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manaphoto — Surf Photography 101

Published: 2006-10-18 08:33:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 25313; Favourites: 345; Downloads: 0
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Description Surf Photography 101

1) equipment: 600mm lens
*optional method - shoot from water (less expensive, but much more difficult.)
2) know your camera: remember, you are photographing a fast moving subject on an often highly reflective surface. The slightest change in lighting will demand quick adjustments of settings.
3) know your wave conditions: this is where your experience and beach knowledge comes into play. You need to know where to go to increase your percentage of capturing high quality action shots.
4) weather conditions: wind and rain are the enemy.
5) lighting conditions: using fast shutter speeds requires optimum lighting conditions. There are exceptions to this rule [link]
6) positioning: finding the sweet spot to shoot from, a few feet can make all the difference in the world.
7) connecting with the talent: working with talented surfers will increase your percentage ten fold. Being able to identify the talent is another key aspect. I personally know almost all the surfers that I photograph and I communicate with them.
These are just some of the basic elements required to get high quality shots on a consistant basis.

surfer: Gavin Gillette
location: Haleiwa - Hawaii

edit 3-17-08: new crop and border
Related content
Comments: 102

AngelGliss3 [2016-03-01 07:53:32 +0000 UTC]

Amazingly cool!!   

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slixxrick [2012-10-09 17:03:03 +0000 UTC]

very nice bruh.

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manaphoto In reply to slixxrick [2012-10-22 21:35:02 +0000 UTC]

thanks.

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FrubaFan819 [2012-03-25 04:59:35 +0000 UTC]

I love the action

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manaphoto In reply to FrubaFan819 [2012-03-25 06:47:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank u.

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CYCLONEKITTY1818 [2011-10-05 02:47:09 +0000 UTC]

cool

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pehwestim [2011-09-18 20:52:24 +0000 UTC]

Que loucura ...


Brazil (Y)

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Xsx304 [2011-03-17 20:27:31 +0000 UTC]

yo dude! looks nice! the lens takes a while to save up for!

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manaphoto In reply to Xsx304 [2011-04-01 03:55:29 +0000 UTC]

yes it does...thanks.

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LouiseGilburt [2010-03-15 19:00:09 +0000 UTC]

what an amazing photo!!! Im speechless

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xXDeathxXxchild [2010-03-04 23:21:09 +0000 UTC]

Awesome Pic! Do you mind if I use it as a pose reference?

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Cindy-trekfan [2010-02-27 06:35:42 +0000 UTC]

awesome, the detail is like.. WOW

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Scar12345 [2009-07-16 18:01:18 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful shot!!!

If you look closely it almost looks like hes pushing the water back with his hands. Nice

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manaphoto In reply to Scar12345 [2009-07-18 04:46:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks...he is definitely directing it.

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Scar12345 In reply to manaphoto [2009-07-19 18:22:41 +0000 UTC]

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naturalplace [2009-06-25 15:11:03 +0000 UTC]

I usualy avoid sports photography; but you captured an essence here that is inspiring. Great job!

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manaphoto In reply to naturalplace [2009-06-26 07:07:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much.

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Undercheese101 [2009-04-29 17:51:38 +0000 UTC]

what a great shot...wow!

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Thorvold [2008-12-14 07:01:17 +0000 UTC]

Amazing shot. I've just started to try shooting some of the local sufers. Unfortunately I don't have good access to good lighting positions to the surfers as I'm stuck on a cliff with the sun behind the surfers for the most part.

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manaphoto In reply to Thorvold [2009-01-11 09:51:55 +0000 UTC]

Thanks...try to find a spot where you can keep the sun at your back.

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Thorvold In reply to manaphoto [2009-01-11 15:13:33 +0000 UTC]

I'm hoping to make it out to Mavericks for the big wave comp. this year. I'm even looking into getting on a boat that takes you right out to where the surfers are (best vantage point). But that's a long shot for me.

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manaphoto In reply to Thorvold [2009-01-15 08:27:28 +0000 UTC]

now that would be awesome.

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frankey89photography [2008-10-11 21:39:51 +0000 UTC]

awesome!

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cailenc [2008-10-01 15:41:52 +0000 UTC]

Good Shot

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angosworld [2008-09-19 08:29:47 +0000 UTC]

from a fellow surfer i can say but one thing- sick. nice one bru

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manaphoto In reply to angosworld [2008-09-20 03:01:03 +0000 UTC]

Cool...thanks.

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generationm [2008-09-13 00:47:46 +0000 UTC]

awesome shot dude
u capture a nice pose and full of atcion too

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manaphoto In reply to generationm [2008-09-13 02:00:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much.

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Villa-Chinchilla [2008-08-11 23:26:31 +0000 UTC]



*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
~AWESOME~
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

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nelesy [2008-06-13 12:28:03 +0000 UTC]

Really cool pic!

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bernice01 [2008-05-29 03:58:11 +0000 UTC]

GNARLY PICTURE!!! AND GREAT TIPS!!

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manaphoto In reply to bernice01 [2008-06-03 06:28:45 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the fav.

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fcarmo-photography [2008-05-14 11:02:39 +0000 UTC]

You've been featured here: [link]

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manaphoto In reply to fcarmo-photography [2008-05-16 01:39:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much.

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the3plesix [2008-04-27 14:22:18 +0000 UTC]

Powerful shot!!

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2good4ya [2008-04-20 09:18:20 +0000 UTC]

good shot...amazing!

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manaphoto In reply to 2good4ya [2008-04-22 08:28:44 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the fav.

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dove-51 [2008-04-05 05:20:26 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations This deviation has been featured in *dove-51 ’s Journal.
See [link]

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manaphoto In reply to dove-51 [2008-04-06 03:59:09 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much.

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dove-51 In reply to manaphoto [2008-04-06 04:31:23 +0000 UTC]

Your very welcome.

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Pirate-Queen [2008-03-23 21:00:43 +0000 UTC]

Great shot! Instant fav!

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manaphoto In reply to Pirate-Queen [2008-03-25 08:24:49 +0000 UTC]

Kool...thank you.

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WHOgenotte [2008-03-22 08:54:21 +0000 UTC]

super picture and thanx for your comment to your job.... very interesting for me

Roy

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manaphoto In reply to WHOgenotte [2008-03-23 02:25:47 +0000 UTC]

glad you liked that...thanks for the fav.

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Iriesurfinchick [2008-03-20 21:34:05 +0000 UTC]

yeeehaw!
Bravo my friend..most excellent

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aefg [2008-03-18 13:38:55 +0000 UTC]

Great, great catch!
Congrats

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manaphoto In reply to aefg [2008-03-19 04:33:29 +0000 UTC]

Kool...thanks.

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PatriciaVazquez [2008-03-18 11:19:32 +0000 UTC]

one of your best !!

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manaphoto In reply to PatriciaVazquez [2008-03-19 04:33:16 +0000 UTC]

awesome...thanks for the fav.

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PatriciaVazquez In reply to manaphoto [2008-03-19 12:50:02 +0000 UTC]

so welcome....you do this so well !!

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