A black and white image of a wave cresting towards the viewer, with sunlight reflecting off the water's surface. In the background, a mountain silhouette is visible under a cloudy sky.

SURF

Moʻorea, North Shore, Waikiki
Pointe Milou, Ditch Plains
Barbados, Biarritz, Lorient
Napeague, Le Toiny

PREV

01

A vintage black surfboard with the year 1908 painted on it, adorned with a white flower lei in a circular shape. The board rests on lush green grass, creating a serene outdoor setting.

02

SURF

166 photographs

Moʻorea, North Shore, Waikiki
Pointe Milou, Ditch Plains
Barbados, Biarritz, Lorient
Napeague, Le Toiny
2005-2025

Two silhouetted figures walking along a sandy beach under a partly cloudy sky. The ocean waves gently lap at the shore, creating a serene atmosphere. The image showcases the beauty of nature and a sense of tranquility.

03

I’ve been surfing for as long as I can remember. The obsession was instant, and the fascination has never faded.

I took my first surf trip when I was 12, and haven’t slowed down since. I love everything about surfing—the salty hair, sun-kissed skin, the smell of wax and wetsuits, the music, and the iconic surf films I was raised on. I love the culture, and most of all, I love documenting it.

Three individuals posing at a beach event, with palm trees in the background. Two men, one in a yellow shirt and the other wearing a black wetsuit, stand beside a young man in a white cap and floral shirt. A crowd can be seen in the background.

Robert August (far left), Rabbit Kekai, Scott Rudin, Donald Takayama. UCSD, 1997

04

Over the years, I’ve surfed across continents and watched surfers in each location put on shows at their local break. Still, nothing compares to the joy of a beach day with my family, watching my kids catch their first waves in the same water that raised me.

This is a story about a lifelong passion, friends, places, and the moments that make me the happiest.

Young boy surfing a small wave throwing up a double shaka.

05

Portrait of five surfers holding their boards in Tahiti.

06

A lineup of surfers in shallow water about to head in to surf.

07

A surfer hitting the lip of a wave in Tahiti

08

A surfer covered in white water surfing on a wave in Tahiti.

09

View from within the ocean's surface with a mountain covered by clouds rising up.
A surfer riding a wave in, backlit by the wave's white water.

10-11

A surfer riding a wave in Tahiti.

12

A surfer riding a double-overhead wave in Tahiti

13

A surfer doing a cutback on a wave in Tahiti

14

Portrait of a woman wearing a flower crown, holding her surfboard in Tahiti.

15

Closeup detail of fanned palm fronds.
A lineup of dozens of surfboards.

16-17

A surfer fixing the traction pad on his surfboard.

18

Portrait of a surfer holding his board on a beach in Tahiti.

19

View from the ocean's surface showing a mountainous coastline in Tahiti

20

Surfer holding his board walking near coastline on the beach in Hawaii.

21

Handmade sign that says "Surf Contest" in Hawaii
Surfer walking towards the waves in the North Shore, Hawaii

22-23

Surfer's at a contest in the North Shore, Hawaii heading out to surf.

24

Closeup view of man's arm holding a surfboard.

25

Long view of a surfer on a wave in Hawaii

26

Three men on a 4-wheeler on the beach in the North Shore carrying a surfboard.

27

Long view of surfer taking off on a wave in Hawaii
Long view of surfer on a wave in Hawaii

28-29

Huge wave crashing in Hawaii

30

Profile of a woman on the beach next to her surfboard.

31

A surfboard is leaning against a wooden rack next to a beach, with red columns in the foreground.

32

Closeup view of surfer holding yellow surfboard.

33

Surfer with his board jumping from a boat into the ocean.

34

Aerial view of island in Tahiti

35

Surfer catching a large, curling wave.

36

Surfer riding a huge wave in Hawaii

37

Surfboard flying in the air above a breaking wave in Hawaii.

38

A wire mesh container with a sign that reads "OLD & BROKEN FINS". Inside the container there are broken fins

39

Cropped view of broken surfboard laying on the ground.

40

Surfers holding boards walking into ocean.

41

Surfer turning on his board getting off a wave.

42

Surfer in Tahiti riding a wave.

43

Crashing waves in Amagansett, New York
Woman in black bikini flipping her hair back while holding a surfboard on the beach.

44-45

Surfer catching the crest of a wave in choppy waters.

46

Two surfers walking back on the beach after surfing in Hawaii.

47

A surfer riding a wave in the ocean, framed by palm trees. A white vehicle is partially visible in the foreground.

48

The back of a vintage red pickup truck with a yellow surfboard resting on it. A checkered towel is draped over the edge.

49

Surfer riding a wave in Waikiki with Diamond Head in the background

50

Close up view of man's straw hat in profile
Several female surfers laying on their boards in Waikiki.

51-52

View from sitting on a surfboard in Waikiki of surfers and paddle boarders.

53

The silhouette of a group of people gathered inside a building looking out towards the ocean. One person stands on a railing with their hand raised.

54

Female surfer riding a wave.
Closeup view of a surfboard

55-56

Long view of surfer on a large wave in Hawaii.

57

Long view of surfers on a wave in Hawaii.

58

A person carrying a surfboard walking near a narrow staircase, with palm leaves overhead and a beach visible at the bottom.

59

A black and white image of people surfing and swimming in the ocean.

60

Surfer on a large wave in Hawaii.

61

Contact sheet of a Blind Girl Surf Club board.

62

Closeup view of Blind Girl Surf Club surfboard.
A silhouetted figure of a woman standing on a surfboard at a beach. The sun is shining behind her, creating a halo effect.

63-64

A woman with long, wavy hair wearing a black bikini stands on a beach, holding a surfboard. She covers her face with one hand and is smiling.

65

Surfer turning back to get off a wave.

66

Film scan of young man boogie boarding on a wave.

67

A close-up view of a wave crashing on the shore, captured in black and white.

68

Water surface reflecting light, with numerous droplets visible.

69

A view of ocean wave with sparkling reflections on the surface.

70

A person smiling while riding a surfboard in the ocean.

71

Man body surfing in a wave.

72

Cropped view of man with two swim fins under his arm.

73

A man walking along the beach, carrying a surfboard under his arm.

74

A close-up of a surfboard and fin on a beach, with a person's legs visible in the background, near the ocean shore.

75

A pair of blue and orange swim fins resting on a beach bench with sand and grassy dunes in the background.

76

Two surfers carrying a surfboard along a rocky beach with waves crashing.

77

Surfer standing on a rocky shore holding his surfboard looking out to the ocean.

78

Surfer jumping into the ocean from a rocky jetty about to land on his board.

79

Surfer on an overhead wave.

80

Surfer hitting the lip of a wave producing a large spray.

81

Large waves crashing.

82

View of crashing waves in Amagansett.

83

Portrait of surfer standing in front of his board on a beach in St. Barths.

84

Closeup view of surfboard fin.
Female surfer in black bikini running and holding a surfboard.

85-86

A surfer riding a wave in the ocean, with several other surfers in the background. In the foreground, a beach house is visible among palm trees.

87

Two surfers walking along a rocky path holding their boards, one with his arm up giving the peace sign.

88

Surfer on a double overhead wave in St. Barths.

89

Portrait of a surfer on the beach holding his board.
A woman walking along the beach holding a surfboard.

90-91

A surfing holding a surfboard stands on a beach with mountains in the background.

92

A black and white image of a beach view from an outdoor structure. Waves are breaking in the ocean, and two small islands are visible in the distance.

93

Surfer riding on a wave.

94

Portrait of a female surfer holding a board giving a shaka sign.

95

Surfer walking on the beach with his board, smiling and giving a shaka sign.

96

Waves crashing on the shore.

97

Man duck diving in a wave with his head and leg sticking out of the water.

98

Three female surfers walking on the rocky shore trying to get out to the ocean.

99

Landscape of rocky shore in Biarritz with surfers and a lighthousnd.e in the backgrou

100

Long view of surfer on a wave in Biarritz with a lighthouse on a rocky cliff in the background.

101

Surfer hitting the lip on a wave in Biarritz.

102

Waves crashing against a rocky point in Biarritz.

103

Silhouette of surfer on a wave in Biarritz.

104

A stone bridge with arches over waves on the beach in Biarritz.

105

A black and white image showing a beach view through a decorative iron railing.

106

Cropped view of shimmering waves in the ocean.

107

Man bodysurfing on a wave in Biarritz.

108

Surfer carrying his board walking out of the ocean.

109

Man and woman surfer standing on the tailgate of a truck looking out at the waves.

110

Group of surfers standing around a pickup truck on the beach.

111

View from inside a vehicle looking out at a beach and ocean waves in Amagansett. A surfboard is visible in the foreground.

112

Three women at the beach near the ocean. One woman in a black wetsuit is holding a surfboard. Another woman in a striped bikini is standing with her hand on her hip. The third woman wearing a floral shirt is walking nearby.

113

Beach scene with surfers and swimmers in the ocean.

114

Portrait of a man holding his surfboard halfway in a board cover.

115

A female surfer from behind running on the beach with her board.

116

A black and white image of ocean waves shimmering in sunlight.

117

Female surfer jumping into the ocean with her board to go surf.

118

A surfer on a small wave in Amagansett.

119

A surfer riding under a small tube at a wave in Amagansett.

120

Surf shaper working on a board in his workshop.

121

Surfer riding backwards on the front nose of his board on a wave in Amagansett
Surfer riding a small wave in Amagansett

122-123

A surfer riding the nose on a small wave in Amagansett with his arm up

124

Surfer slipping on his board on a wave in Amagansett

125

Beach scene in Amagansett with surfers and family sitting on the beach.

126

An American flag waving atop a pole on a grassy dune, with a surfboard leaning against a wooden fence in the foreground.
A profile view of a woman's legs resting on the tailgate of a truck on the beach. A surfboard lies on the sand nearby.

127-128

Long view of surfers walking along the beach while surfers sit in the lineup out in the ocean.

129

Portrait of a woman in a wetsuit holding her surfboard standing on the beach in St. Barths.

130

Portrait of a man holding his surfboard on the beach in Amagansett

131

Man paddling out to surf.

132

Surfer riding a wave in the ocean and in the foreground, a family sits on the beach.

133

Man walking on the beach holding a long board.

134

Closeup view of longboard with the name "Chuck" hand painted on it.
A woman with long hair wearing a black bikini stands beside a surfboard, leaning on the back of a pickup truck, facing away from the camera.

135-136

View from the edge of a wave breaking in Amagansett

137

Blurry silhouette of surfer on a small wave in Amagansett.

138

Surfer getting tubed on a wave in Amagansett.

139

Portrait of a man holding a longboard on the beach.

140

Long view of surfer paddling out into choppy waters.

141

Surfer riding a wave with rocks in the foreground.

142

Closeup view of arm laying on top of a surfboard.

143

Portrait of a man sitting in a white chair holding a beer next to his surfboard workshop.

144

Closeup view of newspaper and surf photo ephemera clothes pinned inside surfboard shaper workshop.

145

Man and young boy in wetsuit looking and holding to a longboard on the beach in Amagansett.

146

Three teenagers running with boogie boards on the beach in Biarritz.

147

Closeup view of feet balancing on a boogie board in the water.

148

Young boy surfing and giving a double shaka.
Woman smiling and riding a board in the white water of a wave.

149-150

Portrait of a surf instructor smiling in St. Barths.

151

Surfer on the front of his board surfing a wave in Amagansett.

152

Portrait of a surfer squatting down on the beach holding his surfboard.

153

Closeup view of surfer on a wave.
Closeup view of surfer on a wave lifting his foot up.

154-155

An out of focus surfer riding a wave in the foreground, with a sailboat visible on the horizon.

156

Two surfers on a small wave in Amagansett.

157

Surfer walking back on shore in Amagansett

158

Two surfers holding their boards walking back towards the grassy dunes in Amagansett.

159

A silhouetted figure of a woman standing on a surfboard at a beach. The sun is shining behind her, creating a halo effect.

160

A longboard resting on a beach near a grassy area, with sunlight reflecting off its surface.

161

Ocean view of sunlight creating a lens flare and reflecting off the water.

162

A lone surfer in the ocean at sunset.

163

A lone sign on a sandy dune reads 'BEACH VEHICLE EXIT', surrounded by tall grass at dusk.

164

Surf
All Photographs
Copyright © Scott Rudin
Black Palm Press
Two Thousand Twenty Six
All Rights Reserved

Two silhouetted surfers holding their board walking on a beach at sunset.

165

Special Thanks

Mikey, Kyle, Joe, John, Hinatea Boosie, Serena Sengues, Kohai Fierro, Matahi Drollet, Heimano Buisson, Maurihau Ebbs, Ryan Kelly, Serena Salmon, Naheitea LeBoucher, Alaia Nazaire, Heather Touniou, Elizabeth Buillard, Teahiti Aunda, Anavai Guiral, Kim Mean, North shore lifeguards, Pat, Quincy, Jao, Kelia, Laura, Nina, Dimitri, Lance, Jack, Lelani, Trip, Matthieu, Danny, Tin, Chase, Ben

Long view of a solitary surfer sitting on their board in the ocean under sunset light.

166

Surf | Scott Rudin