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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
My career is still growing, and no single image has really excelled my progress more than any other. I’ll never be someone anyone needs in this industry; there are hoards of other people out there with a camera. Instead, I just aim to show surfing in a different light.
I’m forever a student of light and still reaching further to get a better grasp of this visual journey I’ve undertaken. I don’t want to give the impression that having your photos run in a magazine is the main goal, although I used to think that for a time. Really, having your images run doesn’t mean much. I don’t need street cred and the pay won’t support me. I have discovered that I’m not out to prove anything anymore, and I don’t need the surf media to validate me as a photographer. I do love surf photography though. I love it with all my heart. I enjoy approaching it with a critical eye to make the best image possible and am always trying to succeed. These images and captions may be more anecdotal than career progressing. Hope that jives well with you all.