Life Changing Photography: The Surfer's Experience

Photographer

Community

$Cale Grigson, House: It was a terrible bit of advice in the morning from two local weathered fisherman: “If guys are surfing around the corner, be careful because we had one great white bump the boat and another one harassing the motor yesterday.” Not exactly what you want to hear when you\'re swimming around. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Cale Grigson, House: It was a terrible bit of advice in the morning from two local weathered fisherman: “If guys are surfing around the corner, be careful because we had one great white bump the boat and another one harassing the motor yesterday.” Not exactly what you want to hear when you're swimming around. Photo: Russell Ord

$Chris Ross, The Right: this by far the most challenging photo I have taken successfully. swimming at The Right is bloody difficult. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Chris Ross, The Right: this by far the most challenging photo I have taken successfully. swimming at The Right is bloody difficult. Photo: Russell Ord

$Jake Trette, Mavericks: Jake Trette was an unlucky recipient of a two wave hold down. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and make the right decisions so Jake could see his son and family again. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Jake Trette, Mavericks: Jake Trette was an unlucky recipient of a two wave hold down. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and make the right decisions so Jake could see his son and family again. Photo: Russell Ord

$Kerby Brown, Ron dogs: Shooting and driving a ski at the same time – Tip #1: Always keep one eye on the horizon, even when you are situated in the so-called safety channel. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Kerby Brown, Ron dogs: Shooting and driving a ski at the same time – Tip #1: Always keep one eye on the horizon, even when you are situated in the so-called safety channel. Photo: Russell Ord

$Michel Bourez, Tahiti: This was my first time inTahiti, and I purposely wanted to avoid the circus. I went months before the comp, and I was lucky enough to stay with the Bourez family. Their hospitality was incredible. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Michel Bourez, Tahiti: This was my first time inTahiti, and I purposely wanted to avoid the circus. I went months before the comp, and I was lucky enough to stay with the Bourez family. Their hospitality was incredible. Photo: Russell Ord

$Paul Paterson, The Right: Twiggy Baker had flown over from home for a 50/50 session at The Right. The wind was suss, and the swell maybe not big enough, but he took the punt and teamed up with Paul Paterson (Antman) for the session. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.russellord.com\" target=\"_blank\">Russell Ord</a>$

Paul Paterson, The Right: Twiggy Baker had flown over from home for a 50/50 session at The Right. The wind was suss, and the swell maybe not big enough, but he took the punt and teamed up with Paul Paterson (Antman) for the session. Photo: Russell Ord

I was asked for fifteen photos that have changed, inspired, or created my style of photography. It was a daunting task. To be brutally honest, I cannot come up with fifteen photos (not even close) I have hundreds of slides and a small wall of hard drives filled with some pretty nice images that I’ve amassed over time, but I dislike 99% of them. Yes, there are some magic moments in time, but that’s all they have become for me. The images don’t speak to me – I never had that personal experience of capturing the actual moment in time. It was always the surfer’s experience and wave of a lifetime; memories etched deeply into the mind. My submissions are moments of personal experiences that have changed the way I look at my photography and even changed my life.

For more information and to view more of Russell Ord’s work, check out RussellOrd.com.

Contribute

Join our community of contributors.

Apply

Life Changing Photography: The Surfer’s Experience

Newsletter

Contribute