This photo of surfing legend Gerry Lopez was taken by John Severson at Ala Moana, Honolulu, Hawaii. Gerry Lopez was born in Honolulu and witnessed his first tuberides at the Ala Moana break in the mid-'60s. The Ala Moana wave became his training ground. Lopez was widely recognized as the best tuberider in the world, and won the prestigious Pipeline Masters competition in 1972 and 1973.

John Severson’s vintage photos are of the big wave riders from the late 50's and early 60's printed in black and white. In the 1950s Severson became the first person to create a large body of art relating to the Hawaii-California surf culture. Founder of Surfer Magazine, the Surfing Hall-of-Fame surf culture icon, was a pro surfer, turned filmmaker, before turning his time to surf photography and a multifaceted range of art including; oil paintings, watercolors, drawings and prints. He has called Maui home for over 30 years. John Severson’s art is collected throughout the world and he is considered a premier surf culture artist who has helped define and chronicle the sport since 1956.