These incredible surfing photos are taken by 16-year-old Leroy Bellet, who remarkably rides waves behind surfers with a Nikon DSLR and external flash in hand to capture these shots.
Inspired by Laurent Pujol's "double tow photography," Leroy added to this by using flash to light up the surfers from behind. This creates stunning images that feature glorious lighting from sunsets and sunrises. While he expected the images to be glossy and reflective, he quickly learned that clear water absorbs more artificial light than he expected. This fact led to a unique appearance in which only the tumultuous water is lit up, while the bottom and far off ocean look like smooth glass.
Though two boards were broken and the hospital was frequented, these surfing photos turned out beautifully and will certainly inspire other multi-talented photographing surfers to try the same.
Barrel Wave Surf Photography
Leroy Bellet's Surfing Photos are Shot While Riding a Board Himself
Trend Themes
1. Surfing Photography with External Flash - Using an external flash while surfing to create stunning photos with glorious lighting opportunities from sunsets and sunrises.
2. Riding Waves for Photos - Riding waves to take photos of surfers creates a unique and immersive perspective that can be used for marketing or advertising.
3. Clear Water Light Absorption - Learning how clear water absorbs artificial light can lead to new creative approaches in underwater photography.
Industry Implications
1. Sports and Action Photography - The use of external flashes while surfing can be applied in other sports photography such as snowboarding, wakeboarding, and skateboarding.
2. Travel and Tourism - Surfing photography with exteranl flashes can be used to market and advertise surfing destinations, as well as highlight the beauty of sunrises and sunsets.
3. Underwater Photography - Understanding how artificial light is absorbed in clear water can benefit underwater photography in various fields such as marine biology, environmental protection, and archaeological research.