Andreea Waters
Instagram/Twitter: @andreeawaters
New York surfing is mad. There is nothing easy about it. The waves are inconsistent, surf breaks are hard to access, winter brings the best waves and it is cold. It takes a certain person to surf in the city.
Photo: Andreea Waters
Surfers: Tyler Breuer, John & Unknown
Nikon D600 // Lens 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6
Surfing stole my eye and lured my photography to the beach, a subject I accidentally fell into while taking a photo documentary course at the International Center for Photography in NYC. My original subject wasn’t working and half way through the course my teacher told me to “find my passion”. At that time I randomly heard that people surf in New York which immediately intrigued me. I did some research which lead me to Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY. My first day on the beach was a foggy, cold Friday in May 2012. Driving over the bridge onto the peninsula put me in another world. Surrounded by concrete, dark shadows and whispering winds, I wondered who surfs here. I still remember my first steps, discovering the surf break and seeing the surfers appear through the fog. There was an energy that spoke to me, that day sparked my love affair between my lens, surfer and the ocean.
Photo: Andreea Waters
Surfer: Unknown
Nikon D90 // Lens 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
Photography is my artistic expression. On the beach everything is raw, uncontrolled and spontaneous. I am in the arms of the ocean. The light changes constantly and every wave is different. The surfer is my art form and the ride is their expression. As a photographer I chase light, the surfers chase the ride. When all the variables line up, we share a perfect, fleeting moment.
To hunt waves in the city you have to be flexible, on the move and committed to the chase. You don’t know when a good swell will hit the East Coast but when it does we do almost anything to be there. We check the wave forecasting apps constantly. Most people dread storms, we get excited. With the pursuit of my passion for surf photography I had to redesign my career. I went to school to be a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and started freelancing. With a professional background in marketing, design and business development, mixing all my skills allowed me to gain flexibility to chase waves.
Photo: Andreea Waters
Surfer: Michael Kololyan
Nikon D600//Lens Nikon 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6
The idea of being an insider, photographing these transient moments and the desire to experience it was my daydream. I spent years immersing myself in the New York surf culture, getting to know the community, constantly learning about the ocean. Over time I have built wave hunting relationships with surfers who have taught me a tremendous amount of local knowledge and ocean science. Putting myself out there in any condition and light is key. Different angles and nature’s surprise give my photos variety. Repetition adds depth and meaning with my subjects. This is when the work becomes that much sweeter and visually interesting.
Surf photography is an expensive pursuit. You can never have enough lenses and cameras. I started out with a Nikon D90, 70 – 300 mm lens. I rented different telephoto lenses for a year after which I bought a Nikon D600 with a Nikon lens 80 – 400 mm f/4.5-5.6. I also own two fixed lenses, Nikon 24 mm and 50 mm. I like the range so that I have diversity to my shots. I still rent bigger telephoto lenses based on wave size, beach landscape and location. I edit and process my photos in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Photo: Andreea Waters
Surfer: Michael Reinhardt
When I started shooting the New York surf culture I wasn’t sure where it will take me. As an artist you need to find your voice and niche in the marketplace. I always thought that surf photography belongs in ink; a book you can hold in your hand, share with friends and have conversation. You can go back to look at it many times, discovering new layers and stories. Three years later I took a book publishing workshop at the International Center for Photography in NYC which gave me the direction and details to develop a marketing proposal for getting a publisher. In the winter of 2014 I presented my project to Schiffer Publishing and in spring 2016, Surf NYC Photography Book will be hitting the book shelves. I call it my “paper baby”, Surf NYC, is a gift to surfers, a visual story and celebration of ocean community, passion and New York surfer soul. There is a unique spirit of the surfer that evokes a way of life ruled by passion, nature and a commitment to the ride. Just like New York City, one of the most populous urban agglomerations and the culture capital of the world, the city surfer is everyone: men, women, pro surfers, incredible artists, firefighters, every ethnicity surfs here. It’s New York, a wealth of humanity and it is brilliant.
