Monster Gallery: The 200 Greatest Photos of 2015

Sunburst. Photo: Ray Collins.

Southern California with a healthy dose of Santa Ana winds in January. Sunny, warm and perfectly groomed. Photo: Evan Conway

Photo: SebastianRobison.com

John John Florence, Pipe. Photo: Ryan Robson

I took this at Malibu about 4 or 5 years ago. I looked at the shots and was pretty disappointed about how they came out. I ended up sending one of them to the Surfers Journal, and Jeff Divine immediately emailed me back asking for a high resolution version. It ended up being the cover shot. I couldn't believe it. Photo: @Cyrus_Sutton

Photo: Stuart Gibson

After all, it is a dance. Photo: Damien Poullenot

Sunrise on Thanksgiving. Everyone worked up a proper appetite by sunset. Photo: DavidNilsenPhotography.com

Photo: Jim Russi

Photo: Michael Farkas

Simon Fish maintains his composure as a low flying plane gets within a couple of meters. This is one of my favorite images and is truly a once in a lifetime shot. Photo: Pierre de Villiers

Photo: Andy Conner

Photo: Jenna Goldberg

Photo: Jim Russi

Photo: Justin Jay

Lines from the top is always a good sign. Photo: Jono Smit

Fiji during the Volcom Pipe Pro, the most perfect day I have ever seen in my whole life and thats Mark Healey's board going over with Kaiborg moments from grabbing Mark. Photo: BrianBielmann.com

This photograph sums up that all Mondays aren't so bad. Two mates enjoying an uncrowded fun beach break on the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Kane Brown

One of the most difficult personal challenges of shooting in the water is trying to control all the elements involved so you don’t miss that perfect moment where everything comes together in perfect unison. Photo: Paola Núñez Linares

Photo: Cory Gehr

Photo: Magi Kernan

The elusive Devil Winds making an appearance. Photo: Craig Larson

Photo: Alex Swanson

Photo: @(DanielBrittain_ / Wonders App

Simon Fish gets buzzed at a secret ledge in the eastern cape. Photo: Tyerell Jordaan

A long exposure of my homemade camper and 1991 Jeep Comanche in the eastern sierras, 2014. Photo: TrevorGordonArts.com

Photo: Nathan Oldfield

Swimming with these amazing animals is always a rush. Photo: Craig Larson

Dropping in. Photo: Ronald Hons

Peak ray. Photo: Ray Collins.

Surf all day and warm up around the fire. Wild Coast life is simple but awesome. Photo: Tyerell Jordaan

Photo: Waterways

I climbed up the fire escape of a random apartment building in San Francisco to get this photo. The tenants were not happy. Ocean Beach, California. Photo: Brian Clifford

Photo: Joel Coleman

Photo: Rick Estevez - @thefluidaperture

Flawless barrel. Photo: LynchFilm.com

How many mesmerizing barrels spinning their glorious beauty have those mountains witnessed? Photo: Manuel Toral

Photo: Matt Clark

Photo: Thomas Forward

Photo:Morgan Maassen

French surf professional Marc Lacomare inside a ridiculously large barrel. Photo: Alex Laurel

Photo: Joel Coleman/Saltmotion

Best view of Teahupoo. Photo: Jared Sislin

This picture was shot coming back from a tow in-session in the Canary Islands. After the surf we’ve pulled the ski at the port and decided to have lunch at the restaurant next to the launch pad. Sitting at the window of the restaurant, I spotted this wave hitting the lighthouse on the other side of the bay. I took my 600mm lens, went out and nailed that photo in the first five minutes. The beer was still cold when I got back to the restaurant. Photo: Alex Laurel

Tubes for breakfast. Photo: Matty Hannon

Ethereal. The first blend of 2015, incorporating all of the elements that bring me the greatest joy. Photo: Holly Shoebridge

After a morning of disappointment and awkwardness, Dane Zuan found this. Photo: Ricky Lesser

Lofoten Islands for the Nixon Surf Challenge in 2011. Photo: Alex Laurel

Frothy Photo: Brian Shannon

In the following year when Jamie Mitchell and Shane Dorian came to France and try to paddle this big wave. Until today, this is the biggest wave that a surfer ever attempted to paddle into at Belharra. Seconds later after this photo was taken, he had the biggest wipe-out you could imagine. Photo: Alex Laurel

John John Florence at the 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Photo: WSL/Cestari

Clock tower peeler. Photo: SImon Rickwood

Powerlines. Photo: Joe Carter

Being spat out of one of these gives everything a golden feeling. Photo: Matty Hannon

Ricardo Christie air dropping at the Box. Photo: WSL

Rain barrel. Photo:Hayden O’Neill

We work hard, but we always try and find the time to enjoy nature’s playground. Photo: Chris Burkard

Fruff em up. Photo: Angie Takanami

Pipeline Golden Double-Up: Even though I had to fight the urge this whole afternoon I shot Pipe, I wanted that one image that would standout. Finally, this double-up did its thing at sunset. Photo: Evan Fa

Free. A couple of birds spread their wings and enjoy a picture perfect summer lighting setup. Photo: Ricky Cavarra

Photo: Nate Barnes

Photo: David Nilsen Photography

Log Cabins 'Roid Raging: Believe it or not, this is Log Cabins. Well, Log Cabins on steroids. Photo: Evan Fa

Baja sunrise. Photo: Tyler Brundage

Laguna Beach sunset. Photo: Craig Larson

Afternoons at home with @Devon_howard. Photo: @BrooksSterling

Photo: David Nilsen Photography

Greg Long on a wave that is almost unfathomable. Photo: No Sponsor

Blurred lines made for dreamy days. Photo: Paola Núñez Linares

Tyler Warren Getting barreled by storm swell hitting the breakwater in the Faroe Islands. This breakwater also serves as a deck for whaling in the summer. Photo: Chris Burked

Photo: Carlos Palacios

Sometimes it's just not in the cards. Photo: Corinne Conklin

An image of Refugio's natural beauty, before it was devastated by the horrible oil spill. Photo: Joshua Shelly

Photo: Daniela Caram

Sundown over Baja. Photo: Tyler Brundage

Dane Reynolds doing what he does best at the Queen of the Coast. Photo: Katie Graham

Absolutely huge. Photo: No Sponsor

Here's a photo from February 28, 2013 of my good friend Mike Best caught staring into one of the best formed waves I've ever seen here in New Jersey to date. Photo: Ben Currie

The young within the old...the sea mesmerizes, Ocean Grove, NJ. Photo: Julianna D’Arco

Rhian Slapp. Photo: Matt Tibbey

Photo: Nathan Oldfield

The Perfect View. A man and his dog watch on as a cold winter's empty lines roll on through close to home. Photo: Ricky Cavarra

Huntington Beach purple haze. Photo: Katie Graham

Photo: Dylan Gordon

Photo: Dylan Gordon

Matt Bromley gliding into a long beach drainer. Photo: Craig Larson

If you're a surfer in SoCal, then you know how rare these days are. Do I shoot or surf? Here’s the answer. Photo: Craig Larson

Photo: Chris Dixon

Shot this image of Jack Robinson on my last night of a month-long trip to Bali in 2013. I always saw Padang Padang in mags and videos, but to actually witness it in person and snap a few sequences of Jack was a pretty unreal experience for me. Photo: Josh Gill

Yes, the Mentawais get this good. Photo: Kandui Villas/Black Pearl

There's just something about that early morning light. @sidrisima

Mountain and ocean on Vancouver Island. Photo: Shayne Stadnick

A glowing little shore break wedge. Photo: Dave Sieczkiewicz

Saluting the brightest star in the sky and the journey ahead. Photo: @ryan_meichtry

Oh Captain, my Captain. Photo: Hayden O'Neill

The bluest of blues. Photo: Hayden O'Neill

Photo: Jono Smit

Somewhere in Central California. Photo: Robert Eovaldi

Photo: Chris Dixon

Rincon, Puerto Rico. Many people think this shot is Tres Palmas when they see it the first time but it’s actually Sandy Beach.. Much bigger than it looks. Photo: Evan Conway

We parked at our campsite, ran out of the car with camera in hand, and saw this. Already frothing. Photo: Cory Gehr Photography

Darshan Gooch. Photo:@Colin_Nearman

Tom Schuler (@tomschuler_) crossed legs along First Point. Photo: Kane Brown

This is a shot I took of Harrison Roach in Australia. He's a good master of trim to follow. Photo: @Cyrus_Sutton

Crystal lips. Photo: Jack Gore

A Hawaiian mustached dude named Jack (@haolekook) landed one day in Noosa Heads and never left. Well, who wouldn't stay? Photo: @thomaslodin

Another one from Pipe. Photo: CoreyFrank.com

My love and passion for longboarding was instilled at a young age from the influence of my home break: First Point, Malibu. Leaving the comforts of home, I moved to Hawai'i and graduated college. It was on the North Shore of O'ahu where my admiration for logging was re-inspired. Here I am cross-stepping during Hawaii's golden hour. Photo: Keoki Saguibo

A well known spot not known to break this far in. Photo: Alex Aragon

Southern California sweetheart Tory Gilkerson making it look easy. Photo: Myles McGuinness

Photo: Spence Hornby

Photo: Alan van Gysen

Photo: Spence Hornby

Photo: Jim Russi

Photo: Alex Buisee.

Noah Sparkman.

Photo: Jim Russi

Photo: Roo McRudden

Photo: Red Bull Media House

Photo: @toobs_aimer

Photo: Hayden O'Neill

Photo: Steven Nereo

Photo: Jack Coleman

Photo: Jack Coleman

Photo: Jack Coleman

Photo: Chris Pizzitola

Photo: Chris Pizzitola

Photo: Chris Pizzitola

Photo: Brendan Simmons

Photo: Santiago Bisso

Photo: WSL/Damien Poullenot

Photo: WSL/Damien Poullenot

Photo: Jerome Chobeaux Photographe

Photo: Dan LeMaitre

Photo: Dylan Jurusz

Photo: Dylan Jurusz

Photo: DeanBlotto Gray

Photo: Jake Marote

Photo: Jake Marote

Photo: Pedro Miranda

Norway. Photo: Andre Silva

Todos Santos. Photo: Tony Zacharek

China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

Photo: Alex Aragon

Photo: Volcom

Photo: Fjordlapse Photography

Photo: Juan Bacagianis

Photo: Juan Bacagianis

Photo: Greg Gyselinck

Maverick's. Photo: Sachi Cunningham

Photo: Chris Papaleo / Salty Beards

Photo: Shannon Quirk

Photo: Krzysztof Jedrzejak

Photo: Krzysztof Jedrzejak