Marcus Paladino stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the rocky shore on the west coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., where the mist rising from the crashing waves below enveloped him like raindrops as he aimed his camera at the sea. This is winter on the coast of British Columbia.
Paladino, a 34-year-old surf photographer, moved to the trendy town of Tofino 13 years ago, working at a resort. In 2015, he transitioned to full-time photography, carving out a niche capturing surfers clad in neoprene wetsuits battling nature in the waves.
While surfing is typically associated with warm waters like Hawaii’s famous (and infamous) North Shore, Paladino found his niche by standing out in cold waters, dubbing himself the “cold water surf guy.” He finds more pleasure in shooting in colder, rougher locations.
Originally from Nanaimo on the island’s east coast, Paladino found like-minded partners in Tofino, including internationally renowned surfer Pete Devries who lived nearby. They worked and surfed together, spending a year and a half waiting in a secret spot between Tofino and the further north Ucluelet for a special big wave.
Paladino said, “I can’t really say where it is as we made an oath to keep it secret. To me, this might be the best wave in Canada.” Their patience paid off, with Devries catching the wave while Paladino captured the thrilling moment with his camera.
Over the years, Paladino has gained more than just photography skills from the sea.
Solidifying his place in his field, Paladino’s work has been featured in Canadian Geographic, Surfer Magazine, and other major surf publications. This led to invitations to warmer surfing destinations to shoot competitive surfers, including filming the “Seven Mile Miracle” on Hawaii’s North Shore in December 2017.
One harrowing experience during his travels served as a life lesson and moment of gratitude.
Paladino recounted a dangerous moment near the infamous “Pipeline,” the world’s largest waves, where he almost got pulled under by a huge wave. Remembering not to panic, he surfaced amidst a sense of gratitude for his life, the people who love him, and the beauty of Hawaii.
Surfing dangers are ever-present, and Paladino now wears a helmet while shooting to mitigate risks. However, his adventurous spirit remains undiminished as he continues to travel, witnessing some of the craziest waves of his life in Tahiti.
Invited to Tahiti to shoot Olympic Canadian surfer Sanoa Dempfle-Olin, Paladino and friends embarked on an unexpected journey on a tiny boat to capture the thrill of battling monstrous waves at Tahiti’s turquoise waters.
Paladino’s patience once again paid off as he captured some of his biggest wave shots to date, earning him paid travels, brand sponsorships, and magazine features. He offers advice to aspiring surf photographers: seize the moment and have patience to capture fleeting opportunities in the water.