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John John Florence and Mark Cunningham. This photo was taken just after JJF had won his second Triple Crown in three years. Despite this massive achievement, John John was hugely disappointed. His coveted Pipeline Masters win had just been snatched away by Kelly Slater in the waning moments of their heat. It was a bittersweet moment. Mark strolled up to John and gave him a heartfelt and compassionate hug that conveyed an untold measure of empathy, condolence, and kindness. An unmistakable grin appeared on John’s face, but only for a brief moment. Photo: @JustinJayPhoto
Editor’s Note: #SolidHumans is a brand new series featuring priceless portraits and anecdotes of inspiring individuals we know and love in the surf and ocean community.
Raised in Santa Barbara, California and based in New York City, I specialize in advertising, portrait, and lifestyle reportage of artists, athletes, and musicians. Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to have had exceptional access to the private lives of many of today’s top personalities. However, I’ve taken a particular interest in documenting intimate moments of the insular world of the North Shore of O’ahu. Here are a few priceless moments captured last winter on the North Shore.
See more of Justin’s photography on Instagram @JustinJayPhoto and www.justinjay.com.