5 Photos with Erik Knutson of Parallel Sea

Erik Knutson has one of the key elements that goes into being a great photographer: Access. He’s inside the elusive fortress that is John John Florence’s life. It’s Erik’s job to translate all that access into Parallel Sea, a very insider and very well-done IG and YouTube page featuring John and friends doing what they do.

We reached out to Erik to snag 5 quick photos and a caption from his last few weeks in Hawaii (and a bonus trip to Canada).

Be sure to bookmark and follow Erik’s work and John John’s surfing at Parallel Sea YouTube here.

“Smitty was staying right next to my house this winter. I remember walking by and seeing this tattoo minutes after he had gotten it. I got a film photo in my yard. I haven’t developed it yet haha. He was super amped and let me take another the next day with my digital.”

“Kelly was just telling Nate [Florence] and I how good this winter was — how he hadn’t seen a winter like this since ‘93, I think he said. This set rolled in and it was one of the best of the day. He paddled out and won the final not long after this.”

“Rory Wayne Bushfeild. An absolute classic. Drives a lifted truck with Danny Trejo surrounded by flames and machetes on the hood. I got to meet and camp out with a crew of Canadians this winter. It was nonstop laughs and stories of landing his plane on snow and beaches. Surfing and skiing all over British Columbia with his dog and girlfriend.”

“Passenger side speed blur on our way back to Whistler after my first back country sled experience. A belly full of beers and amazing Indian food.”

“Jon Pyzel and his wondrous creations. I’m sure all was in order, but he wanted to give them one more, potentially last hand shake before they got sent out in 10-foot plus Pipe.”