The city that prides itself as the surfing capital of America, Huntington Beach, CA has claimed the moniker, “Surf City”. A name the city adapted not without controversy after the city filed “Surf City USA” trademark with the US Patent and Trademark office in 2004. Another coastal city, Santa Cruz, CA disputed the claim but finally won the Huntington Beach in 2008.

Historical disputes aside, nobody can disagree that Huntington Beach is a mecca for photographers that shoots the sports of surfing, especially during the annual US Vans Open of Surfing held during the summer.

My main location to shoot is from the pier crouching low next to the railing having a maximum 300mm lens attached to an APS-C Sony A6500 that gives me an equivalent focal length of 450mm. For longer focal lengths, on the sands of the beach next to the pier can be a great place to have an eye level or lower view. Having the camera on the sands can be a great place to shoot surfers coming out of the water for a portrait view as shown in Photo #2 below.