Daily Image - March - Mike van Heerden

Welcome to March! I'm at the beach early most mornings and often get skunked as far as the waves go but Durban has so much natural beauty, like our sunrises. And I'm such a sucker for sunrise - it's the best part of every day.

Occasionally us togs get the opportunity to travel to exotic places with clean, warm water, islands and palm trees - the quintessential surf mecca. This is from one of those trips.

Jordan Michael Smith getting comfortable in the barrels of the break he grew up in.

Small clean barrels and island foliage - this was one of those days that is deeply etched in the memory banks. A 3 hour surf followed by a 4 hour shoot from the water. It just doesn't get any better.

As a photographer, it has always been one of my goals to shoot the average Joe. After all, everyone wants at least one decent image of themselves surfing? Bruce Collingwood was a grom the first time I shot him and every time I see him in the water, he just gets better and better!!

Probably one of the most committed surfers you'll come across. Whether it's heaving Teahupoo or Snake Park shorebreak, Travis Logie always gives 100%. His body language and expression here show it all.

With all the surf that Durban gets, it's not surprising to see both ends of the rainbow over the city. We got both pots of gold!

Anybody who has surfed here will recognise the view

When the cyclone season hits Durban, you can be sure that Twig will pop out of the woodwork and be paddling into some bombs

I love sunrise and it's special when someone like Davey Weare puts on a show in the early stage light

The crowds of Bali - rather stay at home and search our coastline

The beachfront skyline in the early hours

The Alaia has received mixed reaction from the surf fraternity but there's a certain allure in going back to the roots of surfing. The easy glide demonstrated well here by Mikey February

The iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium can be seen from almost anywhere in the city and the New Pier lineup is no exception

The mention of sharks sends a chill up most ocean lover's spines. But it is absolutely breathtaking to experience them in their environment while free diving

Shane "The Enforcer" Thorne has not been seen in KZN waters much lately. His powerful surfing style has always been a standout, especially on the South Coast

If you thought an Alaia was tricky to master, then imagine trying to surf a table. Mikey Venter blew us away with his ability to master some strange water craft

Every surfers dream!

When Jordy is in the water, every Grom in area wants a piece of him

The earth is round!

Pro vs Kook - I have no idea how Travis never impaled this guy on his fins

Toast about to get a slap in the face from a wayward piece of this New Pier lip

The beloved Durban piers from an aerial perspective. I still have to get up there when the surf is cranking - it's on the bucket list

I just love the board and body position of this shot of Jason - it's made a great ad for Gotcha

The barrels are always heavier on the South Coast. Jacko sampling some of the juice

While in the Mentawai islands, I wanted a shot from the beach with a boat in the background. So I swam in with my gear in a Pelican case, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, and finally Richard Edy obliged with a turn in front of our boat, Kaimana. Mission accomplished!

More of an artwork than anything, I enjoyed this shot of Burn just as the close out was getting ugly. Gotta love the textures and colours

Even when the onshore blows , we can still find something to ride at the Wave House. Amazingly, through these body contortions, he pulled this off.

Mind surf this....

Jacko freeing his fins between the piers

And to sign off the month of March, a little bit of foam dancing in the early morning sun