Ron Stoners Inspiration..

Inspiration to all who surf or document this amazing thing we do.

Skip by Stoner and TW by Wessells

In my mind the best surf photographer by far was Ron Stoner, purely because few had come before to influence his art, there was John Severson, Ron Church, Leroy Grannis and Doc Ball all legends. Stoner had the edge I think, small moments of style held still in 500th of a second. I would imagine Stoner has an influence on most modern day snappers such as JJ Wessels. Here is a young man, great surfer and great photographer who also knows how to frame the moments in a modern era of surfing. The two images capture two great surfers. Skip Fry the legend in one of the most iconic shots ever recorded (below) and Tyler Warren the modern day stylist shot by JJ Wessels (top). This is why I blog, I might have mentioned that before when I talk about Kyle lightners shots, cos he's cool too!!

Classic shot by Stoner

Whilst doing my daily trawl through some of the amazing blogs out there, always looking for inspiration I came across this beauty by Ron Stoner. An image that I have looked at a thousand times in the amazing coffee table book, photo:stoner, I am always stoked when I see this one. Anyone who aspires to be a great Surf photographer should begin with Ron Stoner, he set a bench mark that is so hard to reach. He was declared missing in 1977 and declared dead in 1991 but to this day he remains an inspiration. There is a quote by Art Brewer also a great photographer "Stoner caught the best moments in a surfer's life"

This shot says it all.

Ron Stoner

This shot was taken by the legend of all legends, my inspiration to shoot those with style. Ron Stoner, Surfer magazines staff photographer unfortunaley dropped off the radar in the 70's and was never seen again. He was declared dead in the early 90's but left a legacy of amazing shots of a period in surfing that was transitional and dare I use the word being British 'radical' in changes both social and cultural. His book of images is called Photo:Stoner and should be on every surfers bookshelf.