Grip the sand, they remind themselves. Go low, stay low.

Their faces contort, their muscles tighten in reaction to the struggle for power with the ocean. They surface when the surge has passed. Then breathe.

They are unaware that a camera has captured it all; from straining arms clawing at sand to eyes squeezed shut against the bite of salt. Mark Tipple holds his camera steady in the melting foam, and makes his way to shore.

‘Surf photography’s been around forever. I wanted something different.’