As the year winds down, we’re thankful for a lot of things. One of them is the amazing photographers that send in their photos each week for you (and us) to let your eyes wander over, inhale sharply, and wish you were there. Here are the 11 Most Popular Galleries from 2013… and may 2014 bring many more.
Top Photo Galleries
1. Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, Malia Manuel: The Kauai Girls – Mike Coots
Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, Malia Manuel: The Kauai Girls who grew up in a beautiful place, full of lush greenery and amazing waves. These photos are an example of the beauty and the talent that the Garden Isle is responsible for.
2. World Record Potential: Maxed Out Nazare – Rui Boino
This morning’s XXL swell in Portugal set off big wave alarms around the world. A crew of hellmen/women converged on Nazaré, potentially setting world records, breaking bones, and thrilling the world.
3. 10 Spookiest Waves on the Planet – The Inertia
Waves are a lot of things: they can be beautiful, playful, dark, and dangerous. The ocean can be a spooky place, too. When the sky is dark and the sea is cold and angry, it’s not somewhere most people feel comfortable.
4. Surfing Korea’s Demilitarized Zone – Shannon Ashton
A legitimate surfing community has developed in one of the most dangerous places on earth: the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) dividing North and South Korea.
5. Rob Machado: 20 Great Photos – Anthony Ghiglia
Surfer Rob Machado reflects trademark style in these 20 great photos as captured by San Diego photographer Anthony Ghiglia.
6. Polynesian Paradise – Ben Thouard
I made Teahupoo my backyard and my favorite place to shoot. Mesmerized by the many colors of my new home, I explored new ways of shooting by flying aboard my motorized paraglider.
7. Maya Gabeira: Surfing’s Most Fearless Woman – Alexander Haro
After Maya Gabeira’s near-drowning in Portugal, the world sat up in their seats to take a closer look at the girl who tames monsters.
8. Never Before Seen Nazaré – Mark Wengler
I met Garrett McNamara and we hooked up for a early morning shoot in Nazaré. Between shooting Garrett and Maya’s near-death experience, I was deeply humbled by day’s end.
9. World’s Best Big Wave Surfers Converge on Massive Jaws – Sofie Louca
The enormous swell that hit Hawaii last week ran into Maui’s north side and created monsters. A few of the world’s best surfers were on hand to tame them: Greg Long, Mark Healey, Ian Walsh, Peter Mel, Isaac Stant, just to name a few.
10. Amazing Lineups from Around the Globe – Sean Davey
Of all the images that I sent to magazines as slides when we were all still shooting film, the line-ups were what I personally treasured the most and so often they were never returned.
11. Portugal’s Best Kept Secret: Land of the Serpents – João Bracourt
This gorgeous collection of images is from a place called Sagres, which I like to call Portugal’s “Best Kept Secret.” It’s actually pretty well known. For guys doing the inter-rail, Lagos is the last stop in South Europe, which is only 33 kms away. You could call it the End of the Road.
