Red Bull Illume 2016

I was traveling with a group of Brazilian bodyboarders shooting a feature for Le Boogie Bodyboarding Magazine, as well as stills for a book project. Having their local knowledge proved invaluable, with the minimal swell and chaotic city traffic in Rio we really only had a chance to look at one or two different options for waves before the winds would come up. Jaotinga became our favorite option. With rarely more than a handful of other riders around, we had the break almost to ourselves. At each end of the beach were sheer cliffs that would refract the swell causing crossed-over peaks, perfect for bodyboarding. The swell seemed to line up directly into this small crevice in the southern cliff and plumes of spray would catapult out at varying angles. Shooting from down the beach trying to capture some of these abstract formations I didn't even notice Renan (pictured) in the shot until afterwards. It’s got a kind of duality to the meaning; it could be seen as a salute to the power and randomness of the ocean, or it could be seen as a mocking attempt at some kind of manipulated sorcery, showing man’s unending quest to control nature.