As a surfer, traveler and photographer, my goal is to combine them in a way that features the variations of surfing and surfers throughout the world. It is my hope that I can meet and spend time with surfers from continent to continent via the coastlines. As an experienced traveler, I have met a lot of people and surfers throughout the world but, I hope to do this trip a little differently. On this trip I am hoping to engage with surfers before I take off and throughout my journey. I want to meet these surfers and photograph the people, places and things that make up their surfing life. I want to show the variations of waves, boards, surf spots, transportation, and ways of life.

My plan for the first part of the journey is to travel from Alaska to Southern Chile. Along the way, I hope to meet with surfers who will allow me a glimpse into their lives. As a surfer, I am very sensitive to exposing surf breaks to the multitude of surfers around the world. I love empty sessions in remote places and have been very fortunate to surf and photograph in those locations. So, let me assure you that, not only do I not name the spots that I photograph, I also take great care to minimize any landmarks that would give away a location. In addition, on any posting to social media or my site, I remove locations and comments from anyone who feels the need to expose such precious places.

This is an interactive idea. Instead of simply traveling coastlines and photographing surfers and surfing, I want to meet with you in a more personal and in depth manner. I welcome anyone that is willing to help me in this because it is you that I need to make this project what I hope it will be, a successful photo journey of all of us around the world. As unconventional as this may sound, I would like to photograph your surfing life, personal, and work life. I understand that our common link is surfing, but our lives outside of that are very different. I want to illustrate those differences and share them with the world in photographs, video and ultimately a book.

There is a strong photographic history that romanticizes the surfer, but it rarely shows the real person. Are you a dentist, a carpenter, or a school teacher? Maybe you are a local fisherman in Mexico or a goat herder in Morocco. This is what I want to show, the real lives of surfers. Do you live in a conventional home in San Diego or a traditional Tahitian fale? Do you drive a pickup truck to check out the waves, or are you paddling an outrigger canoe? Are you riding a bicycle or a donkey? Whatever your life is like, I would love to meet you and see it, photograph it and share it.

On the Facebook group, Legendary Surfers, I am known as Michael McNamara Photography. You can see my photos here on my website or through my posts on Facebook (mm: a surfer’s journey) and Instagram. I am also starting a Patreon site for anyone who wants additional content, access to my travels, and to help support the project.

If you would like to help me or participate, you will have the final say in which photos of you that I ultimately use. In assisting me with this, I will give you copies of the files of all of the photos from our shoots. Please contact me if this idea interests you. I will need help with locations, transportation and places to stay along the way. I want us to make this journey together. This is a fluid and evolving idea. I am open to any suggestions or invitations that could continue to make this a more interesting story. Are you planning a trip to Baja? Do you have a boat that needs a seasoned traveler and crew member? If you have a surf camp or other travel/surf related business, I would like to feature what it is that you do. It will be me with my camera and board and together we will surf, take photos of your life, and get to know one another. I know that the most important and interesting part of this journey will be the connections I make with people along the way. Hope to see you soon. mm

manamike1@yahoo.com,

To follow the journey in depth, please consider joining my Patreon Page

Also, check out the blog page on this site for updates!! Blog Link