Breaking waves

We catch up with Mike Lacey the man behind the camera at Waves Surf Art Gallery.

Living in Cornwall, many of us know the feeling of throwing ourselves into the surf and feeling the swell gently (or not gently) lift us off our feet. The power of the sea is undeniable and addictive, but imagine actually capturing that special moment when a wave is about to break. It’s hard enough holding your own in the swell, let alone riding in the eye of a wave and taking a picture at the same time.

“Nature keeps on giving and as long as I keep putting myself out there as much as I can, I’m sure there will be a lot more magic to capture in the beautiful seas
of Cornwall.”

Mike Lacey has perfected the art of capturing the unpredictable beauty of the sea; his photographs pause a moment in time. Every wave is different, meaning every photo is unique and as each breaks it’s fast, powerful and volatile. With experience as a surfer, Mike understands the language of the sea, and is able to hold his own in the powerful Cornish surf. Cornwall’s coastline and waves are some of the most beautiful in the world and Mike has managed to capture some truly stunning images. We hear a bit about his experiences.

Mike explains: “You just have to put yourself out there and wait for nature to do something magical and be ready to capture it when it does.” It’s the stunning wall of water that a wave forms just before it breaks that’s so captivating. It can range from a glassy turquoise to a deep, moody blue and anyone who loves the sea can connect to these images and connect to the power of the sea through them.

Mike tells us: “From the moment I got the “Cornish Heart” photo the day before my daughter Coral was born to the ‘Cornish Kiss’ which has the most amazing face in, and then most recently the image of a double rainbow lining up perfectly with the curl of the wave, I realised the ocean is just full of surprises.” Mike continues: “Nature keeps on giving and as long as I keep putting myself out there as much as I can, I’m sure there will be a lot more magic to capture in the beautiful seas
of Cornwall.”

So, head down to Waves gallery in Porthleven to see the incredible moments of the ocean that Mike has captured, and maybe even take one home with you.