Beyond the wave
In his pictures, Nic von Rupp combines his deep love of the ocean with his passion for photography. Together with the Leica Q3 43, the big wave surfer has embarked on a visual odyssey of daring adventures, enormous waves and fascinating locations. This is a journey that tells the harmonious story of how he has combined his art with his calling and provides unique insights into the life of one of the world’s most renowned surfers.
Even at a young age, I was lucky enough to be able to travel the world – with a surfboard in one hand and a camera in the other. Photography has long been a passion of mine. I love capturing the essence of people, the rhythm of the waves and our fleeting memories.
Nic von Rupp
About Nic
Born in Sintra, Portugal, Nic von Rupp is a multicultural big wave surfer with German and Swiss roots. The professional surfer became famous for the fearless way he rides the world’s heaviest waves. His impressive skills and magnetic presence have earned him worldwide recognition.
As a big wave surfer, he lives for those exact moments when nature pushes him to his limits. Skill alone is not enough to surf the most dangerous waves in the world. It’s all about respecting the ocean’s elemental force and building a deep connection with its power. Surfing has consistently shaped Nic’s life and taught him humility, resilience and the beauty of living in the here and now. Surfing has made him the person he is today.
For me, photography is more than just taking pictures. It’s an art form. The art of setting up a shot, playing with light and refining it through colour adjustments brings every picture to life. From candid portraits of the people I’ve met to landscapes that tell the story of a journey, each image shows a piece of the world as I see it. It’s my way of sharing the beauty, diversity and raw emotion of life beyond the waves.
Nic von Rupp
The spirit of the moment
Besides riding the waves, photography is Nic’s second great passion. Surfing has taken the exceptional athlete, who speaks five languages fluently, to some of the most remote and breathtaking corners of the world. His camera has always accompanied him on his journey, and has been there to harness the energy of a fleeting moment, to tell a story or to preserve distant memories of a remote place. Nic reveals the spirit of the moment through his pictures – magic and beauty that appear for but a brief instant.
Enhancing creativity
Nic particularly appreciates the versatility of the Leica Q3 43. The focal length of 43 mm enables him to create vivid portraits as well as capturing the texture and expanse of a landscape. The 60-megapixel sensor perceives the most minute details, which keep their sharpness even when cropping, while the colour rendering lends every image cinematic aesthetics right out of the camera. The multicultural big wave surfer sees the Q3 43 as more than just a tool. It enhances his creativity and helps him to tell the stories of the places, cultures and people he encounters in unparalleled quality.
