Capture Surf Photography

I've been spending a lot of time shooting surf photography for the last two years. On a peaceful, sunny day at Costa da Caparica beach in Lisbon, I was having lunch with my sister amongst a crowd of hot surfers when I thought to myself, how can I naturally become a part of this community?

Jokes aside, it was the salty skin, messy hair, and intense gaze of the surfers, set against the backdrop of rich nature and the wild, intensely blue ocean that drew me in. A month later, I found an opportunity to shoot a video for a big wave surfer in Nazaré, and that's where my journey with surf photography began.

Lighting

Natural lighting is one of the main elements in my photography, and when shooting outdoors, you have no choice but to follow the course of nature. I started by shooting all day long since it felt great spending an entire day outdoors, listening to the sound of the waves, chirping birds, and feeling the fresh air on my skin.

The longer you spend in the same spot, the more you begin to properly study what you’re observing, and it almost feels like you’re entering a meditative stage. Although it’s a wonderful ambience, you will eventually feel exhausted spending long days like that every day, and you will find times of the day when you prefer the light more.

Hence, I started selecting times of the day when the light suited my style (normally I’m a sunrise/sunset kind of person, but not when I’m shooting surfers, as the sea looks the bluest on pictures during the day) combined with surfers being out in the water. You will have to learn the lighting in every new location since there can be cliffs, buildings, etc., blocking the light. Portugal is my favourite country to shoot in since the sunset is on the west coast, and therefore the sun sets behind the sea.

Composition

Composition is key to creating visually interesting surf photos. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing techniques to add depth and interest to your photos. For example, shoot from a low angle, such as from the beach, to capture the surfers' perspective and to convey the size of the waves (an important factor for big wave surfers), or try shooting from above to get a bird's-eye view of the action. Utilise the rule of thirds to create a balanced composition, or explore negative space to achieve a minimalist look.

Motion

Surfing a wave goes a lot faster than it might appear to us on land, so capturing the motion requires the use of a high shutter speed, at least 1/1250. Most surf photographers I’ve met also use a monopod (a one-legged tripod) as it offers flexibility while still providing support when shooting. Initially, I used a regular travel tripod since I also shoot videos, and I needed it to smoothly track the motion.

However, I found myself limited in terms of mobility. I either had to pack my gear together, risking missing out on a shot or two (which always happens the second I decide to change spots), or walk around with the camera attached to the tripod, which made me far less mobile. While it's easy on the beach, depending on the location, walking around on hills can be more challenging.

Telescopic lenses are quite heavy, making it difficult to shoot handheld for extended periods. Using support for your camera can result in sharper images as it eliminates shaky hands. These days, I shoot handheld. One reason is that my daily morning exercises have started to pay off, giving me some biceps muscles. Secondly, I use my thigh as support between shots. I always prefer to carry as little equipment as possible, as that's when I feel the most free and flexible.

Timing

Timing is crucial in surf photography. You'll need to anticipate when the surfer is going to catch a wave and be ready to snap the shot at precisely the right moment. Most of the time, I'll shoot the entire wave from start to end. Familiarise yourself with the patterns of the waves and the surfers, and exercise patience until you see a surfer catch a good one.

Shutter speed 1/2500 Aperture 7.1 Focal length 600 mm ISO 1250

Lens protection

You will most likely be in a windy and sandy environment, and since that's a dangerous combination, having protection for your lens is incredibly important. Lens protectors are fairly inexpensive and cost nowhere near as much as repairing your lens would.

These days, all of my equipment has sand in it, and since sand can damage the gear, I also ensure to brush it off using a tiny brush I obtained from a lens cleaning kit as frequently as possible. Although it's a bit of a sweet memory as well.

Uncertainty

Surfing is a weather-dependent sport, so you never know what you'll get. It reminds me of my granny’s bakery, where I spent many summers working. Located on a tiny Swedish island, it's only open throughout the summer season. If the weather is bad, there are no customers and on good days, you sell like crazy.

This winter season, I spent a month in Nazaré, but unfortunately, the waves weren’t good, so I only managed to capture a few good images over two or three days in total. It was frustrating at first, but hey, it is what it is, and there’s not much you can do about it. Besides the weather being unreliable, dealing with mainly young guys can be tricky too. Many of them take each day as it comes. I used to think I did that too until I met surfers!

Previous season in Nazaré

Surf photography is an exciting and fulfilling way to explore and enjoy the ocean. By employing the appropriate equipment, selecting optimal locations, shooting at opportune times of day, experimenting with composition, mastering timing, and refining your editing skills, you can produce stunning surf photos capable of transporting viewers to the beach and evoking a profound appreciation for the power and beauty of the ocean.