This is the late, three time world surfing champion Andy Irons at his home beach. He is by far the most exciting surfer I have ever photographed, as he surfed with such confidence and skill, making my job easy. Shot with a Canon 40D and Canon 10-22mm lens. Really miss him, and wish he was still dominating the sport. Mike CootsSHARE
This image was photographed as a fashion feature in Mesa Airline’s inflight magazine called Innov8. Shot at Tunnels Beach on the north shore of Kaua’i. Used a Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 15mm 2.8 lens. Mike CootsPhotographed in the Taro fields in Hanalei Valley on Kaua’i. Shot with a Canon 5D Mark IIand Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 lens. Mike CootsThis is professional surfer Flynn Novak about to jump in the rip current at Pipeline, on Oahu’s North Shore. The rip will carry him right out to the lineup. Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 70-200 2.8 lens. Mike CootsThis is an average afternoon crowd at Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore. It is likely everyone of these surfers is a pro, and they are all vying for the same wave. Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 70-200 2.8 lens. Mike CootsI was riding a long surfboard behind Katie Mull and got as close as physically possible to her with a fisheye lens. Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 15mm 2.8 lens. Mike CootsThis image of Kawika Stillwell was shot off of a PWC (Personal Watercraft). This was shot with no underwater housing, as I had a camera body and zoom lens in a small Pelican Case and would throw it back in the case really fast if a wave came near me. I would carry a baby towel in the case to dry my hands off too. Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 70-200 2.8 lens Mike CootsThis was photographed on a Quiksilver catalog shoot in Hawaii. I was shooting portraits of surfers with Big Game fish and this is a Mahimahi (Dolphin Fish) on ice in a fishbag. Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 85mm 1.8 lens Mike CootsI shot this going down the Napali Coast on Kauai’s Northwestern coast. Shot on my PWC in the morning, the light gets dappled on the ocean from filtering through the mountain ridges. Dolphins love to play on the bow of the watercraft. Mike CootsThis was shot on the North Shore of Oahu for Quiksilver, although ending up getting published as editorial for Surfing magazine. Shot with Profoto 7b, using one head modified with a medium softbox. Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 70-200mm lens. Mike CootsThis image was photographed of professional surfer Sage Erickson for O’neill advertising. She is very easy to work with and this was shot in a protected cove on the North Shore of Oahu. Canon 20d with a Canon 70-200 2.8 lens. Mike CootsThis is my good buddy Skiz playing around on the PWC. Shot in the open ocean in Hawai’i. Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon 15mm lens in a Essex waterhousing. Mike CootsThis is Sonya Chung photographed on a Horseman 4X5 large format camera on Astia sheet film. With a Shnieder 210mm lens Mike CootsShot in the studio with a Profoto light kit. Used a Mamiya 67 medium format camera on Astia film. Mike CootsThis image was actually shot on a small point and shoot Canon S70 in the Canon waterhousing. I used the on-camera flash with a slow shutterspeed. I have printed this really large (four feet by six feet) with wonderful results. Mike CootsThis was photographed for Quiksilver on the beach at Pipeline, Hawaii. Used a single, unmodified head off of a Profoto 7b. Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 70-200 2.8 lens. Mike CootsThis is Terry Chung surfing in Hawaii. Shot with a Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 500mm f4 lens. Mike Coots
