Raised in La Jolla, California, Jeff Divine started documenting surfing in 1966. He was one of the leading surf photographers in the 1970s during one of surfing’s most exciting periods on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. It was here that he captured some of surfing’s most iconic photos of legends like Buttons Kaluhiokalani and Gerry Lopez (aka Mr. Pipeline), pictured on the cover of Jeff’s book, Jeff Divine: 70s Surf Photographs.

Jeff Divine’s photos don’t only capture the action out in the water, but also the wider surf culture. From localism at surf spots to the growing scene of surfers travelling the world to find waves to the parking lot at the beach. He beautifully captured the evolving culture of surfing in California, Hawaii, and around the world throughout the decades.

“His photos show the precommercialized era in surfing when the hippie influence still held sway. Surfers had their own slang-infused language and were deep into a world of Mother Ocean, wilderness and a culture that mainstream society spurned. Surfboards were handmade in family garages, often made for a specific kind of wave or speed, for paddling, ease of turning, and featured all kinds of psychedelic designs. Some were even hollowed out to smuggle hash from Morocco.”

From the book, Jeff Divine: 70s Surf Photographs