“That moment when everything aligns and you’re in the perfect place to capture it—the light, the energy, the water. I just get so excited, to translate how much I love the ocean into a picture, to share that magic with other people.” This is Christa Funk, former Coast Guard Officer, lifelong swimmer, and badass water photographer. After graduating from Coast Guard Academy, Christa was stationed in Hawaii, living on a boat, trying to decide between two career paths: marine science, or photojournalism. “Then one day on a whim I swam out to Pipeline with my camera. It was a small day, maybe four feet, but the moment I saw a barrel I got full body chills. I said to myself, this is it, this is what I have to do.” She started reading surf magazines religiously, studying the photos, the angles. She learned how to get rolled around in the waves, how to wipe out with a camera in her hand. She was so determined, but when opportunities started popping up, she felt a wave of doubt. “I had intense imposter syndrome. Right away I was shooting these amazing people, divers and surfers doing such phenomenal things, and I was like what the hell are they doing with me? I couldn’t hold my breath that long and I didn’t have the best equipment—I was just in my head about everything. But imposter syndrome never serves you. I had to say to myself, you’re here, you can do this, just go for it and see what happens. And it worked out.” Now Christa shoots some of the best waves in the world, and she remains a dedicated student. All the amazing things she loved about marine biology in school, she gets to swim alongside them, still humbled to remember the great power of the ocean. “It can get really dangerous out there, and this work is a marathon not a sprint. You have to learn to trust your gut about the conditions, learn to keep the ego in check—sometimes you simply shouldn’t swim out, you can’t be afraid to say no, and you’re not less of a person if you do. I try to be patient, to be generous with myself so I can keep doing this for the rest of my life. I love it so much, and I feel like I’m just starting to scratch the surface.” #playthelonggame