I am proud to share with you this portrait of Mark Stewart through my #isurf photo series. Mark and I have spent numerous hours travelling over the past couple years, chatting about all the potential surf spots we might want to go to and life in general. He introduced me to Great Lakes surfing and always encourages me to get out there to take more photos. I feel privileged to have such a great friend to share these exciting moments on the water.
It was 5:30 AM
We were on a Costa Rican beach and the swell was building up. I was rather anxious; I had never attempted to surf in 7-foot swell and the 9-foot board I rented felt like it weighed a ton. As I saw more experienced surfers passing by me with their shorter boards, I felt rather embarrassed about the size of mine (a rather common misconception of surfboard and surfing that I use to have).
“Ready to hit the surf?”
It was Mark, a 6’1” surfer from Ontario, staring calmly at the horizon, eyes focused on reading the waves with his 5’6” fish surfboard under his arm and a half-hidden smile. I met Mark through one of my engineering friends at a Halloween party, it was around the same time I started showing some interest in photography and considered the idea of trying surfing.
“It’s pretty big…”, I answered half-heartedly.
“Well… You gotta do, what you gotta do”
he replied with his rather naturally calm and nonchalant voice, slowly walking towards the surf. I stared at him as he walked away, trying to make any sense of that answer he just gave me.
I’ve been friends with Mark for a couple of years now. We share the same interest for the ocean, waves, music and a genuine hatred for school! To me, Mark is the friend that has that calmness that settles in after a moment of panic (e.g: staring at the big swell you will face!) and makes you realize you can take on the challenge ahead. Over the few years I have known Mark, we have travelled to Latin America, went for a winter surf trip in Halifax, explored the shores of the Great Lakes and I have come to embrace this calmness.
The #isurf series follows people of the Great Lakes community and retells their stories through anecdotes, interviews and photographs. #isurf will be released every other month, the first part will be released on the Wednesday and the second on the Friday.