$5,000 Grant Available For The Best Young Surf Photographer

Originally posted on SURFER | By Chris Dodds | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 5:48 PM ET

If you were to compile a list of some of the biggest names in surf photography of the past two decades, it would be an impressive upon which you would certainly see the names: Chris Burkard, Todd Glaser, Morgan Maassen, Ray Collins, Ryan "Chachi" Craig, Shawn Parkin, Kalani Cummins, amongst others. One thing that they all have in common is that they were all winners of the Follow The Light Surf Photography Grant.

Started in 2006 after the death of Larry "Flame" Moore, this annual award shines a spotlight on emerging surf photographers between the age 18-26 whose work captures the beauty, culture, and spirit of surfing. The submission window is officially open from now until September 15th and artists can submit a portfolio of 20-25 images for a grant prize of $5,000, mentorship, and career-changing exposure. Finalists will be awarded at the Coast Film & Music Festival in Laguna Beach.

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During the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s, surf photography was at its peak cultural significance--a rare look into the mystical coastal world of surfers from around the globe as they sought out and explored waves. One of the key players of this golden era was Larry Moore. "As the photo editor of Surfing Magazine he was not only the arch nemesis of the Surfer Mag photo department, he was instrumental in creating surf photography as a viable occupation, and perhaps most importantly, scouting young, new talent both in front of and behind the lens."

“Being involved in Follow The Light has been an amazing experience all the way around,” explains 2022 winner Kalani Cummins. “The grant helped me get on my feet a little more and winning opened up some great opportunities, but more than that, it’s amazing to be part of this next generation of surf photographers and get the chance to meet them all and be part of something bigger.”

If you know any talented young photographers, be sure to encourage them to apply as it could very well change their lives and put them in a rare air of surf photog royalty.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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