Calling All Lens Wizards: The $5K Grant That Launched Chris Burkard
If you’ve ever angled your water housing just right and thought, “This shot could change everything,” now’s your moment. The Follow The Light Surf Photography Grant just dropped anchor again, and the pot is a cool $5,000—plus the kind of mentorship and festival spotlight money can’t buy.
The grant was founded in memory of Larry “Flame” Moore, the legendary Surfing Magazine photo editor who shot 43 magazine covers and still found time to coach the next wave of shooters. Alumni reads like a hall-of-fame lineup: Chris Burkard, Todd Glaser, Morgan Maassen, Ray Collins—names that make most of us reach for a bigger memory card.
How to Throw Your Hat in the Ring
You’ve got until September 15 if you’re 18-26 and can curate 20–25 of your strongest frames. Judges want work that captures surfing’s raw beauty, culture, and spirit—think soulful dawn patrols, not just air-reverses. Finalists get celebrated at the Coast Film & Music Festival in Laguna Beach, which means your images hit the big screen instead of just the ‘gram.
2022 winner Kalani Cummins summed it up best: “The grant helped me get on my feet… it’s incredible to be part of something bigger.” Sounds like a solid reason to dust off that hard drive and grab the full application details here.
If you’ve been hunting for a sign to quit the day job and chase saltwater dreams, this might be it. Fire up Lightroom and good luck—we’ll see you on the festival wall.