Photographing the Lake Hopatcong WakeOff

This summer, I photographed the Lake Hopatcong WakeOff for Lake Hopatcong News, documenting an event that has become a tradition on the lake.

Now in its 19th year, the WakeOff brings together riders and spectators from around Lake Hopatcong, along with competitors traveling from as far away as Florida, Canada, and France.

There is plenty of action to photograph. Riders move quickly across the water, launching into tricks with only a brief window to catch the right moment. But the WakeOff is also very much a community event. Between runs, there are families watching from boats and along the shoreline, competitors supporting one another, and all the small moments that give the day its character.

That mix is what I enjoy photographing most: the big moments that immediately grab your attention, along with the quieter details that help tell the full story of an event.

The photographs were originally created for the WakeOff feature in Lake Hopatcong News. Here are some more images from the day.