VISIONS OF SUMMER IN THE SURF: MY PAST YOUTH WITH ELVIS
Yesterday as I drove from my supermarket, a jeep loaded with teenagers whipped by on their way to Folsom Lake. I noticed bikinis and swim suits, so I knew their fun beach destination. Summer is almost here and those kids gave me a flashback. They may not be surfing but images of California beaches full of surfers came back vividly. Oh! days of youth, nodding to another instance of daydream, thinking of past vacations in Hawaii .
These incredible pictures capture the stunning moment waves roll on to a tropical beach. The breath-taking images show the split-second in which each one breaks and crashes on to the sand.
Breaking waves: , in Hawaii
Clear and blue: Using a simple protective casing around their cameras, and donning just swimming shorts and flippers, they bob up and down with the water as the surf washes over their heads
A lone man can be seen on the shore as the waves crash over at sunset
An insight into the photography: A simple waterproof case allows the photographers to take these images
The foggy sands closer to shore get tossed and turned in the foam, leading to a wide mix of colours in this shot
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The breath-taking images show the split-second in which each one breaks and crashes on to the sand
The waves break over the sand just as the sun breaks over the hills on the beautiful islands
The stillness of the sea is broken up by the force of the waves, lifted up by the moon's gravity
Many popular surfing destinations, such as Hawaii, California, Florida, Rio de Janeiro, Ireland, Australia and Costa Rica, have surf schools and surf camps that offer lessons. Surf camps for beginners and intermediates are multi-day lessons that focus on surfing fundamentals. They are designed to take new surfers and help them become proficient riders. All-inclusive surf camps offer overnight accommodations, meals, lessons and surfboards. Most surf lessons begin by instructors pushing students into waves on longboards. The longboard is considered the ideal surfboard for learning, due to the fact it has more paddling speed and stability than shorter boards. Funboards are also a popular shape for beginners as they combine the volume and stability of the longboard with the manageable size of a smaller surfboard.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: A surfer performs an ariel maneuver in large swell at Bondi Beach January 4, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
EHUKAI BEACH, HAWAII - DECEMBER 11: Rob Machado of the USA wipes out during the trials of the Xbox Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, USA on December 11, 2002. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Tostee/Getty Images) #
Fabio Gouveia of Brazil in action during the 1999 Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championships from Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. Jack Atley /Allsport #
A surfer jumps in the sea at the beach in Durban on 16 June, 2010 as the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa continues through July 11. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images) #
A surfer tries to catch the early waves at sunrise on the North Pier Beach in Durban on June 25, 2010. (RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Getty Images) #
Australian Matt Wilkinson performs during the third round of Tahiti's surf event, part of the ASP world tour on September 1, 2010 in Teahupoo Tahiti, French Polynesia. (GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images) #
VICTORIA BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 11: Surfers walk across the rocks to reach the ocean for a sunrise surf on June 11, 2010 in Victoria Bay, South Africa. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) #
VICTORIA BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 11: A surfer watches the waves from the breakwall at Victoria Beach on June 11, 2010 in Victoria Bay, South Africa. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) #
VICTORIA BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 11: A surfer rides a wave during an early morning session on June 11, 2010 in Victoria Bay, South Africa. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) #
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - AUGUST 07: Cory Lopez executes an off the lip during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on August 7, 2010 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) #
Australian Chris Davidson performs during the third round of Tahiti's surf event, part of the ASP world tour on September 1, 2010 in Teahupoo Tahiti, French Polynesia. (GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images) #
US Andy Irons competes during the final of the Billabong Pro Tahiti 2010 surf event, part of the ASP world tour on September 3, 2010 in Teahupoo Tahiti, French Polynesia. Irons won the event. (GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images) #
A surfer enters the water before tribal elder Mati Waiya from the Chumash Nation conducts the dedication ceremony for the iconic Malibu Surfrider Beach to become the first "World Surfing Reserve" (WSR), in Malibu on October 9, 2010. The WSR program, inspired by UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, helps the surfing community to identify and preserve it's surfing heritage, raise environmental awareness and issues at important surf breaks. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) #
Combing the shores of Lake Seloton for photographs, I was greeted by a dear old friend who I often meet during my travels. Let me explain.
You see, reflections are one of my best friends when shooting at twilight. They can multiply the ebbing colors of a twilight sky and brighten-up my compositions at a time when most light and color have left the land. To be able to continue shooting long after the sun has set, reflections are great friends indeed.
POLZEATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Surfers brave the cold to take advantage of the Cornish winter waves on January 20, 2011 in Polzeath, England. Improved wetsuit materials and technology has meant that surfing has now become a year-round sport for places like Cornwall, with many dedicated surfers able to take advantage of the better waves and less crowded breaks the winter offers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
General view of the action during the 1999 Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championships from Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. Jack Atley /Allsport #
POLZEATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A surfer braves the cold to take advantage of the Cornish winter waves on January 20, 2011 in Polzeath, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
Philippines: The best time to photograph Batanes is when the weather is bad and unpredictable. Why?We're in Rakuh-e-Payaman in Batanes. It's a clearing-of-sorts atop a series of gently rolling hills on one end of the island. Here the wind blows with abandon, gasping to almost howling, under a grayish sky with an intermittent drizzle. Just like my vantage point, on the horizon is Mt. Iraya under a shadow cast by a canopy of fast-moving clouds. And every so often, sunlight would pierce through, momentarily lighting up the terra firma. These shafts create ripples of light that race across the shadowed landscape, lending character and drama, transforming a mediocre scene into something much more interesting. Now you don't get that effect when the weather is all nice and sunny!
POLZEATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY
20: A surfer braves the cold to take advantage of the Cornish winter waves on January 20, 2011 in Polzeath, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
We all have our comfort zones, fortresses beyond which we rarely stray. Could we be missing something?
We were on Badian Island off the western coast of Cebu, in a small cottage that looks out over the Badian Channel. The waterway itself is narrow and so shallow that you can literally walk across at low tide. In the distance is the Mantalongan, an imposing mountain range rising to nearly a thousand feet above sea level. The sun rose from behind those mountain tops today, an experience that will be hard to forget, followed by a simmering mist that hovered over the water's surface all morning. The view is as beautiful as it is calming.
We're tempted to stay in the cool cozy indoors, sit back, and just enjoy the grand view. But the world looks very different up-close. To see the world, we need to step out of our comfort zones, into the new, into the unknown, and into destiny. Who knows what tomorrow brings? After all, we're much like what they said about ships in a harbor: they're safe there, but that's not what ships are made for
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 12: A surfer makes good use of the waves during the Day of Giants Surfboat race regatta at Piha beach on February 12, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Beau Foster of Australia competes in the Open Trials during the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 12, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Owen Wright of Australia competes in the final of the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 13, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Jack Freestone of Australia competes in the heats of the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 13, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
This photo taken on February 7, 2011 shows surf boards piled up at the Ha'atafu Beach Resort on Tongatapu in Tonga. There are no signs pointing the way to Tonga's oldest surf resort, only a palm-fringed road riddled with potholes that presents many blind turns for the unwary traveller. (NEIL SANDS/AFP/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: A bodyboarder rides a wave at Mackenzies Bay on May 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: A surfer rides a wave at Mackenzies Bay on May 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #
A surfer sits on a surfboard during the Malibu Longboard Invitational of the Ocean Festival Series in Malibu, California in July of 1997. Harry How/Allsport #
HOSSEGOR, FRANCE - OCTOBER 5: Kelly Slater of the USA in action during his victory over Paul Canning of South Africa at the Quiksilver Pro at Hossegor, France on October 5, 2002. Slater advances to the quater finals where he takes on Australian surfer Luke Hitchings. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Getty Images) #
A surfer carves the wave at the Jaws Tow-In World Cup in Pe'' Ahi, Maui, Hawaii in January of 2002. Donald Miralle/Getty Images #
Megan Abubo of the USA on her way to victory over Melanie Redman of Australia in the final during the Roxy Fiji Surf Jam at Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji in May of 2001. Allsport Australia/ALLSPORT # We were in Busuanga, Palawan, on a banca speeding towards Cayangan Lake on the island of Coron. Half an hour later found us in a lagoon at the foot of an imposing wall of limestone. Up a steep flight of steps, we eventually huffed-and-puffed our way to a look-out point with an expansive view of the islands. Then it's down a jagged trail until we descend onto the shores of an emerald-colored sea. Nice, very nice. And the brackish seawater? It's less than salty because of an an active underwater freshwater spring.
Cayangan is, after all, a sea lake completely enclosed by limestone cliffs. Along the water's edge, there's a faint echo that gently envelopes you, like whispering waves inside a seashell. And the water? The color is alive... my photographs fail... this place is enchanted... put it on your bucket list
The Billabong Pro, Teahupoo, Tahiti May 8-19 2001. Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world number 13 Michael Lowe (Port Kembla, NSW, AUS) flies off the back of a wave and claims his victory after winning his heat against Paul Canning (SAFR) in round three of the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Allsport Australia/ALLSPORT
A surfer rides a wave in South Africa in April of 1997. Mike Hewitt /Allsport
SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 17: A surfer catches a wave under the Golden Gate Bridge in Fort Point, San Francisco on November 17, 2002. Surfers congregate daily to surf at Fort Point and battle the harsh and dangerous conditions. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) #
HALEIWA BEACH, HAWAII - NOVEMBER 20: Ross Williams of Hawaii, USA, wipes out in his round of 64 heat during The Vans Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Beach in Hawaii, USA on November 20, 2002. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Tostee/Getty Images) #
General view of the action during the 1999 Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championships from Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. Jack Atley /Allsport #
SUNSET BEACH, HAWAII - NOVEMBER 25: Sunny Garcia of Hawaii, USA, in action, advanced to round three of the Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA on November 25, 2002. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/Getty Images) #
HONOLUA BAY, HAWAII - DECEMBER 15: 2002 World Qualifying Series champion Pauline Menczer of Australia in action, clinched her best World Championship Tour result this year when she finished runner up in the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2002. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/Getty Images) #
TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA - APRIL 30: Bruce Irons of Hawaii, USA, rides the tube at the Air TahitiNui VZ Trials April 30, 2003 at Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia. (Photo by Steve Robertson/Getty Images) #
General view of surfers in action in Malibu, California, December 1993. Getty Images #
NEWQUAY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: New Zealander surfer Jay Quinn, runner-up of the Association of Surfing Professionals Relentless Boardmasters 5 Star Event competes in the final heaton Fistral beach on August 8, 2010 in Newquay, England. Said to be the UK home of surfing, Newquay in Cornwall was playing host to the annual 5-day surf and music festival which attracts some of the world's best surfers to the competition and the 120,000USD prize money. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
General view of a surfer looking out at the waves in Malibu, California in December 1993. Getty Images #
A surfer walks the shore with his surfboard at Bonzai Pipeline in North Shore, Hawaii in April of 1997. Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport #
General view of a surfer in action at Ho''Okipa Beach in Maui, Hawaii in November of 1998. Getty Images #
MANLY, AUSTRALIA: Surfers swim as big surf crashes in tubes onto Manly Beach on the northern beaches of Sydney 30 June 2002. The huge ocean swell had hardened Australian pro-surfers calling the waves "scary". Former professional surfer Glen Rawlings described the conditions as similar to Hawaii. "It's absolutely going off," he said. (JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images) #
OAHU, UNITED STATES: Kelly Slater of the US competes at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, during the Xbox Pipeline Masters 17 December 2002. (PIERRE TOSTEE/AFP/Getty Images) #
PIPELINE, HI - DECEMBER 8: Derek Ho of Hawaii competes in the Rip Curl Pipe Masters as fans watch from the shore on December 8, 2004 at Pipeline of the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/APS via Getty Images) #
WAIMEA BAY, HI - DECEMBER 15: A surfer rides down the face of a wave at Waimea Bay December 15, 2004 in Oahu, Hawaii. (Photo by Marco Garcia/Getty Images) #
KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: A surfer duck dives a wave at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: Surfers take off on a wave at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii on January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA, CA - JUNE 23: A surfer enjoys the waves as the sun sets through low clouds on June 23, 2005 at Cardiff State Beach in Cardiff-By-The-Sea, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
SAN CLEMENTE, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: 6-Time World Champion Kelly Slater surfs a wave out en route to his victory during the Boost Mobile Pro, Part of the Foster's ASP Men's World Surfing Tour on September 18, 2005 at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: Surfer Nick Yamada of Hawaii surfs in the tube at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: A surfer duck dives a wave at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii January 6, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
SHELLHARBOUR, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 20: A surfer watches a wave off Red Sands Beach at Bass Point, brought about by a low pressure system of the South Coast of New South Wales on June 20, 2007 in Shellharbour, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) #
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: A surfer tackles some of the large swell at Maroubra Beach June 27, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Robb Cox/Getty Images) #
NEWQUAY, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 08: A female surfer stands by a Volkswagen camper van at Watergate Bay close to the Ripcurl Boardmasters at Fistral Beach on August 8, 2007 in Cornwall, England. The event, which runs from the 6-12 August, has become the biggest event on the UK's surfing calender and attracts surfers from across the globe to compete for the 100,000 USD prize money. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
Brazil's Neco Padaratz performs during the third round of Tahiti's surf event, part of the ASP world tour on September 1, 2010 in Teahupoo Tahiti, French Polynesia. (GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images) #
NEWQUAY, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 08: Two surfers run into the sea at Watergate Bay close to the Ripcurl Boardmasters at Fistral Beach on August 8, 2007 in Cornwall, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #
HOUT BAY-JUNE 27: Sean Holmes of South Africa rides the biggest wave of the day at a practice session for the Red Bull BWA at Dungeons in Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa on 27th June 2002. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Getty Images) #
SANTA BARBARA, CA - MAY 07: Surfers enter the water under heavy smoke from the Jesusita fire at Butterfly Beach on May 7, 2009 in Montecito, just south of Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) #
American Mick Fanning performs during the third round of Tahiti's surf event, part of the ASP world tour on September 1, 2010 in Teahupoo Tahiti, French Polynesia. (GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images) #
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 25: Patrick Gudauskas competes during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 25, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) #
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 26: Kelly Slater surfs during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 26, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) #
WAIMEA, HAWAII - DECEMBER 8: Surfers paddle out during pre-contest surf before the 2009 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational on December 8, 2009 in Waimea, Hawaii. The rare contest, which attracts big wave surfers from around the world, is held in memory of Hawaiian surf and lifeguard legend Eddie Aikau only when the waves are over 40 feet. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) #
WAIMEA, HAWAII - DECEMBER 8: A large crowd lines up along Kamehameha Highway looking into Waimea Bay to watch the 2009 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational on December 8, 2009 in Waimea, Hawaii. The rare contest, which attracts big wave surfers from around the world, is held in memory of Hawaiian surf and lifeguard legend Eddie Aikau only when the waves are over 40 feet. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) #
Sunbathers enjoy the sunset from Camps Bay in Cape Town on December 3, 2009. (STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images) #
KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: A Surfer duck dives under a wave above the reef at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii on January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #
A surfer watches the waves at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on April 9, 2010. The unusual roughness in Guanabara Bay and the high level of the water, was, according to experts, caused by the same climate phenomenon that originated the heaviest rains in half a century that unleashed the floods and mudslides which killed an estimate of 380 people in the state of Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images) #
68 A water spout (tornado) hits the sea behind a surfer on Sydney's Bondi Beach on May 17, 2010. A rare sight in Australia, the water spout lasted around five minutes and expired before landfall. (James Alcock/AFP/Getty Images) #
We were in Busuanga, Palawan, on a banca speeding towards Cayangan Lake on the island of Coron. Half an hour later found us in a lagoon at the foot of an imposing wall of limestone. Up a steep flight of steps, we eventually huffed-and-puffed our way to a look-out point with an expansive view of the islands. Then it's down a jagged trail until we descend onto the shores of an emerald-colored sea. Nice, very nice. And the brackish seawater? It's less than salty because of an an active underwater freshwater spring.
Cayangan is, after all, a sea lake completely enclosed by limestone cliffs. Along the water's edge, there's a faint echo that gently envelopes you, like whispering waves inside a seashell. And the water? The color is alive... my photographs fail... this place is enchanted... put it on your bucket list .
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