My name is João Almeida and I was born in Lisbon, Portugal. I got into surfing through photography and it grew from a personal challenge to a passion. I love spending time at the beach, on good days or on cold and rainy days, watching and recording the best performances of some of the best local and world athletes.

I’ve been a Sony user since my early days as an enthusiast, and have used everything from Cybershot compact cameras and Handycams, right through to my current camera, the Alpha 7R V. What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing the improvements over time – from the speed (and intelligence!) of the focus, to the capabilities in low light conditions.

What features of the Alpha 7R V make it well-suited for surf photography?

When I switched from the Alpha 7 III to the Alpha 7R V, the biggest difference I found was the resolution. Sometimes, when the tide is low or when the waves break further from shore, even a 600mm lens can be short, and that’s when the 61 megapixels are a huge help, allowing me to crop in post-production and still maintain optimal resolution. Also the speed and accuracy of the AI focus are seriously impressive, even in challenging conditions like surfing.

The AI focus system of the Alpha 7R V doesn’t make me a better photographer, but it allows me to focus on creativity and being able to capture the best moments and choose the best composition for my images, without fear of missing focus. Being able to follow the surfer throughout the wave with the focus precisely locked on allows me to shoot with much more confidence and never miss the action.

For this shot of Teresa Bonvalot, I positioned myself on the sand facing the waves. I used a fast shutter speed and wide aperture and simply let the AI focus track Teresa as she rode the wave. In the video clip you can see how well the camera coped with an erratic, fast moving subject.

For me, surf photography is not just about ‘capturing an image’ – it’s also about showing the power and artistry of each manoeuvre. Capturing the exact moment requires some knowledge, both of the manoeuvre itself and of the athlete performing it, in order to be able to predict the exact moment and places where it will happen.

When I shoot a new beach, I like to look at it as a landscape photographer before going into “surf photography” mode. I analyse the exposure, light and wave orientation and only then do I choose my location to be photographed (and I will usually change locations, according to the change of tides and/or light throughout the day).

Which lenses do you use for surf photography and how do you choose which lens to use for each shot?

To capture surf action, I usually use the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. It’s an amazing lens, very lightweight and as I always shoot outside, the aperture is perfect for what I need. For surf lifestyle shots, my favourites are the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and the FE 85mm f/1.8. They’re both super sharp and give me a lot of flexibility.

What advice do you have for aspiring surf photographers who want to capture stunning images like yours?

Go out there and photograph as much as you can! Shoot a lot, get inspired by images you see online and try to replicate them. This will help you understand and master the exposure triangle in surfing.

After that, start creating images that you like, develop your style, and don’t just do what others do. Train your creativity!