Surfing Magazine Photographer Jeff Flindt Shoots the Curl!

As an avid surfer myself,  if was especially fun interviewing Surfing Magazine’s Senior Staff photographer, Jeff Flindt check out the video here. I love doing these interviews and learning how each photographer got started, their stories and tips. Jeff got his start working for Surfing Magazine, under the close direction of Larry “Flame” Moore who gave him no-nonsense, real world critiquing and taught him how to really use the light.

Jeff has shot some of the biggest names in surfing — guys like Kelly Slater (left), Rob Machado, Taj Borrow–and has earned their respect. This is point in common with all the greats of photography–the work really hard and they get it right.

Some of the points that Jeff talked about:

1. Get out and shoot early, get that full morning light (yep you don’t find the pros snoozing in.)

2. Get to know your equipment really well and take good care of it. He gave an example of “babying” your cards and keeping lint, sand, etc from getting in them “when you’re 1,000s of miles from a camera store you’ve got to have your equipment working.”

3. Don’t be obtrusive when taking live photos, get your shots without “barging in.” When going out in the culture try to blend in (Cartier-Bresson mastered  this.)

4.  He composes in the camera full frame, does very little post production, so when he’s done shooting he can process fast and get his shots to his editor.

5. Shoot a lot– you’ll hear this over and over. There is no substitute for production here. He works hard and it has paid off.

Check out out our video, take your shoes off and dream of being on one of his assignments!