Big Wave Surfing Changed My Photography

[@harshavardhansalgaokar]

I see a Bryan Birks video uploaded, I press play

[@BryanBirks]

Hell yes.

[@willysheepskin]

I reckon this video will do for a fair amount of people what that documentary did for you man. The way you've merged your thoughts alongside the clips from the show feels so cohesive it's as if this was the intended format of the original footage! Beautiful and inspiring as always, thank you

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you think so, Willy. I sure hope it does!

[@mikehessphotography]

This is why Bryan is one of my favorite photogs and KZbinrs. Photography is more than just gear reviews and ego stroking. Comparing it to the risks and rewards of riding a big wave is a great metaphor. I don't need daily videos when I get to see something like this. I will endure the waiting when the final product is like this.

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you, Mike. Hopefully the next video will have much more of my own work. Until then!

[@miguel.saragoca]

Sometimes it's not easy to find inspiration and it was watching this video that I found it. strange because I'm Portuguese and I live near Nazare. thank you for showing me how beautiful the place where i live is. This is The best vídeo that youve ever made. Thanks

[@BryanBirks]

Very jealous. I need to get out there at some point. Looks beautiful.

[@Theresaaguiar]

So happy to see Nazaré (Portugal), my country, in a KZbin channel that I love so much! Keep up the great work Bryan and congrats on getting married!

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you! Will do!

[@hoytfiles8467]

I have to watch the hundred foot wave again and put in a different perspective. Also, another video on HBO with the one by Tony hawks that was incredible. Another one to see is Josh Newman on KZbin . His video touching because as it is a tribute to him, he passed away a couple years ago, he’s a 22 year old or he was a 20 year or two year old Longboarder. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Bryan.

[@andrewtan99]

Saw the title and said to myself, “Holy $hit! Bryan Birks also surfs big waves?!?!??” Loved the video. We gotta find our inspiration everywhere. You should watch the “Life of Kai” series also. Kai is a local Maui boy, super nice guy, and total inspiration for me.

[@BryanBirks]

Just started "Life of Kai" and it is so good. I love his mindset. I'm trying to adopt a better attitude myself. Asking myself "what would Kai do?" these days. Haha

[@DennisSantarinala]

Your photos are beautiful Bryan. I always show your videos to my coworkers here at the 349th air mobility wing public affairs. I’m in charge with training in multimedia in the Air Force. I just wanna let you know please continue your great journey in your photography and keep telling these wonderful stories.

[@BryanBirks]

Amazing to hear. Thank you, Dennis.

[@chwelio_jr]

You know what, this is the first time am writing on your yt channel. Just wanna tell you that you are great in photo and video work but there is something more important to me...... you are great guy. Big love from Zagreb ( Croatia 🇭🇷 )

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you think so! Thanks for watching.

[@rockhills]

I'd just started watching 100 Foot Wave a few weeks ago so this was a nice surprise!

[@BryanBirks]

It's so good!

[@robbiemurrie7562]

People get so caught up in cameras and all kinds of technical aspects instead of focusing on the love of the art and taking inspiration from the offerings of the world and you’ve illustrated this perfectly. Great work, inspiration is all around us if you’re open to it.

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you, sir. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrCooky001]

Loved this, would recommend 'dark Side of the lens' by Mickey Smith, incredible artist and musician

[@BryanBirks]

I'll add it to the list!

[@emmaotoole2791]

Also “The Wave” edit was crazy 😮

[@RobbieMaynardCreates]

Awesome work bud. I agree with your sentiments on acting on that impulse and not pushing it off. That cinematography was dope. Those guys have some serious sack

[@BryanBirks]

The amount of sack is actually astonishing.

[@discotechwreck]

I've been a street photographer for a two years now and I only started learning how to surf six months ago Will definitely add this to my watchlist Grat video!

[@BryanBirks]

Appreciate it!

[@AManWhoWasntThere]

Holy shit! Those opening shots gave me goosebumps!

[@AManWhoWasntThere]

Those long telephoto shots give a great sense of scale. Absolutely terrifying!

[@BryanBirks]

I got goosebumps throughout the whole thing.

[@emmaotoole2791]

Best show & even better video. I love you and your creative mind. 🤍

[@BryanBirks]

You're the best.

[@gunnarelgersma5215]

Hey Bryan! This is a video I never would have imagined u make, but im really happy that you did! I love surfing and photography and i couldnt agree more with your lessons here! If you guys enjoyed 100 Foot wave I would recommend watching "Facing Monsters" with Kerby Brown and/or "View from a blue moon" with John John Florence. Both have amazing cinematography and some crazy, craaaazy waves. Some of the waves in "Facing Monsters" are even more sketchy than Nazare haha !

[@BryanBirks]

Oh hell yeah. Say less. My entire KZbin is just surfing videos now and let me tell you...a lot better than seeing a bunch of people talk about camera specs incessantly. Haha

[@maxwellwellmax878]

I thought you were going to tell us you became a Large Format surfing photographer ( with a waterproof Housing of course )!!!. Very cool video as always

[@BryanBirks]

Maybe if I lived near an ocean...

[@motodiaries8204]

I love your choice of and use of music in all your videos. This one was wonderful. Big wave surfing amazes and captivates me as well. It's staggering that such things exist and that there are people who want to go out and ride them.

[@BryanBirks]

Bad music in a video enrages me. Haha happy that it is noticed!

[@4r1777]

Incredible video as always, and congratulations on your marriage!

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you so much!

[@corinnevonreding8341]

Congrats to your big ride on LensCulture. What a year! You deserve it!

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you very much!

[@ChrisVidouras]

Very cool stuff Bryan! Thanks for sharing! Imagine the value of that great photo you took for those kids in 15-20 years.

[@BryanBirks]

I’m already seeing more value in the early photos that I’ve taken. It will be a real treat to look back on everything I’m making now. Cheers!

[@suzannepedersen1856]

This was a great video! I as well found 100 foot wave awhile ago and was so taken in by it…

[@robgutkowski7141]

Wise words, inspirational imagery. Thanks very much for sharing. Though great photographers make fantastic images in a setting with 100 foot waves, or when an iconic celebrity is n front of the lens, but to my mind the most evocative photos with make a deeper and more enduring impression are those which convey the most human connection. What I liked most was the photo you shared of the two boys, the "mark Twain" sign in the background gives great context to the image, and the boys then become Tom and Huck incarnate.

[@BryanBirks]

They definitely have their places for sure. It’s amazing where you can grab inspiration from. When one area is lacking there is always something else to get the creative juices flowing.

[@tedphillips2951]

Totally amazing & scary! The video is great & makes us think about how we hold ourselves back sometimes.

[@BryanBirks]

Glad you enjoyed, Ted!

[@jackryan7205]

you should give Zabardast a watch. great story and great photography

[@BryanBirks]

I'll check it out!

[@TedNemeth]

Congrats on getting married. Enjoy your channel. Hello from NYC -TED NEMETH

[@iamdesertpaul]

Absolutely love this video. Really inspiring and open. Keep them coming!

[@BryanBirks]

Thank you. Will do!

[@impiccable1375]

Oh this was so good and, indeed, inspiring. Thanks so much for this. It had me glued to my screen. I had a similar experience of feeling awestruck and inspired when I read the book Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. I highly recommend it for such a truthful and humble account of William's life spent surfing. So many lessons to be learnt from that, just like from this vid and, undoubtedly, the documentary which I am really keen to go see now. I am honestly tempted to go make an offering to a god of photography and the oceans as well now! :)

[@BryanBirks]

I’ll be making an offering in my future. Believe that. Glad it inspired you!

[@willmccleland2383]

Im late to the game on this video (sorry) but thank you for posting it. I have also felt that I’m getting further away from that excitement and passion I felt when I first started photography back in 2013 and I felt the spark has gone a little. This video alone has made me feel a little of that spark again I will watch this documentary because I feel it has a lot of passion and soul to it and I have been chasing that feeling forever. Thanks for always making thoughtful content and actually adding something to photographers practice!

[@flyboy61699]

What an incredible video. Just seeing those waves got my heart racing, and I loved hearing your perspective on the documentary and how it relates to your photography. Also, you have an impeccable talent for choosing amazing music to accompany the visuals and making your audience feel something (because I sure did!)

[@BryanBirks]

Happy to hear that! Music Bed is good even though they won’t return my emails about a sponsorship. ☹️

[@brianwilson8287]

Thank you. You might not know what is behind my thank you, but I needed to hear this, and be exposed to that series.

[@BryanBirks]

Happy to hear that, Brian. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@didiMao]

It’s a good day when your videos drop. Congrats on marriage.

[@BryanBirks]

It’s a good day when you comment. Thank you!

[@KNY-29]

It is beautiful

[@digitaljb]

Incredible

[@BryanBirks]

Cheers.

[@loganguybaker]

Could have watched another hour of this

[@BryanBirks]

I sat and watched raw footage of surfers hitting barrels in Southern California for 45 minutes without a problem on here the other day. The shit is addicting.

[@loganguybaker]

@@BryanBirks grab your board and hit those St Louis swells bra