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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
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.