RIP LeRoy Grannis (1917-2011)

One of the masters of surf photography; LeRoy "Granny" Grannis has passed away at the age of 93. LeRoy is famous for his iconic photos from the golden age of surfing in the 1960s, both for his pioneering water angle shots and his photos of the wider surf culture of California and Hawaii. He will be fondly remembered…

We found this quote on the Surfer’s Journal website by fellow surf photographer Steve Wilkings, which we thought was really nice…

Personally I’ve never called LeRoy Grannis anything other than LeRoy. It’s not that I didn’t like him being called Granny, but I always felt an especially close bond with him during the almost 50 years of our friendship. LeRoy was my mentor, and when it came to taking photos of surfing, he shared his vast knowledge freely and without expecting anything in return. I’ve never known a kinder, gentler man. Like so many "artists" LeRoy had a passion for his work, and the surfing world is richer today because of his dedication and passion. LeRoy has left behind a treasure trove of surfing images for which each and every one of us should be thankful.

Steve Wilkings

Further reading and photos…

- Los Angeles Times – Story
- Los Angeles Times – Photos
- Article on the Surfer’s Journal
- Photos available at the M+B gallery in LA, California
- See some of his photos on Google images
- "Aloha Leroy Grannis" on Easy Reader News

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