Richard Misrach: Surfers

Over the past fifteen years, Richard Misrach has turned his camera to the ocean, capturing a lively human expression among the waves. His surfer images contend with the environment by describing the beauty and power of the ocean, and offer a profound metaphor for our own perpetual quest for transcendence and freedom.

Color photograph of a woman doing a headstand atop a surfboard, afloat on a calm ocean surface.
Color photograph of several wind surfers on the water framed in bleached wood
Color photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard in the middle of calm blue waters framed in bleached wood
Color photograph of a lone windsurfer on a choppy silver sea
Color photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard in the middle of choppy blue waters with cargo ship on the horizon framed in bleached wood
Color photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard in the middle of calm blue waters near another figure in kayak framed in bleached wood
Color photograph of a windsurfer riding a wave in the middle of the ocean framed in bleached wood
Color photograph of a surfer falling onto a wave of water framed in a bleached wood
Color photograph of a surfer riding a wave as it crashes onto the shore framed in a bleached wood
Color photograph of a surfer riding a wave as it crashes onto the shore framed in a bleached wood
Color photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard in the middle of the ocean with a skewed horizon framed in bleached wood
Color reversal photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard riding a wave in the middle of the ocean framed in bleached wood
Color reversal photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil board seen from above on calm waters framed in bleached wood
Color reversal photograph of a figure on a hydrofoil surfboard in the middle of calm pink waters framed in bleached wood
Color reversal image of a surfer riding waves framed in a bleached wood frame
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Related Portfolios

Color photograph of the US/Mexico border with a mountain range in the distance with pinkish blue skies

Richard Misrach: Border Cantos
Color photograph of the surface of a calm blue ocean

Richard Misrach: On The Beach
Color photograph of the distant Golden Gate Bridge under a linear break in the clouds

Richard Misrach: Golden Gate
Color photograph of a road receding into the distant desert with red-orange tablelands and snow-capped mountains on the horizon

Richard Misrach: Desert Cantos