The Extraordinary Travels of a Self-Taught Photographer

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$Creed McTaggart takes his pick at an empty Macas line up. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Creed McTaggart takes his pick at an empty Macas line up. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Bigger than it looks in Central California. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Bigger than it looks in Central California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Greenbush putting on a show at sunrise. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Greenbush putting on a show at sunrise. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Serenity found in Central America. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Serenity found in Central America. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Beach walks while nature talks. Lance’s Left. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Beach walks while nature talks. Lance’s Left. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$No takers on a big day at Rag’s Left. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

No takers on a big day at Rag’s Left. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Conner Coffin assassinating The Queen. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Conner Coffin assassinating The Queen. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$A small day in Nicaragua still offers plenty of fun. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

A small day in Nicaragua still offers plenty of fun. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Wind-blown morning in Newport Beach, California. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Wind-blown morning in Newport Beach, California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Hecho en Mexico.Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Hecho en Mexico.Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Typical scene in the Mentawais. Rags Right doing its thing. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Typical scene in the Mentawais. Rags Right doing its thing. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Afternoon storms produce some cool colors. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Afternoon storms produce some cool colors. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$No name A-frame in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

No name A-frame in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Channel perspective of a perfect wave in the Mentawai Islands. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Channel perspective of a perfect wave in the Mentawai Islands. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$We stumbled upon empty Greenbush. It was epic, to say the least. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

We stumbled upon empty Greenbush. It was epic, to say the least. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Panga Drops from Mark and Dave’s pool in Nicaragua. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Panga Drops from Mark and Dave’s pool in Nicaragua. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$A tropical beach we explored in the Indian Ocean. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

A tropical beach we explored in the Indian Ocean. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Mermaid tail, seashell, I’ve heard it all. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Mermaid tail, seashell, I’ve heard it all. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Pt. Conception lighthouse during a big swell a couple winters ago. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Pt. Conception lighthouse during a big swell a couple winters ago. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$A little grinder during sunset in Santa Barbara, California. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

A little grinder during sunset in Santa Barbara, California. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Before I could afford a water housing, I stood in knee-high water and shot shorebreak for hours. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Before I could afford a water housing, I stood in knee-high water and shot shorebreak for hours. Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Nate Tyler lifting off for Globe’s latest movie “Strange Rumblings in Shangri La.” Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Nate Tyler lifting off for Globe’s latest movie “Strange Rumblings in Shangri La.” Photo: Matt Hoffman

$Stoking out the local kids in Indo with stickers and shirts was the least I could do to say thank you for letting us surf their waves. Photo: <a href=\"https://mhoffmanphotography.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Hoffman</a>$

Stoking out the local kids in Indo with stickers and shirts was the least I could do to say thank you for letting us surf their waves. Photo: Matt Hoffman

I’m a self-taught photographer from Los Angeles, California, and have been lucky to travel to some amazing surf destinations. When I’m not surfing, I’m shooting. Nothing gets me more stoked than capturing an empty lineup.

See more of Matt’s work at mhoffmanphotography.com and on Instagram @rockoutthehoff.

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