Return to Top
  • Full Frame

Jordy Smith, red-bellied throw, Reunion Island

“We’ve been on Reunion for two days now,” says photog Ryan Miller, currently on location with Julian Wilson and Jordy Smith (pictured). “We’ve had four lots of four-hour sessions and the boys are torched.” After 16 hours in the brine, can y’blame them? Perfect for their purpose, which is to raise the bar of performance surfing. Especially considering the conditions and crowd: “With no one out and no lulls whatsoever in the waves, it’s hard to ever stop paddling. They’re both claiming the worst belly rashes they’ve ever had in their lives. It looks painful. Soon though, I believe their bellies will turn to stone.” Let us hope Miller’s wrong. Here’s Jordy, doing his best to alleviate the gut pain with a lofty frontside throw into the wind.


Photographer profile

Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller, 33 years old, does not know how to write a bad email. Your pals at Stab have learnt to live vicariously through Miller’s red wine-fuelled letters from the road. His travels take him to some dreamy locales and, in those places, he scores all-time photos: “My favourite photo I’ve shot was of Benny Bourgeois in the Caribbean, with a fisheye. Often I just take photos, but rarely do I get to make one.” In an age of tail-highs and released fins, Ryan still most likes to shoot someone who can lay-down a big backside turn. Namely: Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Gabe Kling, Kekoa Bacalso, Damien Hobgood and Peter Mendia. Like most photogs, Miller misses Scott Aichner’s work. But, as far as contemporary inspiration? “Trying to see things through my daughter’s eyes. It’s wild to think about someone experiencing something totally new on almost a daily basis when, as adults, we rarely get to experience something truly new.”

More photos from Ryan Miller
Visit Ryan Miller's site here

All FULLFRAMES