Hundreds of submissions were received for the 2024, Surfing Australia, Photo of the year. After the judges sifted through the pile of sterling entries, it was this shot of Laura Enever on the stairway to hell at Shipstern Bluff, by Nick Green, that was deemed to be the winner.
Below, Nick, a proud Tasmanian, gives the award-wining image some context and perspective. I spent seven hours swimming at Shippies this day. It was one of those sessions where I’d planned to swim out, come in for some food and then head back out for the afternoon. But whenever I thought about heading in, another set would come, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave the lineup in fear of missing something. There are probably only two or three properly consistent days like these a year down there so when the conditions are right you want to make the most of it. This wave of Laura’s was actually kind of early on in the day – maybe two hours in – but I knew straight away it was a special moment.
I guess it’s easy to become desensitised to how critical certain situations actually are when you spend a bit of time in heavy oceans; especially when it’s a sunny day and there are 50+ people in the water creating a false sense of safety and/or security. However, this wave that Laura pulled into was different, I was genuinely worried for her safety as I swam through the back of the wave. The position that she bailed on was so far back on the reef and in such a heavy zone I assumed she would be knocked out and sent straight onto the rocks. I’m not 100% sure who towed her into this one. Whoever it was must be very thankful she came up with a smile on her face as it definitely could have gone in a different direction.
After winning the award, I said, ‘the real award should go to her for putting herself in this position’ and I stand by that. Female surfing has had a huge year in 2024, and Laura Enever has been at the forefront of pushing the sport for women globally; winning the Surfer of the Year at the Big Wave Awards, continually pushing herself in waves of consequence, despite often being the only female in the lineup. I’m honoured that I was able to capture a significant moment in her career and proud that it was awarded the Surf Photo of the Year, as I think it tells a bigger story than just a gnarly wipeout.
I feel extremely privileged to have grown up here in Lutriwita/Tasmania, and to have had access and the ability to document the raw and rugged coastlines our island has to offer. To continue to learn the patterns of the oceans, explore every nook and cranny and share these experiences with others is a lifelong passion/obsession that I take a lot of pride in. Without all the accumulated knowledge and support of the locals who live and work here, I wouldn’t be where I am today with my photography and surfers wouldn’t be getting the waves they do down here, so a massive shout out to the Tasmanian surf community.
