Reflection of the Summer of 2018

This summer has had numerous ups and downs (Mostly downs), but the few swells we had have been so much fun! I’ve only been shooting since January 2018, and I have met so many shredders! I can’t wait to see what the fall and winter bring but for now, here is a reflection on this past summer and the waves it brought…

P.S. I had to reduce the file size of my images, so that is why they are small. You can see the majority of these images on my Instagram (@StAugSurf). There, you can see the full sized images.

July 10, 2018

Im going to start it off with a picture from July 10, 2018. My water housing flooded, so I took my camera out and took some pictures. I only could get a few, but here is my friend Victoria Covey riding a solid left on the south-side of the St. Augustine Beach Pier.

Victoria Covey (@topcatcovey)

July 11, 2018

Early on July 11, 2018, the Hurricane Chris swell arrived. I wasn’t able to make it in the morning, so I went during the evening. This was one of the biggest swells I have photographed and man was it fun! There were probably about 20-30 surfers on the North-side of the St. Augustine Beach Pier. Some swells were at least chest high. The sea-breeze also kicked in, so the waves werent clean but were slabs!

Tristan Clarke (t_clarke656)

Joel Lutheran

Mark Harvey (@markharvery31)

Ethan Olsehewske (@ethanryan904)

July 14, 2018

July 14th was mainly the leftovers of Chris. It was 1 foot with an occasional 2 foot and super clean! I went out with Owen Lindsey and Easton Greene (@matanzas_grom) and tried to get some good photos with what we had. Well let’s just say I took my most favorite picture ever that day! The most unique photo you will ever probably see! Its the first one in the row below of Owen Lindsey. He went to go for a turn, and boom! Everything just lined up. His hair whipping around, the water droplet flying, the sunshine illuminating the wave! It was spectacular! I then later moved to the south side, and there were some real shredders over there! I never found out who any of them were unfortunately. This day was so much fun! Everyday is fun when you can get into the water!

Owen Lindsey (@owen_the_surfer)

Unknown Surfer

Insane Slab that is backlit

July 21, 2018

On July 21st, it was occasional 1 foot, so everyone I asked to go out and shoot said no because it was too small. I was planning on getting up for sunrise (Sunrise was at 6:32am), so I did and I went hoping someone was down there surfing! I was so lucky that this surfer named Eli (@elicassotta) was out there! I was so happy he could surf because he was literally the only one out there surfing. I got so many sick shots of him. It was cloudy during sunrise, which kind of killed the main reason I wanted to go out, but I am still happy I went out! Eli is one of the many friends I have made this summer.

Eli Cassotta (@elicassotta)

July 25, 2018

This was one of the funnest days ever out at the pier for me! It was 2-3 feet with some sets hitting chest high. The current was so strong this day, I literally had to get out and walk back from Pope Road back to the pier four or five times. The waves were barreling. Some of the sets were so heavy, it was ridiculous! I went out at 8am and stayed for two hours and I got out of the water pretty beat up. I got pulled over the top a few times and slammed to the bottom, but nine times out of ten, I got the shot! As long as I get the shot, I am happy.

Unknown Surfer

Tristan Clarke (@t_clarke656)

Unknown Surfer

Noah Brownell (@noahbrownell)

July 27, 2018

On the 27th, I messaged a couple friends and we went out to A street. Well, I didn’t have any fins and it was high tide, so the waves were breaking pretty far offshore. So, we eventually moved north to the pier, where it was long board mania! This day had a few sets that were at least waist high, so perfect long board waves! I love the pier 🙂

Tristan Clarke (@t_clarke656)

Unknwon Surfer

Luke Kothera (@luke_kothera)

Tristan Clarke

Natalie Lescroart (@natalie.maureen)

August 16, 2018

August 16th was a total surprise! I woke up that morning and looked at the surf report and it said half a foot to one foot. I was like ughhhh. I went anyway. Best choice ever! Barely anyone out there (because of how “small” is was). I got there at 8am and throughout the whole morning, the waves grew and grew! It ended up getting to about rib high and the best part was barely anyone was out! It was just one of those sneaky swells 🙂

Jacob Sorgen (@jake_sorgen)

Andrew Lands (@sacristian_surfer)

Zac Dixon (@zakelton)

August 17, 2018

The next day, I went out and of course it got packed. The waves were bigger but it wasnt clean. It was still fun, but wasn’t as exciting as the previous day. But I also met so many more people this day, so that was a plus!

(@dave_97 & @alexleif)

A BEAST

Zac Dixon (@zakelton)

August 18, 2018

This was the third day in a row I went to the pier to shoot. It was one foot to occasional one and a half foot. Nothing special. May have been small but I got some pretty insane shorebreak shots!

Monster Shore-break

Dylan Digulla (@dylan.digulla)

Tunnel Vision

August 24, 2018

It was small and choppy. It was really bad. But I got this killer shot of Dave!

Dave (@dave_97)

August 25, 2018

The 25th was firing! It was my mother’s birthday, so I wasn’t able to go out in the morning when it was nice and clean, but it was still firing! Chest high sets for days! It was so much fun and this was the biggest I have ever shot. To more summer days like this!

Jack Leake (@jackharrisonleake)