The Extraordinary Travels of a Self-Taught Photographer

Creed McTaggart takes his pick at an empty Macas line up. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Bigger than it looks in Central California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Greenbush putting on a show at sunrise. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Serenity found in Central America. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Beach walks while nature talks. Lance’s Left. Photo: Matt Hoffman

No takers on a big day at Rag’s Left. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Conner Coffin assassinating The Queen. Photo: Matt Hoffman

A small day in Nicaragua still offers plenty of fun. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Wind-blown morning in Newport Beach, California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Hecho en Mexico.Photo: Matt Hoffman

Typical scene in the Mentawais. Rags Right doing its thing. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Afternoon storms produce some cool colors. Photo: Matt Hoffman

No name A-frame in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Channel perspective of a perfect wave in the Mentawai Islands. Photo: Matt Hoffman

We stumbled upon empty Greenbush. It was epic, to say the least. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Panga Drops from Mark and Dave’s pool in Nicaragua. Photo: Matt Hoffman

A tropical beach we explored in the Indian Ocean. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Mermaid tail, seashell, I’ve heard it all. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Pt. Conception lighthouse during a big swell a couple winters ago. Photo: Matt Hoffman

A little grinder during sunset in Santa Barbara, California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Before I could afford a water housing, I stood in knee-high water and shot shorebreak for hours. Photo: Matt Hoffman

Nate Tyler lifting off for Globe’s latest movie “Strange Rumblings in Shangri La.” Photo: Matt Hoffman

Stoking out the local kids in Indo with stickers and shirts was the least I could do to say thank you for letting us surf their waves. Photo: Matt Hoffman