Seth Stafford spent much of his career shooting photographs for the now out of print TransWorld Surf Mag. Now he spends his time surfing and skating and shooting more photos. And as you’ll see below, the New Jersey native has accumulated quite a surreal catalog of photographs during that career — working with and shooting both East Coast icons and every legend there is — and he continues to diversify today. Seth has always epitomized the EAst Coast surf photographer: which is highly motivated, creative and always grindy. And he’s shot everything from high-action images to some of the trippiest lineups you’ll ever see. We threw some questions at him about coming from the East Coast and curated a selection of some of our favorite images he’s ever shot.

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Name: Seth Stafford

Age: 39

Resides in: Swainton, New Jersey

Formal background in photography: 2 college photo classes in black and white. 

What made you want to shoot photos? Thrasher Magazine

Biggest fear: A wet camera

Biggest complaint about surf photography: It’s hard to complain at the beach

Favorite lensmen: Brian Bielmann

Favorite flavor ice cream: Cotton Candy

Life on the East Coast is: All about learning to adapt to change: hot, cold, snow, rain — we got it all and we love it.

Swimming in heavy conditions: usually leads to a leg cramps. Sprint kicking with flippers hurts.

Flash photography in the water is: a challenge because the flash highlights every flaw.

And Shooting fisheye: makes me feel like a magician waving my magic wand around.

Future: More surfing and skateboarding for me.