I decided to write a list of the best surf photography books because all the other ones I saw drove me insane (à la this cartoon, which belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Internet Culture.)

Of course, it’s all subjective. In reality, though? Those other lists are wrong. Any list of the best surf photography books that doesn’t contain Jeff Divine’s work can be immediately dismissed as an unserious effort.

This list is about books, but at its core, it’s a celebration of surf photography’s all time greats. It is a tribute to the artists whose work defined the sport. As I wrote in my newsletter: “After all, it is the imagery which remains the single best encapsulation of surfing; an expression of all its intoxicating majesty and depth that mere words could never capture.”

This list is also a salute to an earlier age of surf media, when print still ruled. There is a special alchemy that takes place when photographs are presented as physical objects, versus just another series of ones and zeroes flashing across your screen. When you open up a proper book, with thick, high quality paper and printing, and you see a beautiful photograph, it just hits different. You are suddenly more susceptible to the picture’s charms. The right photo can change how you view the world, and that is special.

At the end of the day I love surf photography books, and if you’re reading this, I suspect you do, too. To me, the publications in this list are all special ones; books that I reach for, even when I’m supposed to be headed out the door to do something important; books that I can open up and get lost in for hours on end.

This is the first part in a series, given that five surf photography books (well, technically seven) simply isn’t enough to cover everything. Unfortunately, many of the titles featured here are out of print. I have included links to purchase those that are still for sale. Disclosure: these are affiliate links, and I will receive commission for any purchases. My hope is this list pays proper respect to the artists whose work fundamentally molded my view of surfing, and contributes in some small way to supporting their careers.

5: Surf Photography of the 60s and 70s by Leroy Grannis

With apologies to every other era in surfing, I think the 60s and 70s remain unimpeachable, in terms of both their influence and aesthetics. Grannis’ book is one of the best, most thorough depictions of surfing’s transition into its Modern Age. Grannis, who passed away in 2011, was a skilled photographer and reeling off his subjects sounds like a collection of surf nostalgia’s greatest hits: Malibu in the 60s; pioneers like Phil Edwards, Miki Dora and Greg Noll; and untouched Hawaii.

Surf Photography is published through Taschen and is still in print. There are a few different editions and sizes, including an earlier, limited edition version of the book in Taschen’s XXL size, which is no longer in print. The main link above is the multi-lingual edition, which is the one I have.

Finally, if you want more Grannis (and who wouldn’t), The Surfer’s Journal also published a book called Photo: Grannis. You can still buy Photo: Grannis on the TSJ store; or find used copies on Amazon / eBay.

4. A Golden Age by John Witzig

In many ways, A Golden Age can be seen as an Aussie counterpart to Grannis’ Surf Photography. It covers the same timeframe, and the primary difference is Witzig focuses on his native Australia, whereas Grannis called California home. A Golden Age is an essential work that captures surfing’s rise in Australia, covering figures like Wayne Lynch, Bob McTavish, Nat Young and many others. Witzig is one of my favorite surf photographers, and his snaps display a level of artistry few of his contemporaries can match. His work depicts Australia in all its wild and untamed beauty, unspoiled by encroaching civilization.

Witzig’s shot of an empty European spot is one of my favorite lineup pics ever.

A Golden Age is published by Rizzoli, another well-regarded art book publisher. Sadly it’s out of print. I have linked to Amazon, where you can buy various used copies. eBay is another great place to look.

3. Surfing: 1778 – Today by Jim Heimann

Surfing has a strong case to be considered the “best” book on this list. Surfing is more than just a surf photography book: it is an ambitious attempt to capture almost everything important about the sport in one volume. It is monstrous, with the biggest version clocking in at nearly 15 pounds and a healthy 11″ x 15″. If you have guests over your house and Surfing is lying out, someone is guaranteed to start flipping through it and strike up a conversation about it.

Surfing isn’t just an impressive book, it’s a great one. It is comprehensive, exhaustively researched and an all around ultra high quality production. This shouldn’t surprise anyone given it’s from noted publisher Taschen.

Curiously, it appears that author Heimann is not a surfer himself. He is the executive editor of Taschen America and has written a number of books, including editing the Grannis book at the beginning of the post. Given this background, as well as Heimann’s day job as a graphic designer and professor, it should come as no surprise that Surfing is a stunning, substantial and dare I say important book. Make sure you order it in the XXL size, which I have linked to. It’s expensive but worth the splurge. There are cheaper and smaller versions of the book if you must, but I’d keep an eye peeled for whenever the XXL version goes on sale (which it is right now, as of publishing time, June 2025).

2. 70s Surf Photographs by Jeff Divine

Jeff Divine’s incredible longevity is eclipsed only by his talent. For fifty plus years, Divine has taken indelible images of everyone and everything that matters in surfing, from Gerry Lopez to Andy Irons, spanning the globe from his native San Diego to Indonesia, and every spot in between. 70s Surf Photographs is a must have, and it’s packed with breathtaking stills from Divine’s deep archive.

Buy this book. I can’t say it any plainer than that.

Divine has published two other books collecting his works, both of which are currently out of print: Surfing Photographs from the Seventies; and Surfing Photographs from the Eighties.

It’s a bit confusing, but the books were published in this order: 1) Surfing Photographs from the Seventies; 2) Surfing Photographs from the Eighties (I consider these two an omnibus); and then 3) 70s Surf Photographs. Despite the similar names, and the fact that all three volumes were published by the excellent T. Adler Books, the two 70s titles are completely different from one another, containing entirely separate sets of photos. Surfing Photographs from the Seventies (the one with Buttons on the cover, pictured above) appears to be higher quality, in my humble opinion: many of the photos are full page, for example. Jeff Divine’s three releases are some of the best surf photography books out there, and even though the 70s and 80s pair is harder to find these days, they’re worth tracking down.

Finally, the first entry in the excellent Masters of Surf Photography series, published by The Surfer’s Journal, focuses on Jeff Divine. This one is out of print, too.

1. Photo/Stoner by Matt Warshaw

Ron Stoner is the greatest surf photographer ever. Stoner produced his best-known snaps during a white hot stretch from 1964 to 1969, and then abruptly disappeared, all before he turned twenty eight. He was officially declared dead in 1994, decades after his last sighting. I believe Stoner is one of the rare photographers whose work transcends surfing. It is impossible to prove, but I will forever believe Stoner’s work has quietly shaped the wider public’s concept of the California Dream, and the visuals that the phrase brings to mind. Stoner’s photographs are almost startling in the way they capture the romance of living near the ocean, drenched in California sunshine and warmth that you can practically feel radiating from every pic. In this vein, Stoner’s work can be thought of as a visual companion to the Beach Boys’ music, a cultural force that not only spread surfing to the wider public, but defined its very contours.

If I had to describe Stoner’s work with a single word, it would be “timeless”. While Stoner’s shots clearly harken back to an earlier age, in the sixty years since they were created, they haven’t lost their ability to convey the sparkling magic of the California coastline.

Photo/Stoner doesn’t just do a great job collecting Stoner’s best-known photographs, it also tells the tragic story of an artist who changed the game and then suddenly vanished into the gaping maw of addiction and struggles with mental health. The book is written by Matt Warshaw, a former editor of Surfer and the creator of the Encyclopedia of Surfing. It is fascinating to juxtapose the inherent optimism of Stoner’s work with the devastating arc of his personal life, and Warshaw handles the complicated subject with skill.

Photo/Stoner is out of print, which is astounding to me, but who knows, maybe Chronicle Books will get around to doing another run.

Final Thoughts

First, a top five list could never hope to fully capture all of my favorite surf photographers and their work. The hardest name to leave off the list was no doubt the late, great Art Brewer, and that’s more a function of his bibliography than anything else. As far as I know, the only book that spans Brewer’s entire career is his entry in the TSJ’s Masters of Surf Photography series, and it’s out of print and pricey. You should also check out Bunker Spreckles: Surfing’s Divine Prince of Decadence, which features Brewer’s work throughout.

There are many newer books that also deserve praise, which I’ll spotlight in a another, separate post. Surf photography is alive and well, even as the industry around it changes.

Finally, make sure you check out these sites where you can purchase prints and support these great artists. I’ve collected a list below:

• John Witzig Website — Prints
• Jeff Divine Website — Prints
• Art Brewer Website — Prints
  • All prints are limited to 25 pieces
• Ron Stoner Prints on Archiv-e
  • Archiv-e also has prints by Jeff Divine and John Witzig, and some other notable surf photographers
• Ron Stoner Prints on SHACC
• Leroy Grannis Prints via M+B Photo