Finding the perfect wave: Brian Bielmann & Agustin Muñoz at Red Bull Mentawais 2009
Written on Tuesday 08.09.2009 15:40 PM By: Red Bull Illume
If some of the best pro surfers and most talented surf photographers get together in their search for the perfect wave the results are expectably first-rate. In June 2009 Red Bull invited surf stars like Mick Fanning and Sofia Mulanovich together with some upcoming talents to the Mentawai Islands, a chain of islands off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, where they were instructed and studied by the most skilled coaches of their sport – while riding some of the finest waves on the globe.
To capture this unique project in the best possible way two experienced and renowned surf photographers also received a ticket for Mentawais: Red Bull Illume 2007 category winner Brian Bielmann and Costa Rica-based Agustin Muñoz. Both of them know exactly how to get the right shots under these uncommon and soaking conditions. „Some of the waves simply look better if you capture them from the land and some from the water!“, says Muñoz. „The water shots give you a more vivid and radical perspective of the action.“
Being drenched for hours is part of the job. If it’s not the water, then the current or the danger of a shark attack make you sweat: „It really depends on the exact spot you’re shooting at, sometimes there are reefs, sometimes there’s a strong current… and of course there could always be sharks, crocodiles or stuff like that.“, says Muñoz.
The technical side of such a shoot is also quite challenging. Both, Bielmann and Muñoz like to get extremely close – without loosing their equipment in the waves – or even under water. The use of housings makes the handling of the cameras even more difficult: Some of them let you control the menu functions, some don’t.
In the end, after all the hard work and getting soaked for days definitely paid off. The images of Red Bull Mentawais 2009 are quite spectacular and breathtaking like the maneuvers the athletes showcased. But see for yourself!
