Shipstern shot wins Nikon Surf Photo of the Year Award

3 April 2019

Stu Gibson has won the 2019 Nikon Surf Photo of the Year Award with a water-level shot of surfer Mikey Brennan at Tasmania's notorious big-wave location Shipstern Bluff.

Stu Gibson's winning shot of Mikey Brennan at Shipstern Bluff off the south-east coast of Tasmania. "This day was a big-tow day," said Gibson. "In the morning the light popped for about 20 minutes then it went back to cold and ugly 'shippies'."

"I’m so happy to win the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year Award," said Gibson. "I enter this comp every year and I’m always blown away by everyone's images. In the past few years, my photography has shifted to other areas away from surfing but I think this award has reignited the fire.

"I was just lucky to be home for a big swell at 'Shipsterns' and it was such a nice day with some big sets so I went for a swim. Mikey Brennan did most of the work for this image. I’m so grateful to have my best mates charging ridiculous waves at home, what a place to be a photographer."

A panel of 13 judges including seven-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore selected this year’s winners.

“There was such a dynamic field of entries this year," said Gilmore. "As a photographer myself, I could see the passion and commitment to the craft in so many of the images. All of them could stand on their own.”

Stu Gibson received a new Nikon Z7, while Chippa Wilson received a new Nikon Z6 for winning the companion 2019 Surf Video of The Year prize.

OCTOPUS VIDEO NO. 4: CHIPPA WILSON from O C T O P U S on Vimeo.