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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
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.