Photo courtesy Surfer, Ellis

Each year Surfer Magazine saves their very best images from their very best photographers for their big Photo Annual issue. As you could expect from the remote and wild locations where these images were born, the stories from behind the lens are every bit as captivating as the photos themselves.

Case in point: Surfer photo editor Grant Ellis recently talked about a trip to Spain with surfer Kepa Acero that turned into a last minute mission to Ireland, where he would end up stumbling upon a left slab that found its way on the cover of the photo annual.

Read the rest here.

Surfer has more stories from behind the lens. Check out Todd Glaser in Mexico here, Zak Noyle in Indonesia here, and Chris Burkard in Norway here.