As I've said before, I am not an 'expert in photography' and can't offer technical advice/suggestions (yet), only 'visual' and perhaps some pp, but only basic. Regarding lenses, lighting/exposure, etc - and advanced or dSLR specific post-processing, either researching these areas yourself or gaining some advice from more advanced users/photographers on these aspects will help you get even more out of your camera and yourself, which you seem both well aware and keen to do.
Here are some Mavericks & surf photography links you might find interesting:
"The closest I came to really getting hurt was at K-39 during a six-foot south swell," Doyle answers to my pat "most radical experience" question.
"I was shooting sailboard, and I kept telling this guy to get closer and closer, I was shooting with a 24mm lens. About the seventh time he came by, the tail of his board broke free and he bullseyed right at me. I put the camera up over my face, dove off the raft, and board went right through the Plexiglass housing, just totally obliterated it. It could have been my head. He thought he killed me. I swam in, held up the camera and saved the film." More similar stories on the website.
Christy Davis' website where she says "I am always interested in seeing and buying quality photographs of myself surfing at Mavericks, especially as I almost never see any. I also know other surfers who feel the same way, so if you have good photos of Mavericks, especially of me, please get in contact with me. Your photos could end up online here along with a solid plug for your work."
This information looks like it is dated around 1997, however I'd say she is not the only one who would be interested in shots of themself surfing. More cameras/photographers these days likely means less 'demand' - you'd have to ask around if you were interested in doing/offering some shots individually.
More information and stories from Christy Davis' on Mavericks here.
Thank you macro, I always appreciate your comments and try to incoporate your suggestions. I am shooting from land..... actually I 'jump' the barrier fence to get closer (1000 fine but hey ) That puts me above the surfers and I just wait until they catch a wave that brings them closer to me. I wish I had waterproof housing as there is a huge competition coming up - mavericks..... waves up to 60 feet high... you don't need waterproof housing if you get a place on one of the boats - not good enough yet for that - next year though... :)
Nice capture of the foam pattern on the wave. I think a lot of your surfing shots are good, and the practice you are getting is showing. I might not be the best to offer 'constructive criticism' on surf shots because (besides the fact I've never taken any) I 'pre-judge'/compare surf shots (which are very difficult) to some amazing shots I have seen in the past, mostly taken by someone risking their life, in or on the water, with waterproof gear, etc.. Some of those photographers go to extreme lengths, but the clarity and perspectives are amazing. At any rate, for your vantage point, which seems to be 'land' - makes it difficult to suggest rotation etc - as your perspective/angle is likely quite restricted. As an example, with this shot, it 'looks' like it needs a rotation up on the right, to gain the perspective more and drama and 'gravitational pull'... just the direction of the wave and water and curl of the lip, etc. Perhaps a wetsuit and underwater case... (kidding - maybe, depends how much you like surf shots) Also - not sure how difficult it would be, but perhaps you could a good 'Motion Panning' capture for the Challenge..
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