Surf - Jaws

I like the 1st the best. Those are some BIG waves! We don't see waves like that too often on Lake Erie

Wow awesome shots! Those waves are mammoth.

Nice comp with the 400

nice captures here.

Terrific series, well done.

Great shots, you can just smell the danger with the jetski totin neckbrace guys right there. What is the location?

They are all fantastic! I especially like the feel of #1. As others have already said, the chopper adds a whole new perspective to it all as you don't "usually" see something in the foreground of surf shots.

First and second one are money!

Nice pictures. The Eddie has come and gone in the week that you posted.

Big waves over there.

Yes, the helicopter is for filming. It wouldnt' do any good as a rescue vehicle without a winch and some kind of basket for hoisting surfers. Plus, there are plenty of personal watercraft that would be much better for rescue. Back in the 70s and 80s they used helicopters to rescue guys at Waimea Bay on Oahu, but not anymore. A PWC can get to the surfer much faster.

But, surprisingly, deaths in big waves are quite rare. Deaths in the sport of surfing are extremely rare. You might get a couple of deaths per year in Hawaii and maybe a couple in California, and a lot of times they find out about other health problems that contributed.

Even big waves like those at Jaws rarely hold people under for more than fifteen seconds or so.

Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu currently holds the record for most deaths. It's not due so much to the size of the waves but the depth of the water. Guys hit the reef sometimes and break a neck or back. It generally (Pipeline) takes about one life per year, and rarely from simple drowning. Almost always from a severe injury that renders the surfer unconscious, followed by drowning.


Finally, what's interesting to note is that the higher the vantage point of the photographer, the smaller the wave will appear. Pictures shot at water level or from the beach will show the waves as much larger. The angle in surf photography is a huge factor. Jaws is rarely shot at water level (for obvious reasons). It would be very difficult to do with a decent lens, and any small lens isn't going to cut it out there.

Great action shots. I think that the chopper gets in the way of the subject matter though. That's my opinion. Man I wish I was healthy enough and lived near waves like that I would love to sure.

The chopper has a cam mounted to it.

Some guys use RC choppers. Crazy.

It's weird, but I was just watching the movie about big wave surfers that includes the first towed surfer contest, in 03. One guy got smashed for over 150 yds under water!!. I think this tops Mav's for height..

Great shots here tho the OP did a great job. Hawaii is still king for large surf, on most days. Cyclops and Mavricks are no slouchs.

Excellent set..

I just came home from Maui yesterday, and wanted go to Jaws. Didn't work out, but that must have been a hell of a sight

First is best!

Pretty nice pics. About the only thing missing was a picture of Laird Hamilton there in the surf. Had to be a lot of fun taking those.