Colors of Kiteboarding

Shooting kiteboarding at night in northeast Brazil is both a dream and a challenge. This region is one of the few places in the world where the wind stays strong around sunset, giving me a rare window to create dramatic images during the golden and blue hours. To bring these scenes to life, I rely on powerful artificial lights—battery-powered strobes mounted on floating platforms—to sculpt the riders against the darkening sky. With the added light, the session transforms into something cinematic. The spray, the kite, the rider—every element glows and takes on an almost surreal quality. But for these shots to truly work, it’s not just about the gear—it’s about trust and communication. The riders and I need to be perfectly in sync. They must execute their trick in exactly the right spot in relation to me and the strobes, which requires precision and a shared understanding of timing and space. It becomes a dialogue between photographer and athlete, where every move and adjustment counts. What makes it even more special is that I get to collaborate with some of the best kiteboarders on the planet—world champions and innovators—pushing limits as the sun dips below the dunes. It’s not just documentation; it’s a partnership to create something timeless.