All in the Family: Joe Foster | The Inertia

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$I really love this shot of Slater. I was sitting low and just got lucky. I love how the spray is circular and shows the whole commitment to the turn. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

I really love this shot of Slater. I was sitting low and just got lucky. I love how the spray is circular and shows the whole commitment to the turn. Photo: Foster

$This ones pretty old, but I always enjoy looking at it. It was during the fire swells and still to this day I have never seen a more perfect beach break anywhere. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This ones pretty old, but I always enjoy looking at it. It was during the fire swells and still to this day I have never seen a more perfect beach break anywhere. Photo: Foster

$This shot of Brad Ettinger will always be one of my favorites. He\'s such a funny guy and we worked together for about 5 years straight training and shooting. I remember pushing him on a swing at a park so he could get the concept of \"the weightless tail\" instead of always just carving the rail into the lip. Anyway, we would shoot this place alot from different angles and finally came up with this one. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This shot of Brad Ettinger will always be one of my favorites. He's such a funny guy and we worked together for about 5 years straight training and shooting. I remember pushing him on a swing at a park so he could get the concept of "the weightless tail" instead of always just carving the rail into the lip. Anyway, we would shoot this place alot from different angles and finally came up with this one. Photo: Foster

$The Wedge. Photo:<a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

The Wedge. Photo: Foster

$Billy Hopkins, South Side Seal Beach Pier. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Billy Hopkins, South Side Seal Beach Pier. Photo: Foster

$Ryan Carlson is incredible. He told me that he gets so low to his board sometimes he bruises his balls. I don\'t think he ever got the respect he deserves for being one of the best air guys ever. He committed his life to pushing aerial surfing and I have seen him do things that aren\'t human. Thanks for always blowing my mind Ryan and being such a great guy. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Ryan Carlson is incredible. He told me that he gets so low to his board sometimes he bruises his balls. I don't think he ever got the respect he deserves for being one of the best air guys ever. He committed his life to pushing aerial surfing and I have seen him do things that aren't human. Thanks for always blowing my mind Ryan and being such a great guy. Photo: Foster

$This is from a mainland Mexico trip I did with Justin Quirk and his dad. We were living in their RV for a month. This is right after a heavy rain and we woke up to a horse that had washed up on our porch. There were so many branches in the water Justin couldn\'t even make it out. His leash kept getting tangled and we even saw a roof of a house float by... Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This is from a mainland Mexico trip I did with Justin Quirk and his dad. We were living in their RV for a month. This is right after a heavy rain and we woke up to a horse that had washed up on our porch. There were so many branches in the water Justin couldn't even make it out. His leash kept getting tangled and we even saw a roof of a house float by... Photo: Foster

$Brett, the king of HB. Pier background, sick punt. Brett marches to his own drum so this to me was like finding a 4 leaf clover. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Brett, the king of HB. Pier background, sick punt. Brett marches to his own drum so this to me was like finding a 4 leaf clover. Photo: Foster

$This one is Andy Irons during the Eddie way back when. I never met him but feel so fortunate to have gotten this shot of him. I was with the body glove guys up in the hills above Waimea Bay and just got lucky with this one. It\'s crazy how many people he touched and moved. AI Forever. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This one is Andy Irons during the Eddie way back when. I never met him but feel so fortunate to have gotten this shot of him. I was with the body glove guys up in the hills above Waimea Bay and just got lucky with this one. It's crazy how many people he touched and moved. AI Forever. Photo: Foster

$Bryce Marino here is one of the few guys that has no fear at this wave. I love finding angles and a surfer that fully commits to a section. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Bryce Marino here is one of the few guys that has no fear at this wave. I love finding angles and a surfer that fully commits to a section. Photo: Foster

$This is my boy Chris Waring. This day was crazy. We got up super early and shot water in Oxnard. It was my first time shooting water there and I actually had a panic attack on the way there and we had to pull over. This is the end of that day where we shot a little beach break on our way home and I just love the lighting. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This is my boy Chris Waring. This day was crazy. We got up super early and shot water in Oxnard. It was my first time shooting water there and I actually had a panic attack on the way there and we had to pull over. This is the end of that day where we shot a little beach break on our way home and I just love the lighting. Photo: Foster

$Man, what can I say or not say about this trip. This is Corban Campbell on a trip we did to Panama. I remember the cartel was trying to recruit him but wanted to kill me, and then the night we had in Panama city was rather life changing. Never forget that but probably should. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Man, what can I say or not say about this trip. This is Corban Campbell on a trip we did to Panama. I remember the cartel was trying to recruit him but wanted to kill me, and then the night we had in Panama city was rather life changing. Never forget that but probably should. Photo: Foster

$This was from summer a few years back when I was living with Skip Snead. Lucky for me Jordy was staying the summer there too and lived about 4 houses down and we would shoot a lot. This day was cloudy and onshore but jeez, he is such an amazing surfer and fun guy to hang with. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

This was from summer a few years back when I was living with Skip Snead. Lucky for me Jordy was staying the summer there too and lived about 4 houses down and we would shoot a lot. This day was cloudy and onshore but jeez, he is such an amazing surfer and fun guy to hang with. Photo: Foster

$I have always liked this shot of Kanoa. Pretty hard to get a backside water shot but to me, this shows his focus and is one of those turns that you don\'t really realize how sick it is in real time. He\'s kinda all grown up now and I miss our daily surf trips and horrible free style rap we used to do...I am talking really bad, haha. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

I have always liked this shot of Kanoa. Pretty hard to get a backside water shot but to me, this shows his focus and is one of those turns that you don't really realize how sick it is in real time. He's kinda all grown up now and I miss our daily surf trips and horrible free style rap we used to do...I am talking really bad, haha. Photo: Foster

$Newps. Photo: <a href=\"http://aladdinsurfmag.net/\"> Foster </a>$

Newps. Photo: Foster

Hmmmm, what to say. I guess about half of these photos are really special to me because they are not just about the photo, but the trip or the connection I have with the guys. I really love not just the shooting, but the adventure we all share. It sometimes can be as simple as a car ride and the laughter that comes with all the funny things that happen, even the bad. The trips become memories attached to the shots, which is what makes them special. It’s easy say to go to lowers and get a shot of a CT just going off, but without knowing the guys you’re shooting it just becomes a random good shot. It can be technically perfect, but without the other dimension I will never feel it as much. I think it’s really important to have a strong connection with who you’re shooting. It’s a big family in and out of the water and thats what I love. I feel so blessed to have gotten to know and enjoy so many great people through the years.

I am currently really focused on my new band Blood Days, which helps keep me balanced. I think it’s really important to have something outside of your everyday routine that stokes you out. I also just had a little boy, Oliver Kyuss Foster, and can’t wait to watch him grow up and and enjoy this new journey with him. I am so thankful for my beautiful wife Iris and all my friends and life. I pray that everyone be kind and thoughtful and good to each other. A smile can make all the difference in the world.

In addition to being an extremely skilled photographer, Joe Foster has had multiple career successes: from professional bodyboarding, modeling, and playing guitar for the punk band Ignite. The following 3-part series by David Lee Scales takes an in-depth look behind the lens.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

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