From his childhood, Tom Keck has been surrounded by water. Born in Coronado in 1937 and raised there as well, Tom would discover a lifelong playground in the Pacific Ocean. The powerful shore break in Coronado was perfect for body surfing and by sixth grade Tom was an avid practitioner of the sport. Stand up surfing was just a few years away with legendary surfer John Elwell leading the way in surf of all sizes.

In 1958 Tom decided to attend college, opting to attend the Mormon university, Brigham Young, with John Elwell. Not being a Mormon himself, Tom made his collegiate decision because of location, which was in close proximity to the North Shore, rather than any religious conviction.

Needing a chemistry class, Tom took a course titled, "The Chemistry of Photography," quickly realizing that he had the perfect laboratory for his "experiments" in his backyard — a surf break known as Pupekea. Setting up a darkroom in the house's only bathroom, required a timing that has been crucial to Keck's work ever since.

That same year Tom bought a surfboard from Pat Curren. Still while others like Phil Edwards were pioneering places like Pipeline, Tom preferred to body surf the gnarly left.

Oahu's North Shore was a stunning and empty paradise and Keck began chronicling the majestic waves there and the mavericks that rode them. The result is an up close and personal portfolio of the some of surfing's more hidden moments — North Shore pioneers standing in front of their panel wagon home, big wave chargers risking it all for an elevator drop, world champion, Joyce Hoffman having her protective helmet adjusted by her mother prior to surfing the U.S. Championships in Huntington Beach. But the work continues to this day, capturing the humble beginnings of surf movements like Rell Sunn regally laying claim to a woman's place in the lineup and Joel Tudor launching the retro revolution.

One thing that separates Tom Keck's work from most others is the comfort of his subjects. That's because Tom is a trusted friend to many of his photographic subjects and has the knack of nearly disappearing behind the lens.
While many of his peers have made bigger names for themselves in the surfing world, he continues to do what he's always done, shoot the photos that define our lives and times.
So, take your time and look closely into the corners where 50s style bathing suits and military crew cuts reveal another time, or back to the future with the longboard renaissance and the walk on water majesty of an endless nose ride.
Keck's large body of work compiled speaks of perfection, dedication, timing and passion, capturing the waves of our lives for nearly half a century.
— Chris Ahrens

Photo Tara Lee Torburn

Photo Kevin Kinnear

Subject: Cinco de Mayo
This shot shows John Elwell, Vicky Heldrich Durand and Pat Curren standing next to my truck. It was Cinco de Mayo and we had gone for a short rive north of Yokohama Bay out towards Kaena Point. After the dive we had a nice rum drink and I took a picture. Notice the Service Particular, Ensenada Baja California painted on the door. Elwell's doing of course. The date was May 5, 1959.

Subject: Dicky Moon
This shot was taken at the La Jolla Shores in 1 964 of Dicky Moon, who at the time was a very, very good surfer. He was a master at nose riding and making bottom turns like the one pictured here. I didn't have a motor drive at the time so I missed the next shot. I'm pretty sure he made the turn, but it is only in my imagination that he did make it.

Subject: The Wedge
This shot was taken in July 1 996 on opening day of the Del Mar Races. My pager went off around 2:30 PM telling me of the big south swell showing at Newport. I was out the door and zoomed up to the Wedge. I was looking for something different and looked back toward the houses. There was one under construction and I went up and talked to the head guy about using the roof to shoot the waves, he said "okay, come on up the view is great." I used a long lens to reach out to the wave and this is what I got. It was used in the December issue of Surfer. That is Peter Dixon going for the plunge. I never could find out the boogie boarder's name.

Subject: Joel Tudor
This photograph of young Joel Tudor was taken at Cardiff in 1992 during a small South swell with my 800mm Nikon. Joel was riding an old Bing, probably made in 1962. Joel was doing things on that board that had everyone on the beach watching. These great little lefts just kept coming in and Joel would be all over that board. It makes me think that he was bringing back a style that no one had really seen in quite awhile and I think the kids began to pick up on his style and board walking. It was really the start of a new long board era.