Surf tribe

With Surf Tribe, photographer Stephan Vanfleteren showsthat there is far more to surf culture than just sport andcompetition. Surfing is also about a deep admirationand respect for the ocean, as well as the feeling ofinsignificance when confronted with the forces of nature.Surfers use the waves for fun, but also to forget and tobattle, both with others and with themselves.Vanfleteren looks beyond the traditional borders of theUnited States and Australia and searches the globe forpeople who live in places where sea and land meet. Hedocuments a fluid community, which has nature as itssole leader. He portrays both young talent as well asliving icons and old legends, both competition surfers andfreesurfers.No action shots on azure blue waves but static and sereneblack and white portraits in Vanfleteren's well-known,haunting style, which show the real people behind thesurfers, in all their strength and vulnerability. A series ofimages that penetrates to the true core of surf culture.With hundreds of portraits of, amongst others, Kelly Slater,Gerry Lopez, John John Florence, Mickey Munoz, FilipeToledo and Stephanie Gilmore.