Behind the Scenes with Olympic Surf Photographers | 2025 ISA World Surfing Games El Salvador

On Location Real World Surf Photography Series: Episode 5 | Part 1 – Pre-Event Setup & BTS at 2025 ISA WSG El Salvador

What does it take to photograph the world’s best surfers at one of the biggest international competitions in the world? 🌊📸

Go behind the scenes at the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador with the official Olympic surf photography team as I prepare for 9 straight days of action, covering 297 athletes from 61 nations. After 10 years working as the ISA’s lead photographer, I’m finally sharing how I capture moments that define surfing history.

But this isn’t just another camera walkthrough — this is the complete pre-event setup before the chaos begins.

📸 In this video, I’ll cover:
• My full Sony gear setup and lens selections for large-scale surf events
• The camera settings I rely on for both land and in-water coverage
• How to adjust settings to changing weather conditions
• My “Holy Trinity” surf photography setup — the three-camera system built for speed, reliability, and quality
• How I prepare for long days shooting in tropical heat, sand, and saltwater

🎥 Gear Used:
• Sony A1 II, A9 III, and A7R V
• Sony 400-800mm F6.3 - F8 , 70-200mm F2.8, and 20mm F1.8
• Aquatech Water Housing
• DJI Mavic 3 Pro Drone
• DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
• DJI Mic Mini
• Aperture 600D
• 5ft Softbox

⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:53 – Video Description
01:38 – Camera Gear
01:57 – Holy Trinity Explained
04:03 – Arrival & Event Details
05:19 – Gear Setup
08:36 – Free Surf Session 1
14:35 – Free Surf Session 2
20:01 – Opening Ceremony
22:29 – Conclusion...To be Continued

📍 Location: La Bocana & El Sunzal, El Salvador

🏄‍♂️ Event: 2025 ISA World Surfing Games | Olympic Qualifier

Music by: Ben Wei aka Chinese Candy
Track: La Chicha Cumbiera

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes surf photography, real-world Sony camera tests, and in-water coverage from some of the world’s most iconic surf events.

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WEBSITE: www.WaterWorkMedia.com

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