"BLACKBALL" - Newport Beach, CA

Photographed at The Wedge in Newport Beach, this shot features the lifeguard tower flying the blackball flag — a signal that hardboard surfing is temporarily not allowed. The flag is raised to keep swimmers and bodysurfers safe during crowded conditions, but it's also been the center of long-standing tension between local surfers and city regulations.At The Wedge, where wave conditions can get intense, the blackball isn’t just a flag — it sets the pace for how the lineup forms and who gets to be in the water. This photo captures that daily moment of pause, when the beach is quiet, but the energy is still there — just waiting.