Anytime a swell hit, surf photographer Mike Moir could be found behind his lens, waiting to capture just the right moment.
Moir was himself a stylish surfer dubbed “Iron Mike” in the ’60s and ’70s, before earning a reputation as one of the best surf photographers around. He died Nov. 13 at age 76.
Surfers from across Orange County and beyond have been sharing their memories of Moir, who captured generations of surfers in action and was pivotal in documenting the ’80s-era “Echo Beach” at the West Newport Beach jetties, where surfers pushed boundaries and brought an edgy punk, neon style to the surf culture.
“Mike was so genuinely interested in the progression of surfing, he was always looking for the next thing. He definitely had a foundation and appreciation in the classic surf styles, but he was open to what’s next and who is progressing the sport,” said longtime friend Stefan Jeremias, who co-produced the film “Echo Beach,” which highlighted Moir’s work. “That’s why he got the shot.”
Moir had a unique way of looking at the surf world, taking more of a street-style approach, documenting moments in the water and out.
“He would click the shutter just at the right time to observe and capture the moment. He always had a camera strapped around his neck,” Jeremias said. “He just enjoyed observing life as it passed by and capturing it.”
Moir was one of the pioneers of water photography, and among the best who would get up close to surfers – usually without a wetsuit, no matter how cold the water.
“He would swim out in pretty heavy conditions,” Jeremias recalled.
When Jeremias was developing the “Echo Beach” movie in 2008, Moir was the first person he thought to include in the project.
“He had documented so much of Newport and Huntington surf history and had so much knowledge of the surfers and the scene, he was a real sage resource for us,” Jeremias said.
Moir’s reach went far beyond Orange County –…
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