Born in 1950 in San Diego, California, Jeff Divine is one of surfing’s preeminent photographers and photo editors. Divine began photographing anything and everything around his hometown of La Jolla, California, as a teenager. Surfer magazine first published his photos in 1968, and by the early 1970s his work was all over the surf sphere. He shot everything—water and action, portraiture, lifestyle, landscapes, travel. He was the photo editor for Surfer from 1981 to 1998, then occupied the same position at The Surfer’s Journal until 2016. He’s published several books, among them Masters of Surf Photography: Jeff Divine, Surfing Photographs From the Seventies Taken by Jeff Divine, and Surfing Photographs From the Eighties Taken by Jeff Divine. His work has been featured in many gallery and museum exhibitions.
In this episode of Soundings, Divine talks with Jamie Brisick about swimming at Sunset Beach, the legacy of Ron Stoner, the beauty of the North Shore, art and artifact, photographing Andy Irons, Windansea, color palettes, the evolution of lens technology, and the transition from film to digital.
Produced by Jonathan Shifflett.
Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin).
Feature image by Julien Roubinet.