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Serenity amongst the destruction. Two months after Hurricane Sandy in Monmouth County, NJ. This was my second photo to be featured in ESM. Photo: Robert Siliato
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At first light. Dawn patrol at the Jersey Shore. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Contemplation. This was the first photo I entered into a local surf art show and was sold. Asbury Park, NJ. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Summer sessions with Tom Petriken. After a long debate with myself, I invested in a water housing to challenge myself and my photography – to change it up a bit. I have to thank Tom for letting me hone my craft while he skillfully rips. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Nor'easter swells never disappoint. Ocean County, NJ. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Welcome to the Jersey Shore. Finally saved up enough for a proper lens to capture it. Taken with a Nikon 400mm 2.8. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Left Behind. This was the defining moment for me regarding surfing lifestyle photography in 2009. A friend was left behind because he was hurt and couldn't paddle out and his friends were stoked there were waves. I still have the sequence of the surfers scurrying down the rocks, boards in hand, and all smiles while this poor dude sulked. Monmouth County, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Shooting the swell from all angles. Long Branch, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Snow-covered lefts. Winter never disappoints in New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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A gentle caress caught in a moment of fury. Owen Brooks in Long Branch, NJ. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Cleanup at dusk with no moonlight available aka the big tease. Belmar, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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I had surfed at this spot a day before and wanted to document this to share with a few friends who also surfed with me that day. We all developed a nasty cough a few days later. Monmouth County, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Dirty Lip. Hurricane Irene delivered some of the best surf to hit the Jersey Shore in 2011. Photo: Robert Siliato
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The surfer's girlfriend. Her body language says it all and she's not happy. At this point, I started to include people into the photos to help tell a story greater than what was really happening in the photograph. Asbury Park, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Evan Thompson at the Foster's Belmar Pro 2011. Why is this significant to me? It was a valuable lesson learning to move away from everyone else while shooting the same people. I was rejected from a feature because someone with a well known name got the same shot, even though mine were sharper. Plus I didn't write down any of the contestants' names...Photo: Robert Siliato
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Lunchtime views: Vincent Troniec takes advantage of some late fall surf. My advice is bring your camera wherever you go. You never know what you might capture while on lunch break. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Historic Punt: This is one of the first action shots I took that I felt didn't suck. I had been shooting for a while but finally managed to borrow a friend's telephoto. To me, it made a world of difference in 2006. Monmouth County, New Jersey. Photo: Robert Siliato
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Shorebreak sessions with a few friends. Surfer: Trey Cooper. Photo: Robert Siliato
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My first action shot that ESM ran. Maddie Peterson, Belmar Pro, 2012. Photo: Robert Siliato
I am a photographer and a surfer. I have been surfing for over 10 years, but prior to that, I was a bodyboarder. I’ve never lived further than two miles from that beach as I honestly feel I’m addicted to the ocean. I’ve always tried to take a photojournalistic approach to documenting the surfing culture at the Jersey Shore. I feel that each photo should tell a story and that some surf shots aren’t meant to be shot at 10 frames a second. I apply that feeling to my other photographic works as well. My ultimate goal would be to write a book about winter surfing at the New Jersey Shore and the perils surfers face in search of a decent wave.
Check more of Robert’s photography out on Instagram: @robertsiliatophotography
