Photos and words by: Ryan Taylor

Vacations are a necessity. We all work hard and deserve some time off. While my non-photographer friends would tell me that it is a time to put down the camera, I see it as an opportunity to do the opposite. I often take vacations as not only a break from work but also a break from some of the creative “confinements” that I find myself in sometimes. Don’t get me wrong; I love the collaboration process between the client and me, but sometimes there isn't the free time to take photos for myself. I try not to overthink it and keep concepts or ideas light. For example, I might want to shoot more landscapes, explore different techniques such as panoramas, or play with my GoPro more. On this particular trip, I knew I wanted to shoot kiteboarding. I was traveling to Grand Cayman with my family and knew it was a hot spot for riding.

Name: Garth Milan

Location: Tahiti

Years of photography experience: 18

What is Pipe Dream? When did you hear about the project and what were your thoughts?

Pipe Dream was the brainchild of Robbie Maddison, and was also realized with the support of Jeff Taylor at DC Shoes. The pair actually conceived the idea together at a party after a few cocktails—no lie! I knew that Maddo was working on the water bike project for some time, but when I heard that he was actually going to try to ride his dirt bike on Teahupoo, the world's gnarliest and most well-known wave, I was blown away and almost didn't believe it. I expect nothing but insanity from Robbie Maddison...This was next-level even for him, though.

Name: Carlo Cruz

Location: Long Beach, CA

Years of photography experience: 15

Tell us about the Breaking Water project. How did the idea come about?

I have been a b-boy (breakdancing) photographer for a very long time now, so when Red Bull Photography gave me the opportunity to do a project for them, it was clear that it would definitely be about b-boys. I have seen all sorts of dance photos taken underwater—like jazz or ballet—but I have never seen one of a b-boy. I think it’s often overlooked how fluid breaking moves are, and this was the perfect opportunity to showcase that.

Written by: Colby Brown

There is no doubt that photography as a whole has changed over the last decade. Not only are more people interested in the art form, but advancements in technology have helped to make powerful cameras smaller and more affordable than ever. While DSLR sales are starting to get eaten up by their lighter and more affordable mirrorless cousins, point-and-shoot cameras have long been cannibalized by the growing smartphone market. In many ways, the power and quality of the camera in a smartphone has become THE key differentiator for many people looking to get a new phone.