It’s early on a Saturday morning, you and your friends have been talking about the swell coming through all week, getting more pumped each day as the weekend approaches. You stop to get some coffee to fuel up before the long sessions ahead and then pull up to the spot. You hear the waves firing before seeing them as they pound against the beach. Cars start to pull in and your friends begin piling out, getting their wetsuits on and waxing their boards. The waves are glassy and ranging 3-5ft, perfect for long rides, carving, and party waves. We all leash up and enter the water, heading out the back to be in optimal position to catch waves.
Surfing alone is always therapeutic. Being out in the ocean with no one else around, you feel a connection with nature as you spot the occasional sea turtle or stingray passing underneath your board, or you allow the current to move you down the beach without a care of where you end up. Surfing with a group of friends though is an experience that is difficult to describe. There is no sense of time when you are all out in the water, boosting each other up if someone caught an incredible wave, and there is an extra sense of security in comparison to surfing alone. You are all out there to have an amazing time, but you are also there to watch each other’s back if something were to go wrong. When I think of my future surf trips, this picture of Surf School by Glenn Harper accurately depicts how my friends and I would show up to the beach, figuring out where we would need to head out for the best position and making sure that one of us has a watch on to keep some track of time. The music selection is Sound Reggae by Babylone temoins, as it was the best fit to emulate the laid back, simple lifestyle that surfers often have and brings the photo to life a bit more.
Hi Maryann, I love the picture and reggae song selection you picked. The group of surfers carrying their boards down the beach look eager to hit the waves. The song complements the overall vibe of the image.
The effect on the photo with the song enhances the vibe, it gives me an island vibe and is relaxing to the viewer.
One song that comes to mind that may be an option to pair with this picture is “Oceans” by Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder himself said that “This song was a love song I wrote about my surfboard”. I didn’t spot any technical issues with the post, good job!
My initial reaction to the image and audio you paired together was one of eagerness. The combination did a good job transporting me to an exciting summer beach day when you can’t wait to finally touch the sand with your bare feet and feel the refreshing water on your skin. Elements of the song enhanced the waves, and I could almost feel the wind and mist coming off the ocean. I also felt transported into the image and could imagine the rush of trying to catch my first wave of the day.
Originally when I looked at the image individually, I felt the surfers were tired and possibly frustrated. The music, like many Reggae songs, was playful. Therefore, when I looked at the image while the music played, the photo altered to be more upbeat and exciting. I could feel the playfulness amongst friends, and I felt a soul connection amongst the surfers and the waves.
If you wanted to change the meaning of the photo to show how impactful sound can be, it might be interesting to try the image with a cheering audience. It could transform the photo into a more intense beach day. Instead of relaxing and chilling with friends, now the surfers could be entering into a competition. Their faces looking at the ground could be because of nerves or stress.
Overall, great work!