Hey all

Does anyone know where surfing photography started and if anyone knows of any surfing photography greats?

l would be very grateful as l have to start writing a long essay on this, as a non-surfer it is not easy.

Thanks for any help, much appreciated.

l can name only three, Leroy Grannis & John Severson. l do not know Grannis work, but Severson is responsible for the classic North Shore shot of Greg Noll at the Pipeline. ( l am looking at a print of it on my wall while l am typing).
Dr. John Ball (Doc Ball), a dentist, was one of the real surf photography pioneers. he invented a reliable waterproof housing. He passed his art onto the Leroy Grannis.
If u Google either Grannis r Severson, u will get a bunch of hits. Grannis is one who documented the real surf explosion of the forties & fifties. he photographed one of my favorites, Rabbit kekai, who is in his 80s, & still surfing!
l have been surfing since '66, so l guess l was around for the Early days of east coast surfing. You can not talk about surf photography without mentioning the greatest surf movie producers, MacGilvray & Freeman.
Good luck with ur project! Maybe u will do enough research on this, u will think about getting wet yourself.

Dj struntz, (has a website) is pretty sick, he does a lot of the in the water stuff. Off the top of my head, l can not remember anyone else, but if you pick up a surfing mag, the photos have their names.

l know there was a guy named ron stoner who did alot of work back in the 60's. if your looking for filmmakers as well check out george greenough