A Student of Light: Ryan Struck’s Photographic Journey

This morning my good friend Brian Pollak drove to Jersey from East New York. He left at 4 a.m. and made it just in time for sunrise. That's Gundi in the frame, but this is how we all started our day. Photo: Ryan Struck

With just some small packs, Jonathan Mincher, Rob Brown and myself hitched a ride to the boat docks in Tahiti to ferry our way over to the isle of Moorea. We wanted to hike into what looked like Jurassic Park and spend the night under the stars. We awoke to golden beams of light piercing early morning peaks. As we hiked out and overlooked Cook's Bay, I made this image, which has appeared at home and internationally. It's really more of a personal moment; I suppose that's why it's been received so well. Photo: Ryan Struck

A cold winter day just after a passing snow storm laid a pile of fresh snow and brought plenty of waves to New Jersey. I was shooting water this day and came away with a few good images but I knew I had to get out and get the land angle with the snowman. I saw a child making it as we paddled out. This is one of my best selling prints and you can purchase it here. Photo: Ryan Struck

This was my very first photo to run anywhere. Zach (Wiesberg, The Inertia Founder) actually ran it when he used to work at Surfer. I was so thrilled when he used this in an online East Coast feature. I remember torturing myself that the photo wasn't good enough, “I shoulda done this, or that.” Typical stuff we all go through... I was a total novice then. Now I love this photo. Jon (pictured) and I have become very good friends since so it's pretty awesome to add this one to the visual memory bank. In a day and age when everyone is run online and people give their images away for free, this was a big deal to me back then. There was not a weekly “Jersey is Fucking Firing” gallery, they were few and far between. Way before Instagram photographers were the norm. Back then being run online wasn't commonplace, especially for East Coasters. Photo: Ryan Struck

Hurricane Earl had sent a few days of waves our way back in 2010. It was a good run but Luke (pictured) was convinced we would see a backlash session the day after the storm passed. I was at my own surprise birthday party and he swore the waves were firing at this unnamed sandbar in Monmouth County. I have the best family in the world because no one faulted me for leaving to go shoot the sunset session. Super stoked I'm supported by loving people in my life. This image was supposed to run in Surfer. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. The East Coast editor called me and got my take on the day. I followed up with the photo editor even and it was all good until the issue came out. The photo didn't run; I was gutted. Since then it appeared in The Surfer's Path and Australia’s Surfing Life, as well as here on The Inertia… as well as Luke's Instagram account. Photo: Ryan Struck

This is a portfolio image for sure. PJ Raia's smooth style and New Jersey's hollow waves are a great combination. This photo's been everywhere online and also appeared as a spread in SLIDE. I still love this frame! Photo: Ryan Struck

Brian Wynn in the shaping bay in New Jersey. Photo: Ryan Struck

This image was made while shooting in Seaside Park NJ immediately following the Boardwalk Fire in 2013. I had been shooting with Gail Coleman, a local business owner, in order to keep the public aware of the hardship the town had gone through. 2012 Hurricane Sandy devastated Seaside Park, and then in 2013 the fire ripped through the boardwalk. I chose this image to include because telling great stories of surfing is fun, but we must not forget the places we surf. Our local communities are just as important. It was heart breaking to see Seaside Park go through such tragedy. Photo: Ryan Struck

This was an image I shot while aboard The Oasis in the Mentawai Islands with Jason and Brian Pollak. This trip holds a special meaning for me now, as Jason recently passed away. It was this trip where I saw the love and generosity Jason had for his brother and friends. We all miss you J... I remember looking at this small sandbar island, with the lone palm, and wondering if I'd ever return and see growth. Photo: Ryan Struck

With New Jersey's iconic “City By The Sea,” Asbury Park, in the background, I aimed to make an interesting image of my home state that people would pay attention to. It is one of those photos I wouldn't mind following me around. Photo: Ryan Struck

Tahiti was the most outrageous trip of my life. It is going to really be a hard one to top. Rob Brown, Jonathan Mincher and Josie Graves were headed out in the summer of 2012 for three months, and I knew I had to make it out there. I bought a ticket, saved some money, quit my full time job with an advertising company, then flew to the other side of the world. I had no idea what to expect but I knew that I was following my dreams. I wrote and photographed an article for ESM and also shot this video. This image represents the freedom I felt, the courage I gained and the determination to make beautiful images. Photo: Ryan Struck

March water color is often emerald green here in Jersey, this such as on this day when Mikey DeTemple cruised down. This was the first day we ever shot together and this wound up being a spread in my SLIDE Magazine portfolio piece. Hurley was considering it for an ad in Surfer's Journal, but it never panned out. Pretty stoked to be considered for something like that, and I'm happy it eventually found a home. Huge thanks to Mikey and Ryan Smith. Photo: Ryan Struck

Kind of an ironic image and a similar one to the one Seth Stafford shot a few years back, although Seth's photo bests this one ten-fold. The sand had just been pumped in Monmouth County and it created this nuts sand bank with a ripping current. I was shooting from the beach for a while, as were a ton of other photographers (insert bitter Jersey attitude here). I couldn't seem to find my own angle. Rippers started showing up in droves, Mike and Sam were still getting the best waves of the day and I was yet to make an image I was happy with. A bit frustrated I threw the Hail Mary and put my fisheye into the Essex Housing. I walked up the beach, jumped in and swung into position a number of times, never holding my ground for more than a few minutes. On one of my last attempts I saw Sam go for one and I followed him through the wave for this perspective shot. As you can see, I still couldn't get away from the photographers this day, it was that good. Photo: Ryan Struck

I could already tell I wasn't going to swim this day from up on the hill, but I walked down and checked it out anyway. It was massive. There weren't too many great waves this day, but Keala Kennelly definitely took gold on this one. The sequence ran on Surfline with a huge claim for women's surfing, also as a spread in Carve Magazine and I believe the sequence ran in SurfGirl too. This was my first time in a glossy mag. Plenty of others had the sequence also, I know Tyler Cuddy had it and I'm sure Edwin Morales must have had it also. I debated on where to send it because I knew Surfline would be psyched but that would kill any chance it had of running in the US magazines. I'm happy with the outcome and pumped KK keeps packing bombs! Photo: Ryan Struck

This is what the summer before Hurricane Sandy hit looked like from the now destroyed Ocean Grove Fishing Pier. Just because the Jersey Shore is a magnet for Jägerbombs doesn't mean it's a total armpit. Our beaches are gorgeous and the whole tri-State flocks here during the summer months. This photo was auctioned off as park of the “Within Sight” exhibition to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, alongside the likes of Zak Bush, Nick LaVeccia, Chris Burkard, Dane Peterson, Matt Clark, Todd Glasser and Chris Pfiel. The turnout was insane and I was really happy I could do something to help, even in such a small way. Photo: Ryan Struck

Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. The town was devastated from Hurricane Sandy. This water front home was completely blown out. The National Guard had the road closed and town blocked off, they patrolled the streets as rumors of looting spread. I lived 10 minutes inland at the time and our power and heat were knocked out for two weeks. I had no cell services and no way of fully understanding the magnitude of the storm. So I did the only thing I could think of: grab my camera and see for myself. I sidestepped the Humvees and rifles, walked from North End into Sea Bright and documented the way. I could smell the ruptured gas lines and see the utter destruction. It was unreal such a disaster happened so close to home. Photo: Ryan Struck

I love this angle. I have a penchant for shooting from above, but a bank account that doesn't allow that luxury. This is the poor man's aerial surf photo that I photographed during Nor'Ida. I've been up here to get this view a few years now but it doesn't always work. It looks best with a huge swell and sunlight, that's a rare combo in Jersey. Shooting on a mushy, grey day just isn't worth exposing the break. This photo is hanging on the wall at Woody's in Sea Bright, nice and big. Thanks Woody! Photo: Ryan Struck

Shane Dorian from the Banzai in 2012. It's obviously not the gnar shot everyone one is after from Hawaii, but it represents more of the scene there for me. I decided I had to go to Hawaii at least once and why not during the Superbowl of surfing. This was the morning that Pipemasters started and all da boys were out. It was so incredible to see everyone surfing so well. It was even more magical to feel Pipe break. There's really no other way to describe that wave. I'm getting psyched just thinking about it, picturing it bend, feeling its pull. As you can see, there's another camera in the frame. I believe that's Jeff Flindt and another photog on the inside ducking under this one. So nothing nuts here, but everyone's intro to Hawaii is a milestone. I haven't been back yet but the thought of Pupukea Grill alone is plenty enticing. Photo: Ryan Struck

I did a trip to Barbados with Benny B and Dylan Graves (pictured) while they were filming with Jerry Ricciotti for Innersection in 2010. I was such a greenhorn at this stage in my career that I thought I had to get photos run to please everybody. I wanted to make sure I was doing my job as a photographer. I got in touch with ESM and Surfing Magazine and told them I was going and asked their interest in photos. They both responded positively, of course (who doesn't want photos of these guys?!). But I think the guys may have been a little bummed. It's one of those mistakes I've learned from, though, so in a way I'm thankful. I don't expect my photos to run, I shoot surf because I love it these days. The waves didn't really pan out anyway, but we did have an epic time. Photo: Ryan Struck

Hurricane swells are so touchy. Too close and they are devastating. Sometimes they never show up and you're left scratching your head. Irene was pretty nasty. In her wake she churned up some hefty lumps. The line up was strewn with telephone poles, chunks of debris and dudes getting barreled. The lighting was tricky; wind was whipping but we were scoring in 3mils. That's rare. Photo: Ryan Struck

This is an image of Sally Fitzgibbons warming before paddling out with Torah Bright at the Quiksilver Pro New York in 2011. I was hired by Roxy to shoot all of their events and promo stuff at the suggestion of my friend Nick Zegel, who threw my name into the mix of photogs to consider hiring. I was in heaven. Jenny Pham and the whole crew at Roxy were so easy to work with. Not only because because I was shooting the beauties that the Roxy surf team is, but because I was doing what I loved: documenting surfing. I was seriously living the dream that week. Photo: Ryan Struck

Adam Warden in the shaping bay photographed on medium format. I was here to video and piggy backed the shoot with some 120 film. Seeing these results just made me feel right, the details deserve to be slowed down. I throw film photos into the mix as much as I can. Photo: Ryan Struck