Larry Haynes
Water cinematographer and filmmaker. Creator of the Fluid Combustion series and a North Shore fixture for more than three decades.
Always in the impact zone
Larry Haynes was born on July 2, 1961, and grew up surfing on California’s Central Coast, where he first fell for the ocean and photography. After high school he moved to Hawaii, settled on Oahu’s North Shore and spent more than three decades documenting the surfing world.
He started making films in the late 1980s and went on to create the Fluid Combustion series, packed with high-performance surfing from the best surfers in the world, water angles nobody else was getting, and big soundtracks. He ran his own production company, Fluid Vision Productions.
Larry was filming from the water long before GoPros existed, swimming heavy water-housed movie cameras into the biggest swells, and building his own helmet, Jet Ski and board camera rigs. His lens took him to Pipeline, Backdoor, Off the Wall, Waimea Bay and Jaws, and beyond Hawaii to Maverick’s and Teahupoo.
Hollywood came calling too. He was a cinematographer on Chasing Mavericks (2012), and he appears in Fiberglass and Megapixels (2010), the award-winning documentary by Derek and Craig Hoffmann. In 2019 he received an Emmy as a cinematographer on HBO’s Kelly Slater special. Over his last decade he was part of the WSL’s camera crews, and just weeks before he passed he was in the water at Waimea Bay filming the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.
On February 9, 2023, Larry filmed his final wave on a stand-up paddle session at Laniakea, then collapsed from a suspected heart attack minutes later. Friends gathered for his paddle out at Sunset Beach on February 26. He is remembered as a friend, father and mentor, with a huge smile and stoke for everyone he met.
Larry Haynes films
The Fluid Combustion series and more, restored and streaming on Nalu TV.
▶ Watch
Fluid Combustion
From $4.00
▶ Watch
Fluid Combustion 2 "Mana"
From $4.00
▶ Watch
Fluid Combustion 3 "Live it"
From $4.00
▶ Watch
Fluid Combustion 4 "It's All Good"
From $4.00
▶ Watch
Fluid Combustion 2K "Pits in Paradise"
From $4.00
▶ Watch
The Essence of Surfing
Free to watch
▶ Watch
Kauai Boys On The Edge
Free to watchGet all of Larry’s films in one bundle. Every film in the collection, streaming together, from $35.00.
See the bundle deal
Preserve the Larry Haynes Archives
Larry spent more than thirty years filming from the water, and his tapes and analog masters hold three decades of surf history. At his brother Rick’s request, the Nalu Film Foundation is looking after Larry’s archive: preserving his tapes and analog masters, and keeping his films restored and streaming.
Your donation helps us preserve the rest of his collection, so his work keeps inspiring surfers and filmmakers.
Every dollar counts and goes toward preserving Larry’s archive.
Support the archiveSend this page to friends and family, or post it on social media.
Use Larry’s footage in your film or project through the Nalu Vault.
License footageMahalo for helping keep Larry’s legacy alive.
Remembering Larry
A look back at his life and work, tributes from the WSL and Hawaii News Now, and the last wave he ever filmed.
Larry Haynes, 1961–2023Nalu TV
A night for Larry
We held a tribute for our dear friend Larry on opening night of the Honolulu Surf Film Festival. Mahalo to everyone who came out and packed the house to honor him.
What people said about Larry
“It’s hard to imagine a surfing world without Larry in it, always screaming us into waves and throwing good vibes.”
Kelly Slater“He is the GOAT of water cinematography!”
Kai Lenny“Larry was larger than life, the hardest working man in the business and yet always with his huge smile and infectious laughter.”
Jim RussiPhotographer“Larry never missed a moment. He was an anchor, in the literal sense while he was getting the shot in large surf and in the metaphorical sense that when you swam alongside him you felt the comfort of a guide, a friend, and a hero to help you navigate the chaos.”
Matt PaulPhotographer“One of the greatest surf cinematographers to ever do it. He’d suit up like an action figure and outlast everyone, he was invincible out there.”
Brent BielmannPhotographer“To me, Larry is a precious character in the surf world and a living legend. The guy is a human bulldog.”
Rob GilleyPhotographer, writing in SURFER“Larry was every bit of who he was right to the end.”
Tim BonythonCinematographer“If you know Larry, then you know he was as strong and as real as they come. Loved by all.”
David Elecciri Jr.Steel Pulse“He constantly set the standard for hard work, fearless positioning and an unshakable attitude.”
John BilderbackNorth Shore photographer“Extremely sad to lose one of surfing’s greatest water cinematographers, legend in and out of the water.”
Nathan Fletcher“He had such a good heart and was always filled with positive vibrations.”
Brian BielmannPhotographer“Larry was also a creative visionary who not only imagined what was possible, but actualized his vision in ways that basically revolutionized water cinematography.”
Richard Anton St. OngeNorth Shore writer“Larry was renowned for his kindness and stoke with everyone he encountered, whether they were multi-time world champions, or interns doing their first day on the job.”
World Surf LeagueIn the press
Legendary filmmaker, North Shore pillar, and beloved water cinematographer.Read more →
Considered to be the premier ocean cinematographer.Read more →
Haynes was a fixture on the North Shore, and worldwide, and his loss was deeply saddening.Read more →
On land he was the friendliest wave fiend you ever met.Read more →
Haynes built an impressive portfolio over 30 years, including work for Chasing Mavericks and Fluid Combustion.Read more →
This beautiful man with the extravagant, well-used smile.Read more →
Larry filmed and produced the Fluid Combustion series and worked with all the major surf brands and surfers over many decades.Read more →
What he saw on Larry’s face was something we all can relate to: the pure joy of a stellar ride.Read more →
Surf community mourns pioneering cinematographer.Read more →
Watch Larry’s films on Nalu TV, and help the Nalu Film Foundation preserve his archive.