So the next swell is starting to fill in; the sun is shining; and you want to give surf photography a spin. It sounds simple, but it is anything but! I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen in the water floundering around just struggling in the elements. So before you burden yourself with a camera, take a spin with your hands free. Here’s what you need…

This may seem a little obvious, and I hope for your sake it is! Fins, yes fins are your top priority. When you have a camera in hand, you are not able to use your arms to swim. This leaves you kicking to get around: kicking to get out through the surf; kicking to move into position; kicking to hold position; kicking to right yourself when a wave dumps you; and kicking to get back to shore when you are tired of kicking!

Over the years, I have had many sets of fins and many raw spots on my ankles and heels. Getting the right fins is paramount to being comfortable and efficient in the ocean. One downside to our “order on-line” society is that you don’t get to try different fins on for feel, something I strongly recommend. Remember, your feet are going to be in those fins for long periods of time. Three things to look for:

1. Fit. Your fins should not be so tight that they pinch your feet or the top of your foot. Any tight spot is likely to become a “hot” spot; aka: raw. Also, the warmer the water, the more likely your skin will rub raw. On the other hand, a loose fitting fin is pretty much guaranteed to be lost in the turmoil of the waves. The best fins will fit snugly, but not tight. Take your time and try them on!!!

2. Cushion. The heel strap is the most important part of keeping the fins on and comfortable. Years ago, the strap was made out of pretty hard rubber that didn’t provide much give. If you have prominent ankles, hard straps are likely to rub your ankles raw. Fortunately, fin makers have really upped their game and many offer a more playable strap. Again, try them on before you purchase them!

3. Length. Over the years, fins have gone through a number of design changes. Some have been longer while some have been short. The current trend is pretty short and I find that those work for me quite well. Because surf photography requires rapid, start/stop movement in the water, a short fin will provide you with the needed thrust and is more responsive than a long fin. So don’t think about using your dive fins or those workout fins you have for the pool. Go with a body surfing specific fin.

Right now, I am using a set of fins from Da Fin. I have found these to be wonderfully responsive, secure, and comfortable, even for 2-3 hour sessions. The Kpaloa Duck Foot and Leblon fins also get exceptional ratings. My recommendation is to go to your local surf shop and try on several pairs in several sizes to find the one that fits your feet the best. If you are in the water and not having to think about your fins or how your feet feel, you found the perfect pair! Then, and only then can you think about capturing the ocean’s beauty with your camera gear.