessible only by motorized vehicles. Boats and Jet Skis? help photographers point the camera straight into the tube, and helicopters provide an aerial perspective.
Joining the Career Line-Up
Thanks to a thriving surf subculture, opportunities for surf photographers in specialized publications, advertising, and other media have never been better. Still, it's an extremely competitive and technically demanding specialty. Photography school can help you master the technical aspects and secure assistantships with top photographers.
Many schools offer specialized training in water photography, including classes in exposure control, wide-angle photography, and strobe techniques. "The more you know about photographic techniques," comments one veteran surf photographer, "the more you will be able to branch out and be creative down the line."
With the right training, you'll be off the beach and heading into the deep blue yourself.
Sources
"How to Become a Surf Photographer"—Tim-McKenna.com"How to Take Surf Photography"—Tim-McKenna.com
Mike Peralta Photography
Underwater Photography School
