Jeff Divine's best photograph: a wipeout on surfing's greatest wave
FWIW good photo, but I can think of many more from JD I think are better.
I reckon it is great shot because it is so different from the usual fare. Great composition with the board tracking its course while the rider gets ahead of himself, in a reclining pose in parallel with his shadow. His pose mirrors shadows and ledges of the lip line and the shades in the whitewater make it really arresting, all tone and texture, with an implicit beating to come.
I think the great is more from a whole photographic point of view rather than a pure surfing perspective. Almost a perfect contrast to the "normal" great surfing shot. Outstanding tones and light. I love it.
It's a fine shot, but the headline's got nothing to do with anything really, there's no reference from JD in the article about if he considers this his 'best' photo, and nothing on that call from the writer. Headline's a bit sub par / lazy from the good old Guardian I reckon.
Short article in The Guardian:
Jeff Divine’s best photograph: a wipeout on surfing's greatest wave