Surfing Photography - Famous photographers?

Hey all

Does anyone know where surfing photography started and if anyone knows of any surfing photography greats?

I would be very grateful as I have to start writing a long essay on this, as a non-surfer it isn't easy.

Thanks for any help, much appreciated.

I can name only three, Leroy Grannis and John Severson. I don't know Grannis work, but Severson is responsible for the classic North Shore shot of Greg Noll at the Pipeline. ( I am looking at a print of it on my wall while I'm typing).
Dr. John Ball (Doc Ball), a dentist, was one of the real surf photography pioneers. he invented a reliable waterproof housing. He passed his art onto the Leroy Grannis.
If you Google either Grannis r Severson, you'll get a bunch of hits. Grannis is one who documented the real surf explosion of the forties and fifties. he photographed one of my favorites, Rabbit kekai, who is in his 80s, and still surfing!
I have been surfing since '66, so I guess I was around for the Early days of east coast surfing. You can't talk about surf photography without mentioning the greatest surf movie producers, MacGilvray and Freeman.
Good luck with your project! Maybe you'll do enough research on this, you'll think about getting wet yourself.

Dj struntz, (has a website) is pretty sick, he does a lot of the in the water stuff. Off the top of my head, I can't remember anyone else, but if you pick up a surfing mag, the photos have their names.

i know there was a guy named ron stoner who did alot of work back in the 60's. if your looking for filmmakers as well check out george greenough