There is a sculptural elegance to surfing that belies its brutal edge. Although that fluid grace depends on being able to grip and balance on a seemingly wafer-thin board despite all the pounding waves. I’ve surfed for 15 years and have shown very little improvement, or elegance, in that time. The forces of nature can be rough, relentless - and humbling.  Yet for the dedicated or professional surfer, a breaking wave can be a fully immersive, quasi-religious experience. It becomes their path to personal enlightenment. Or at least a groovy ride. 
In my photographs for Unforgiving Surf, I want to show that extended moment when a surfer fuses with a wave and takes on a more iconic stature. There is certainly beauty in the arc and flow and spray of the water and the intimate way a surfer holds to all that. Or touches a wave once in the barrel as if an energizing life force. Of course the rough and tumble truth of a surfer’s life is the many hours they spend bitter cold and scrambling to stay alive. Catching a big wave at the wrong moment can slam a surfer down into the blackest depths. But catching it at the right moment can lead to glory. In my photographs, I try to find surfers who are just hanging on, barely, to that glorious edge.

Teeth
2017
Inkjet Print
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print
Lightning
2015
Inkjet Print
26x32, 32x40

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print
Space
2017
Inkjet Print
20x30, 24x36, 32x48

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print
Speed
2017
Inkjet Print
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print
Battle
2017
Inkjet Print
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Waimea Bay
2017
Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
20x30, 24x36, 32x48

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Off the Cliff
2017
Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
The North
2017
Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
20x30, 24x36, 32x48

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Flying
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
14x28, 18x36, 24x48

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Water Wall
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
20x30, 24x36, 32x48

Ed of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Dart
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48

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STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Attentiveness
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
21x48, 26x60

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Ridge
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Charging
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
Out Run
2017
Inkjet Print Mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48

Ed. of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
The Beginning of Uncertainty
2017
Inkjet Print mounted to Aluminum or Plexiglass
18x36, 24x48, 29x58

Ed.of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
The Touch
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition on 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Lightning
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
20x24, 26x32, 32x40
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Confidence
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print,Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Unfinished Business
2015
Inkjet Print,Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
24x24, 30x30, 36x36

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Aluminum or Plexiglass Mount
Drop In
2015
Inkjet Print, Aluminum or Plexiglass Mount
20x30, 24x36, 32x48

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print,Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Smashing
2015
Inkjet Print,Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
20x24. 24x30, 30x40

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Unscathed
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Hanging On
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Confronting the Fear
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Closing In
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30
STEVE DYNIE Unforgiving Surf Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
Attack
2015
Inkjet Print, Plexiglass or Aluminum Mount
18x36, 24x48, 29x59

Edition of 30