THE best surfing photo Ive ever taken.
My apologies for what I price this. This image triggers a little chip on my shoulder. through all this process i'm noticing it funny what we as human beings align importance or prestige / price too and how I look at this image of Noa Deane flying through a rainbow, a moment unlike anything thats ever been seen in surfing and one I dont think I could ever replicate if I tried.
Ive been sitting on this image with a dream that my profile would get to a place where this image is viewed at its listed price but I know full well i'm not there yet and have years to go at a minimum but i cant wait forever. Id rather it have its place in this collection.
Now this is all a bit long winded but please let me explain.
This image should have been a positive experience for me. It literally will hold a place in surfing history. There is no other image like it. This was one of my first major freelance assignments for one of the biggest surfing brands on earth. I worked my ass off for two weeks only to have this image taken mid negotiation, sent to the internet as the cover to Noa's Film, broadcast on multiple surfing media platforms and all over social media without any permission or credit, blowing the images exclusivity and any negotiation position, I was then sent a contract with the message, you need to sign this before we can pay you, Had I signed said contract it would have given this company complete rights to every image for life, ability to on sell, I would have zero ownership. I had some mentorship at the time, one of the most senior photographers in surfing He was very shocked. The whole package of imagery including this, I was advised the work I had presented should be valued around 15-20k to this company. I was offered 2k. The experience of creating an incredible image / having my work that I swim out into freezing cold very sharky water to create imagery of one of the worlds best athletes and their top profile rider, was treated like nothing... This trend would continue in my experience as the art of surf photography as a career has all but disappeared. left me a bit jaded and disappointed but I can only keep countering that with the gratitude that I now find myself minting this image to the block chain while I establish my digital legacy with meaning and purpose. but yeh, sorry for what I price this its going to be pretty high. Thank you to those who support me and want to see me grow and succeed. You all know who you are.
