SURFING
David Boyd
I am sadly unable to surf. I have never tried, and yet I am irrepressibly drawn to the culture. Both the surfers and the seascapes are so free and full of life. You can sense the individuals’ excitement as they arrive at the beach, the urgency to get into the water, and to catch a wave. And after plenty of failed attempts, to ride that one wave that makes it all worthwhile. I live on the north coast of Ireland, where, like a lot of places, surfing and water sports have exploded in popularity over the last 15 plus years. The water here is cold all year round but that does not seem to stop the play. If anything, it seems to make them more determined! Unusually, I do not take photographs of people actually surfing. I leave that up to the experts, who do it very well.
What inspires me is to try and capture the excitement these people feel just as they enter the water. The anticipation, the waiting for the moment, how they look against the coastal landscape. I particularly enjoy contrasting the pop of colour from their boards with the grey sea and sand behind.
In a way, it is my take on street photography, and I find the experience electrifying. Nearly all of my images are taken in the harsh winter months when the Atlantic ocean makes its presence felt on these northern shores. That makes me have even more respect for the people who throw themselves into that raging sea and emerge exhausted, yet happy, refreshed and fulfilled. I hope someday to follow in their footsteps, and hope that I do justice to their sport through my images.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 12.