Saltwater, Light & Motion
Surfing with Ian Bridges

Travel has a way of resetting the eye, offering a new canvas and a new rhythm to see through. In Bermuda the light here behaves differently, reflective and full of clarity, shaped by the island’s small scale and endless horizon lines. The colours are brighter, more saturated. The blues feel deeper, the sky more open. Photographing the surf scene against this backdrop was a natural extension of what the island invites: a slower gaze, motion, light, and community.

Ian Bridges, known to most as “Cheese” is a central figure in Bermuda’s surf culture. As a surfing instructor, he’s not only introduced the joy of surfing to locals and visitors alike, but has also championed the sport’s growth, especially among women. His approachable, grounded energy made the photography feel like a collaboration more than a commission. The result is a portrait of a movement, where sea, surf, and spirit come together in a wash of turquoise, grit, and freedom. These are the stories that continue to live in the salt air and made to be seen.