The Craig Anderson Frame That Stab Couldn’t Look Past

Earlier this week, after painstakingly trawling image submissions that ran into the thousands, we managed to narrow down a hot list of ten finalist #stabfullframes. What lead this long list of photographers to slap a few extra @’s and #’s into their Instagram captions? Flights, accommodation and a slot in Brian Bielmann’s intimate photography school, kicking off during peak season on the North Shore of Oahu. Now, in consultation with Mr Bielmann himself, we’ve handpicked our winning jpeg.

Go ahead and direct your attention to the scene above, featuring Craig Anderson tucked neatly inside the belly of a heaving beast, one moment made eternal by the lens and trained eye of Australian photog Rich Richardson aka @sa_rips. As of today, Rich will be packing his bags for the other side of the pacific, to refine his skills and capture more action for the world to enjoy.

“I knew Ando was around the traps as he was staying at the roadhouse,” said Rich. “I was camping on the point overlooking the bay, behind me nothing but salt lakes and sandhills. The next morning before sunrise I could see a car approaching from a distance, “I bet thats Ando, he loves the early, hey Scooby?” I say to my dog. Anyway, the boys arrived and the waves were good. Do I shoot from a ski? Do I swim and shoot? No. None of that today. I’m happy chilling by the car, listening to music and taking a shot here and there – nothing too serious.”

“I knew I needed to be about 500 metres away from the wave to fit the foreground plus that background landscape in the frame. I climbed down the cliff to get into position, reshuffled here and there and bang! I found the spot. Shortly after I turned around and to see Ando taking off. Click, click, click. Five frames taken. It was the wave of the day. Thats it, job done. Afterwards I packed the gear away and went for a walk with my dogs along the beach.”

We’ll leave you now with a few remarks from lens veteran and head judge, Brian Bielmann. “I love the photos that were sent in, and believe me, it could have gone a few different ways on the judging. But I think that this one has the creativity going on as well as a really badass wave.”