In 2008, after doing a year of military service, I was done with home. I really needed to get away and so I ran. For some reason, I had the inner urge to try surfing. Probably because of Kelly Slater’s Baywatch appearance — but really, I have no clue. Destiny calling, I suppose… California’s legacy was working it’s magic and there was no better place for getting introduced to the culture of surfing. I was dreaming of golden sunsets, surfer girls, epic waves, and endless beach hang outs. To put it frankly, my hopes were not disappointed.
Coming from Austria, I have been landlocked for the biggest part of my life. It’s the land of snow, mountains ,and music. I grew up in Vienna, which is now my favorite city besides Lisbon. The vibe, people, partying, food, architecture, friends, everything is really sweet there. If you ever end up there, definitely give me a ring. Unfortunately, there is not a decent wave within a 2000 mile radius, which ultimately brings us back to California.
My first ride got me hooked on surfing, and ever since I have been traveling and chasing waves around the world. Three month of language school turned into four years and a double degree in Philosophy and Communication. After graduating from UCSB, I moved to Portugal, where I first worked as a surf instructor and later completed my masters degree in Marketing. For the last two years, I have been documenting my travels and recently got into surf photography.
Photography is an intuitive way of expressing myself. When taking pictures, I try to catch the beauty of human interaction and nature. Being in the water and taking pictures of the ocean environment immediately felt amazing and “right.” It gives me the opportunity to show something that I fell in love with. By transferring my personality onto my pictures, I strive to display the ease of life and spread positive vibes and energy. Ultimately, if you get inspired by what I do just a tiny, tiny bit, I achieved more than I could have ever hoped for. I am very greatful for the opportunity of having been able to spend so much time near the ocean, coming from a country like Austria. For that I especially want to thank my parents who have always believed in me.
If you got to this point, I want to thank you very much for reading and getting to know me a bit. If you have any questions regarding surfing, traveling or photography, I am always happy to help. I am eager to improve and therefore would appreciate your feedback and comment.
For more from Constantin Witt-Dörring, visit cwd-photography.com, and be sure to follow him on Facebook. And don’t forget to check out his involvement with The Nica Project, an initiative to help and support three Nicaraguan families, by fundraising money through an art exhibition in Vienna.
Additionally, visit www.thunderbombsurf.com for more information, and do yourself a favor and check their Instagram for more imagery: @thunderbombsurfcamp.
