Surf photography can take many forms. For contest surfers, I like to create close-up images to put the viewer into the action. For in the water shooting, there is nothing better than a deep, hollow barrel. For telling a story, however, I firmly believe that pulling back is the best option. What do I mean?

Let’s take this point break in Southern California as an example. It doesn’t always fire, but when it does, one can be certain a fair number of surfers will do the long paddle out to enjoy the full length of this wave. By pulling back – and by this I mean taking in the larger scene – the viewer is invited to think more about the location than the surfer. Palm trees, cobble stones, and orange cliffs contrast with a blue/green water. These are all clues for the traveling surfer as to where this shot was taken as well as the conditions in the surf.

In other words, these images tell a story. Decent waves, friends riding together, So Cal landscape and a long, longboard style wave. Looks like fun, doesn’t it? And that is the story I was trying to convey without having to name this particular spot!