This is a question I get a lot: are the best surf photos closeups or distance shots? My personal answer is that there is a purpose for each type of image. Here are my specific thoughts on the matter:

The Case for Close Ups

I love to see the details in an image: fingers dragging on the waves; drops of spray shooting off the tail; the intense or joyous expression on the surfer’s face.

These types of images are something that most people never get to see because they are just too far away and the action happens so fast. Bringing such details into focus and highlighting them with close image crops is challenging, but extremely rewarding. They are best for showing others what the surfer is doing at an exact point: where the feet are placed, the flexion of muscles, the gravity defying movements. Surfing is a skill that the majority of the population has trouble comprehending as it requires the perfect mix of athleticism, force, precise movement, and style.

The Case for Middle Distance Pictures

By middle distance, I am referring to a shot that is close enough to reveal the details of the surfer’s movement, but pulled back far enough to see where the surfer has been or where they are headed.

Good rail surfing, for example, will leave a wake/trail on the face of the wave and that should be included in the image. It provides movement and shape. Similarly, a good hack might produce a ton of spray and every surfer likes to see the impact they made on the lip. If your intended audience is comprised of surfers, they will definitely want to see the wave in front of the surfer as they will almost unconsciously mind surf the rest of the wave, putting themselves into the picture!

The Case for Pulled Back Images

This is where the storytelling part of surf photography comes into play. Background details play a huge part in creating engaging images. They provide the hints of “where was that” and “what were the conditions like?” They also provide the sense of freedom and travel that we as surfers relish.

Of course, this type of imagery can also tell another, all too familiar story. Crowds!

When I am preparing images for a client, I try to incorporate all three types of photographs in the collection. This allows them to remember where they were, what they were feeling during a particular ride, and details that even they didn’t perceive at the moment. It’s the trifecta of surf photography!