Kalani Cummins
Surf photography ain’t what it used to be, but there are still those dedicated artistic souls out there dragging tripods and lenses around the world, snapping frames and making magic. Kalani Cummins is among the best of the next generation doggedly dedicated to keeping the craft alive.
Young, motivated and inspired, for the last few years, Orange County-based Cummins has been traveling the world with an all-star cast of A-listers, but he knows full well there’s something special about capturing a perfect day at home.
“The Wedge holds a significant place in my heart. It’s where I started shooting at 15 years old and where I’ve continued to shoot for the last 10 years,” Cummins shared with SURFER. “Not only has this spot seen a tremendous change in my eye and style, but it’s witnessed many versions of me.”
Because time waits for no man, Cummins explains, “The Wedge has seen me grow from a trouble-making high schooler to a business owner, husband, and dad. I’ve traveled around the world getting to photograph spots I’ve always dreamed of, my ‘bucket list’ breaks as some might call them, but like many of you know there’s nothing quite like scoring in your own backyard. There’s something special about the spots near home, because you have more time and opportunity to capture ‘the shot’ as you get to know the break intimately. For me personally, this is ‘the shot’ from The Wedge. The moment I felt the click of the shutter for this particular frame, I knew I had captured the shot I was dreaming of for the last 10 years.”
And highlighting the value and importance of local knowledge when it comes to nailing the shot, “This particular day was one of those in between, sneaky days when only a few guys are on it,” Cummins says. “Maybe the forecasters didn’t expect it, maybe there was a traffic jam on the 405, maybe it was genuinely just one of those mornings that God designed things in nature to lineup. Who knows… but all I know is Bobby Okvist got the wave of the morning, maybe one of the best waves I’ve ever seen come through here in my opinion. He was in perfect position in perfect conditions, and the image you see here is a snapshot of that moment in time.
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