We all follow the athletes… but do we really know who’s behind the awe inspiring photos that get posted on the daily? Often lost somewhere in the photo credit at the bottom of a post, we thought these guys deserved a shout out. It takes a sense of pure dedication to sacrifice a session to shoot someone else having fun and we think anyone devoted enough to spend the windy days wading in the frigid waters or shooting high up from the hills deserves a double-tap. Some of the most creative members in the kite industry, and really, the driving force behind how kiting is portrayed in media; we know we couldn’t hold our magazine to its high standard without the imagery provided by some of these great photographers. Forget the selfies, there isn’t one photo on any of these accounts that isn’t print-worthy. All of these are more than deserving to be preserved forever inside a customized photo album, or even a photobook. These memories can be printed using https://printedmemories.com‘s services. The talent and skill it takes to take these photos are exhilirating. So go on, give them a follow for the highest quality, adventure, travel and kite photos imaginable.
Toby Bromwich takes his photography very serious, but his Instagram . . . not so much, “when I Instagram, I’m not giving some deep statement with it. That’s not me,” he told Tkb in his latest interview in the Spring issue. “I’m just posting my mountain biking photos and people probably don’t want to see pictures of me riding my mountain bike,” he says. Humble as they come, Toby’s Instagram is part mountain bike manic, part photos of his freestyle friends and part shout out to cover shots he’s received from every magazine in the industry.
Only a special few can make it as photographers in the kite industry. So how has French Canadian photographer, Vincent Bergeron, come so far? Commitment, a meticulous nature and the fact that he holds his subjects to an incredibly high standard. So much so that even the pros have a hard time impressing him. According to Sensi Graves, “You always know you’ve got a really great shot when you can get Vinni to cheer. He doesn’t cheer very often and so it’s really special when you get a rise out of him. Correction, Brandon (Scheid) gets a lot of cheers. The rest of us really have to work for it.” Read his take on the photographic process in the winter issue online for free here.
Ydwer’s got an identifiable style, the kind that screams Ydwer before you come across the credit. Characterized by his lighting choices and angles, Dutch photographer, Ydwer van der Heide’s photography can be found within the pages of nearly every kite magazine out there. With a strong client base including Airush, Best, Mystic, Naish, Cabrinha and Redbull, it’s safe to say he’s one of the best. Ydwer’s got an eye for finding the perfect balance; capturing both the movement of the rider and the rhythm of the landscape in one harmonic composition.
Hailing from Missoula, Montana, you wouldn’t expect to find kiteboarding in photographer Seth Warren’s portfolio. Don’t worry, he’s quite the world traveler. Unique from most photo takers in the industry, Seth has an eye for capturing culture. When most photographers are out there getting “the shot” of the most famous pro, Seth finds another angle; shooting the people and places that make a trip just as special as the kiteboarding. A storyteller with an appropriately titled business and Instagram name, Seth’s work is a mix of elements; a compilation of portraits, landscapes and action shots that combine to tell the most culturally rich stories in kiteboarding.
Let’s not forget about the ladies! Earning the coveted title of official photographer for the VKWC says a lot about your skills… and Russian photographer, Svetlana Romantsova has got them! In an industry dominated by men, Svetlana brings a feminine touch to the creative side of the sport. Her photography is characterized by a combination of vividly colorful images with a melodic, vintage style. Although she spends most of her time on tour, traveling and shooting the world’s best, her Instagram isn’t just everyone on a kite. Follow her for a vibrant take on the places she visits, the people she meets and the board sports that bring her there.
Can’t get enough? Find more kite-crazed photographers by following us at @the_kiteboarder!