I have recently done a couple of test shoots with talented surfer girl, Tanika Hoffman for an upcoming project at a slabby left hand break in Green Point, Cape Town called Off-The-Wall.
I have never shot from the water here and this would be only my second visit to this particular spot.
So not a lot of experience with this wave!
To further complicate matters, I have only shot lefts from the water on two previous occasions.
Shooting lefts is tough!
Being right handed, I have to get the housing across my body to get into line with the action. This feels pretty awkward and unbalanced.
Some gnarly waves to swim through
Both days we shot there were some solid sets pulling in that handed me a couple of decent beatings.
I (not so fondly) remember being caught inside on the second shoot by a rouge wave.
This wave just smashed me.
I was dragged underwater for what felt like an age only to be deposited a long swim away from the lineup.
So not a pleasant experience!
Tanika Hoffman smashing an insider
I don’t mind “difficult” situations if the surfers are cooperating and giving me good picture making opportunities.
Tanika Hoffman was more than impressive.
She charged the big scary waves with confidence and ripped the smaller waves with style.
With Thanks to Tanika’s professionalism we nailed some great shots!
Tanika making a splash with her new board
Even though these sessions were just test shoots I am too stoked to have nailed a couple of shots.
I can’t wait to get stuck into this project with Tanika as im sure some epic shots will be made…
Short gallery of left overs
Enthusiast surfing photographer out of Cape Town, South Africa. Photography, and creativity in general is not something that comes naturally
to me, but with hard work, dedication and an obsessive hunger for continued
improvement, I try to make it work.