Shooting waves is one of my favorite types of photography. Over time, I’ve come to realize that it is surprisingly similar to playing golf. What, you may ask? Well, let me explain…

Take a moment and think about your most memorable round of golf. You probably have a memory of a particular shot or two that made your day. Maybe it was a blast out of the bunker; maybe it was the time you outdrove your partner off the tee with a long, straight drive. Now, however, think a little deeper about how many other swings you had that day; all of them, even the ones that hooked, sank, and shanked. That second memory is harder to pull to the forefront when thinking about your best day, isn’t it? And that, my friends, is the magic of golf: one spectacular hole or even one awesome drive sustains us and keeps us returning to do it again.

Shooting waves from in the water has a similar failure/success rate to that of golf. I can go entire sessions and only get a load of ho-hum shots. Sun flares, water spots, and focal difficulties ruin more pictures that most people imagine. Poor waves and chop make some outings simply worthless. Thank goodness we shoot digital now instead of the 24-36 single shots we were limited to in the days of film! Even on the worst of days, I quickly put aside the failure with a shrug of the shoulders and start planning for the next outing into the ocean. It is the memory of the one great shot that keeps me returning to try for more. Does that sound similar, golfers?

Let’s think again about that perfect golf shot that is burned into your brain. If asked to explain how you did it, you would likely say something like: “everything just lined up right.” Your swing was relaxed, you read the terrain just right, the wind was momentarily still, and you had the right club in your hand. Well, I say the same things about the perfect wave shot: the sun was just right, I was in the perfect spot below the wave, my dome cover was clear of water spots, and my focus was just right. It’s a beautiful thing when everything lines up just right!

Whether it’s that perfect golf shot or that perfect wave shot, the effort and preparation that went into the moment was as critical as the conditions at the moment. We all put in the work and justify the time and energy when everything works right. It is wonderful to relish in those moments and it is the memory of the perfect shot that has us all return for more!

But here is where things diverge – for the better. Unless you are a professional, that perfect golf shot likely was not filmed and resides only in your own memory. Wave shots, however, can live forever and make beautiful art for the home and office. I love printing these on metal for amazing color and depth. Some examples: