NY Surf

Who would have thought that people surf in New York? At first, I had no idea that in such a crowded and fast-paced metropolis, you could find a slice of a surfer’s paradise. Even though I always preferred being at the beach, I spent most of my time wandering through New York’s skateparks, photographing skaters. Then one day, after returning from Hong Kong and dealing with some serious jet lag, I woke up at 3 a.m. and had no idea what to do with my day. That’s when I got a brilliant idea: go to the beach to photograph the sunrise.

Until then, photography wasn’t something I took too seriously, and waking up early for a sunrise was absolutely out of the question for me. But this time, I had no excuse not to seize the moment. I hopped on the A train, riding all the way from Harlem to Rockaway Beach 67th Street. I got off the subway and walked to the beach while it was still dark. From the moment I stepped off the train, I could smell the salty air. At the parking lot, I saw surfers gearing up, smiling, and even saying hello to me.

I was pleasantly surprised because New Yorkers are notoriously always in hurry and tend to ignore everyone around them. But these friendly, smiling faces pulled me out of my thoughts. I remember walking along the fence that led to the beach, thinking to myself, I could do this for the rest of my life.

Once on the beach, I set up my tripod and camera. The sun began to rise, painting the sky in a symphony of colors, and I couldn’t help but jump and clap in pure joy. But that wasn’t everything. As I was packing up to leave, a surfer approached me and pointed out into the distance. “Whales! Look, there are whales!” And sure enough, far out in the ocean, I could see their tails splashing and water spraying from their backs like fountains.

It was an unforgettable moment, a turning point for me. That’s when I realized I could be a surf photographer. That this work combined all the things I loved most.