In photographing a sport such as surfing, it is important to continue making images even though a surfer may have already failed. Many of the surfing images I made at Imperial Beach express the sense of futility following a disastrous run. This is one of the most eloquent. This surfer already has fallen off his board and is virtually invisible. We only see his hand emerging from a surging wave. Just as important, his board rises from the sea, echoing his absence. Meanwhile, I fill the frame with a double dose of massive waves, expressing the power of nature over man.