Through the Lens of the Ocean: Surf and Lifestyle Photographers Around the World
Surf photography is an art unlike any other. It demands patience, trust, and a deep intuition for both the ocean and the people who live within its rhythm. In-water shoots require not only physical strength but also an attuned sense of the sea and its risks. Shoots from the shore focus on composition, light, and perspective to capture the perfect wave or moment. Meanwhile, surf lifestyle photography brings the same care to land-based scenes—portraits of surfers, boards, or coastal life—requiring an eye for detail, atmosphere, and an understanding of surf culture and the people who embody it.
When done right, surf photography is pure magic. Each frame becomes a testament to the surfer and the ocean. A fleeting moment frozen in time yet brimming with motion. It transforms the ephemeral into art, capturing the thrill, the serenity, and the soul of surfing. From action-packed surf shots to intimate ocean portraits, skilled photographers allow us to feel the wave long after it has passed.
Here, we celebrate six of our favorite surfing photographer members from around the globe. Artists who capture the essence of surfing, wave by wave, shot by shot.
“Of all the means of expression, photography is the only one that fixes forever the precise and transitory instant. We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing...”
Lukene Sotomayor
For me, surf photography means combining the two things I love most: my deep connection to the ocean and my lifelong passion for art. I see the ocean as the funnest playground — and that’s exactly what photography feels like.
Rooted in both surf photography and creative marketing, Lukene Sotomayor captures the spirit of the ocean with the same playful energy she brings to her brand work at SoShells Creative. Originally from Mexico, she’s been traveling and working around the world for the past ten years, capturing the ocean and surfing in ways that feel fresh, playful, and full of life.
For Luka, surf photography is the perfect blend of her two greatest loves: her deep connection to the ocean and her lifelong passion for art. She sees the sea as the ultimate playground, and that sense of fun shines through in every shot.
“What draws me in is the sporadic, unstaged nature of the work. Unlike controlled studio environments, you have to be in the moment, reacting to a breaking wave or a split-second turn. Plus, there’s the whole swimming factor; being submerged and active in the water is a huge part of the thrill. It’s the ultimate way to merge my love for swimming under waves with my need to create.”
Her photography feels playful, fluid, and sun-kissed, a celebration of color, movement, and the natural rhythm of life by the sea. It balances spontaneity and stillness, capturing moments that feel both effortless and deeply alive.
Through vibrant tones, reflections, and textures, it invites you into a world where light, water, and joy merge into one continuous flow. You can feel the rush of the wave, the movement of the surfer, and even the salty spray on your skin just by looking at them. Every frame tells a story—not just of surfing, but of a love affair with the ocean itself.
You can explore her world of photography on her website: lukenecreative.com or follow her adventures on Instagram @lukenecreative and @soshells.creative.
OKIK PRASETYA
Somewhere between art and adrenaline, Bali-based photographer Okik Prasetya finds his creative flow. On his Instagram, he often captures moody, vintage-inspired moments—surfers framed against the textured swell, light filtering through waves, creating stark contrast and images that feel timeless and contemplative.
But there’s another side to his photography too. In action-packed surf competitions, Okik channels the same artistry into capturing high-energy moments: surfers carving through waves, sprays frozen mid-air, and the raw thrill of performance on display.
Whether intimate and moody or fast-paced and electrifying, his work always invites us to feel the motion, the rhythm, and the soul of surfing.
For Okik, surf photography is about discovering something new in every wave. He’s drawn to the collaboration between surfer and sea, those fleeting moments where skill, timing, and nature meet perfectly. His goal isn’t just to take photos—it’s to share joy, capturing people at their best, most vibrant moments on the water.
“One of the reasons I photograph surfing is because I am amazed by the surfers making beautiful splashes in the waves, seeing barrel waves that are so beautiful, big and sturdy, and the texture of the waves is what made me fall in love with surfing. It’s truly amazing between surfers and waves!”
You can explore his work and follow his adventures on Instagram at @okikprasetya and @iv.momentss.
CLARE JAMES
Clare James is a surf and coastal photographer based in Cornwall whose images reveal the poetry of waves, light, and movement. Her lens finds moments where land, sea, and surfer merge—intimate, luminous, sometimes moody, always infused with the pulse of the water.
“I draw inspiration from the ocean, and being in, on, and under the water, I hope to capture the magic of the coastal environment and inspire a love for the ocean, through my work, in order to help protect it for future generations.”
Her photography style evokes a quiet, observational relationship with the ocean and coastline, balancing openness and intimacy through wide, aerial, and shoreline perspectives that emphasize rhythm, texture, and atmosphere rather than human presence. Using soft natural light and muted tones, she captures the contemplative, timeless quality of coastal landscapes.
On her Instagram feed, you’ll find surfers framed in these muted hues, lines of light cutting through wave walls, reflections on wet sand, and moments when the water becomes mirror and mystery. These are not just surf shots—they feel like visual poems. Yet even when she turns her camera toward more dynamic surf action, she carries the same sensibility: movement captured with intention, light embraced, and emotion preserved.
You can dive deeper into her world at clarejamesphotography.com or follow her on Instagram at @clarejamesphotography.
BJÖRK DEBOUDT
In Lisbon, surf photographer and videographer Björk Deboudt captures the ocean’s pulse in every frame. Whether in Portugal’s rolling Atlantic lineups or on assignments abroad, she shoots from within the water—immersed, alive, and entirely part of the moment.
“I’ve always been someone who naturally gravitates towards water, it’s my natural habitat. Being in the ocean feels like home, so it was only a matter of time before I combined that with my love for photography and video.”
For Björk, surf photography is more than documenting a wave; it’s translating feeling into image.
That deep connection with the ocean is visible in every shot: moments where water, motion, and emotion merge seamlessly, as if the image itself were breathing.
“I aim to capture moments where everything aligns, the wave, the light, the movement, and the feeling all coming together in a perfect, fleeting harmony. Sometimes it’s a perfect barrel forming, or the way light hits the wave just right, things you can’t fully explain unless you’ve experienced them. That’s the power of surf photography and videography to me.”
Her work bridges the worlds of surfing and storytelling, from brand collaborations to her own creative surf trips that merge adventure and artistry. Whether she’s shooting from the lineup or curating experiences that blend community and creativity, Björk’s photography invites us to feel the magic of being completely alive in the water.
Her style radiates energy, freedom, and vibrant optimism—a dynamic blend of surf culture, sunlight, and raw motion. It celebrates adventure and connection with nature, mixing golden tones, ocean blues, and analog warmth that evoke endless summer days. Each frame feels alive and spontaneous, capturing the joy of movement, saltwater, and the untamed beauty of life lived close to the sea.
You can explore her work and upcoming projects at bjorkdeboudt.com and follow her on Instagram at @shotsby.bjork.
Jeffrey Vonk
In Ericeira, Portugal, Jeffrey Vonk finds inspiration in the ever-changing elements of nature and surf lifestyle. His photography explores the emotional landscape between humans and the ocean—where mood, movement, and light merge into quiet storytelling. For Jeff, surf lifestyle photography isn’t just about capturing surfing itself, but about expressing feeling: the serenity of dawn, the solitude of the ocean, and the fleeting beauty that ties humans to the sea.
“The best thing about surf lifestyle photography is that, although it all revolves around the same sport, it can be so extremely diverse. You can shoot in a very obvious way, as well as in a very artsy way. You can be extremely moody in your work, or very bright. And most of all, no matter how you look at it, it always features elements of nature. And it’s what you’ll find in 90% of my work. Nature is the biggest element in my life and in my work. ”
For Jeff, surf lifestyle photography is about more than capturing movement, it’s about capturing emotion.
“It all comes down to emotions. I want to touch people with my work. Spark some kind of an emotion. It’s also how I feel about the music, the art, etc. that I love. I love it, because it touched me in some way or form. I hope that I do the same with my work. ”
His images celebrate light, composition, and the playful interplay between subject and environment, from sunrises and sunsets to moments that feel suspended in time.
Whether capturing friends on his honeymoon in Indonesia or framing a single surfer against vast negative space, Jeff’s photography reflects both his love for the ocean and his continual drive to explore new perspectives. His style is moody, cinematic, and raw, infused with contrast, tension, and a sense of story. Using motion blur, stark compositions, and warm light, he captures the drama, solitude, and rhythm of surf life, creating images that feel almost timeless. The tone is introspective and powerful, evoking emotion not through perfection or color, but through atmosphere—where light, movement, and silence collide.
“What inspires me is to see new things. I love to see things that I’ve never seen before. Artists trying to find and cross the boundaries of things that are considered the threshold. It inspires me to do the same. And it also makes you never stop learning. Which I think is amazing. ”
You can follow his visual journey on Instagram at @jeffreyvonkphotos and see more at jeffreyvonkphotos.com.
CLARA POLZER
Berlin-born but forever drawn to the coast, Clara Polzer captures surfing and seaside life with a sense of stillness and soul. Her work speaks in quiet tones: salt air, soft light, human silhouettes suspended between motion and pause.
Her photography style reveals a cohesive and introspective visual language centered around surfing, coastal life, and the quiet intimacy of natural light. Clara’s style is grounded in authentic moments rather than performance or spectacle—her images feel observational, patient, and deeply attuned to atmosphere. Surfing, for her, isn’t about adrenaline; it’s about rhythm and ritual, a conversation between human and ocean.
While she often works with the soft glow of sunrise and dusk, Clara’s world is equally shaped through black and white photography—a timeless palette that highlights texture, emotion, and form. These monochrome frames strip surfing down to its essentials: water, movement, and breath. Whether in color or grayscale, her compositions remain grounded in subtlety. Muted hues, natural textures, and light that sculpts rather than dominates.
“Surf photography, to me, is about capturing fleeting moments that are gone before you can even take them in. In the water, everything happens so fast as light changes, waves break, and people move and no one really gets to see how beautifully all these elements come together. I capture those moments when nature and the surfer’s movement align perfectly and create a magical atmosphere. While surfing, you are so focused on the next wave that you can’t see the full picture. Through my camera, I hold on to those moments so they can be felt again.”
Clara’s photographs turn surfing into a language of solitude, balance, and belonging. An art of observation as much as participation.
Her photography style feels quiet, cinematic, and deeply human — a poetic blend of surf, landscape, and everyday moments. It carries a sense of nostalgia and presence, with soft light, muted tones, and compositions that linger in stillness rather than action. Each image breathes authenticity and calm, inviting you into the in-between moments where sea, land, and soul gently meet.
You can explore her work and travels on Instagram at @clara_maris.
The ocean connects us, and so does creativity.
If you love surf, storytelling, and soulful entrepreneurship, come ride the next wave with us.
Interviewed by Lina Heller
Ocean-lover, wanna-be surfer, and yoga teacher. Helping surfers and creatives ride both waves and ideas. Always curious, slightly chaotic, but fully here for good vibes and better stories.
