Photoventura

Flo Jung reports from behind the scenes as the Gunsails team explore Fuerteventura during their annual photo shoot and gives us a mini guide to some of its main windsurfing.

- Flo Jung

Windsurfing photo shoots would be a simple task if they didn’t depend on the weather. Wind, waves, sun, and perfect watercolors are the requirements and if one of these is missing, it becomes difficult to create an inspiring image. Maui is the popular destination for a large number of brand shoots because it delivers all of the above variables most of the time. But it isn’t exactly around the corner from Europe and traveling with an entire product range, which often weighs more than 400 kg, can be a hassle.

My sponsors, Gunsails, have adopted a slightly different strategy in recent years for their photo shoots. With a small but efficient team of 4-5 people, we can be flexible on location and timing with more of a ‘hit and run’ type approach to guarantee success. We have visited locations like Tarifa, Mauritius, and South Africa in the last 3 years to create a fresh look with different perspectives. Of course, it doesn’t always go to plan. For example, last year in South Africa we urgently needed pictures of an onshore wave sail and it was the day before our departure. The conditions were anything but inviting. Mast high waves with light onshore winds and a strong current. After a wipeout, where I lost my gear, I noticed a strange film on the water. On closer inspection, I saw a dead whale close to the rocks and attracting the attention of some great white sharks. This kind of experiences lead to improved swimming skills but also show the risks of trying to always get the shot!

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE