The Best Surf Photos of 2011

Yadin Nicol at home in Santa Barbara late afternoon this past spring. Photo:Mike Smolowe

Kilian Garland speed blur late-late afternoon in Santa Barbara. Photo:Mike Smolowe

My favorite wave in Santa Barbara offering up a little diffused light from a pier overhead. Photo:Mike Smolowe

I lived in Santa Barbara for the past 5 years, so a lot of my portfolio reflects it. Conner Coffin, taking SB for what it’s worth. Photo:Mike Smolowe

Phil Goodrich starting to freak out while checking the bend at a new right reef, one of many unsurfed waves on this coastline. Photo: Callahan/SurfExplore

Phil Goodrich slides into a glassy afternoon barrel - on a major swell event, this wave could be amazing. Photo: Callahan/SurfExplore

The water clarity and white sand beaches is why I love shooting on the North Shore. Photo: Clark Little.

A large North Shore wave makes its way into a shallow sand bank, sucking the sand off of the sea floor into the wave itself. Photo: Clark Little.

Looking from behind the barrel on an ultra glassy day at Makena Beach, Maui. Photo: Clark Little.

Photo: Clark Little.

Troy Mothershead, getting “all piggy’s over” at San-O. Photo:Bryce Johnson.

Johnson loves to capture the mood and atmosphere around the surfer. Photo:Bryce Johnson.

Corina Rose Barnick paddling out at Churches just after sunrise. Photo:Bryce Johnson.

Photo:Bryce Johnson.

Hawaii, December 2008. Photo: Jeff Flindt

I was on my way back to the car to get suited up, when I turned around and saw Peter take off on this wave. I haven't seen this spot like this in 4 years. Photo: Jeremy Koreski

Raph Bruhwiler on a wave that he helped find. This spot breaks a lot in the winter time, but you need low pressure for offshore winds. That means a lot of rainy days here. Photo: Jeremy Koreski

This is Peter Devries at a spot where if it's good and the wind is the right direction, it's pissing rain. Generally you cant even see the mountains, so I'm really happy that we were able to make this image. Photo: Jeremy Koreski

Right hand bomb in Japan. Photo: Jeff Flindt

I shot this photo of Warren Smith in Iceland back in 2009. To this day it's still one of my all-time favorites. Photo: Nick Lavecchia

Scotty Stopnik. Great choice of board color for this trip. Bahamas 2009. Photo: Nick Lavecchia

Slushy ice wave on very cold morning. Photo: Brian Nevins

Just your average day at the beach. Photo: Brian Nevins

October foliage and a clean point break surf in New Hampshire. Photo: Brian Nevins

Andalucia is paradise in the winter. Gony Zubizarreta on a heavy beachbreak. Photo: Javier Munoz

The Nord is one of the best outer-sandbars in Southern France. Photo: Javier Munoz

One of the most exciting parts about surf photography is taking lineup shots that encourage people to dream. Photo: Javier Munoz

It's all about your angle to get the light bouncing of your subjects. Here, a surfer checking the waves gives this image a deceiving perspective. Photo: Chris Sardelis

Getting in close on your shot can show more detail. Photo: Chris Sardelis

Pulling back on your shot can add more lines and curves. Photo: Chris Sardelis

Teahupoo. Photo: Jeff Flindt

Tavarua, March 2007. Photo: Jeff Flindt

Escape. A young man stretches out to avoid the wave breaking above at Coogee Beach, Sydney. “The first from the underwater series, we were all caught inside by a set. Almost subconsciously, I turned the camera on the swimmers, and it turned out to be a good thing. The next wave punished me and ripped the leash off my wrist, sending the housing into the shorey somewhere - by the time I retrieved it, the swimmers had bailed, and I never got his name." Photo: Mark Tipple.

Womb. A surfer falls from his board a moment before it closes out at Bronte Beach, Sydney. “Chasing surfers underwater became a thing through winter. This surfer hit my camera a second later, and we both came up laughing. Well, I did anyway. He was confused." Photo: Mark Tipple.

Pause. A swimmer pauses to watch the wave pass at Tamarama Beach, Sydney. “On the last warm day of last summer, the beaches were crowded. I kind of stalked this guy. Out of the 20 odd photos, this one basically reflected what I was looking for: an almost quiet moment amongst the chaos.” Photo: Mark Tipple.