There’s one thing that’s really bugging me. That’s how women who surf are portrayed in photography. Of course, not in all photos but … Even if WSL has started paying women that win their surf competitions as much as the male contestants, it’s not really apparent in how women are portrayed in surf photography.
Not that I’ve done any scientific research but, there’s a lot of photos out there with a woman standing on a beach next to a surfboard. Maybe she’s even in the water with that surfboard, usually laying on top of it with one foot in the air and resting her tilting head in her hand.
Since I started taking photos in sports, roller derby to be specific which is probably the most gender equal, and inclusive, sport there is. If you define yourself as a woman you’re considered to be a woman. And, women of all sizes are welcome and there are different advantages depending on your size and other characteristics.
So that’s where I come from, and I try to show it in my photos. Because there are surfers out there of different sizes, abilities, colors and ages. And they should be shown too, not only for their own sake but also to inspire other people to surf and enjoy the sea.
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