I’ve had the pleasure of shooting shore break waves since 2007 and I’ve recently witnessed the explosion of new surf photographers in the last couple years. More recently, because of the quality of the GoPro cameras, this has made surf photography much easier and affordable for people. At first I was a bit discouraged with so many new people in the lineup holding their GoPro sticks up and making it more difficult to get a good empty barrel shot. I felt the artistry was being lost in wave photography since you are now capable of shooting 30 frames per second with a camera that weighs less than one pound with a push of a button. I thought to myself, “this is probably what the film guys were complaining about when digital photography was introduced.” I needed to change my attitude and embrace change. I focused on improving my photography style since it was getting harder to tell the difference between a $3,000 camera and a $300 camera. More photographers in the water means more surf photos, you have to stand out from the crowd I thought.
That’s when I started experimenting with slow shutter speed techniques. A slow shutter speed photo (when done properly) creates movement and brings a different feeling when viewing them. About a year and a half ago, I added flash to this formula which really changed the look of my images. I’ve been trying to perfect this style ever since.
I’ve also become good friends with so many of these new photographers and realize they are just as passionate as I am out there. They love photography and surf just as much as I do. Embracing all of it has made me improve my art I love so much. Not to mention the popularity of social media like Facebook (www.facebook.com/wavephotos) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/go_kenji) people love sharing their photos online and I’ve had a chance to meet up with a lot of them in the water too. Parents have emailed me asking if I could help their kids shoot when I’m in the water, and I’m always happy to help anyone if I can, whether that’s online or in person.
