Photos: Nikon Surf Photo of the Year
Tonight the 2018 Nikon Surf Photo of the year will be awarded at Surfing Australia's annual gathering.
It's fortunate the award is called 'surf photo' and not 'surfing photo' cos of the 20 finalists there are very few that feature a person surfing.
Not a criticism, mind you, but rather an observation of how things have changed in photography with more artistic focus on waves and seascapes, and less on surf action. Call it the Ray Collins effect, though if Ray was asked he'd probably call it the Jon Frank effect - Frank being one of the first to shoot waves in the nude.
Waves without a rider, that is, not a photographer without duds...though we really should move along before the image sticks.
By my count there are 13 photos without any surfer, and just 4 photos that have a surfer featured in any kind of traditional way.
Good luck to all the shortlisted photogs.
(above) Trent Mitchell
(above) Phillip Thurston
(above) SA Rips
(above) Peter Jovic
(above) Mark Onorati
(above) Mark Onorati
(above) Alex Brunton
(above) Ted Grambeau
(above) Jamie Scott
(above) Jamie Scott
(above) Craig Parry
(above) Alex Brunton
(above) Ryan Williams
(above) Jack Dekort
(above) Woody Gooch
(above) Ryan Williams
(above) Trent Mitchell
(above) Alex Brunton
(above) Craig Parry
Comments
Nothing really new here, well, nothing that really screams out at me.
The winner? Probably the guy who still uses a Canon body.
Some of those images are old as.
I think the first one by Trent Mitchell (at crosswaves i'm guessing) is from 2014?!
Nothing really inspiring if I am honest. I would go with Jack Dekort pic all day if I had to choose
Ted,Trent and last fish eye of Craigs......my winners.
The black and white of the Goofy ( Oz Wright ? ) bottom turning on the single fin is all time .
Pretty sick photo and an even better bit of rail work if you ask me.
Fucker is steering that thing !
I like the Jack Dekort pic too and also the Woody Gooch.
Congrats to Trent Mitchell who won last night with the photo that opens this spread.
Wasn't that photo taken like 4 years ago? Rules state photo taken during 2017.
Could be wrong but reckon I've seen that image years ago
For pure surf ejaculation I can’t go past Ryan williams
They're all great photos, good to see some younger guys getting a few nominations along with the usual suspects.
Congratulations Trent (although I preferred your other shot!)
SA rips is the shot. No surf required !
Sa rips for me
Onorarti, never ordinary.