The 100-mile stretch of Georgia coast – reaching from the town of Tybee Island in the north to the uninhabited beaches of Cumberland Island in the south – is more pristine than any comparable stretch of coastline on the east coast. The inaccessible, wild, and primeval barrier islands, known as the Coastal Empire, line the murky waters of the Atlantic. Rivers flowing from Appalachia create a unique and complex ecosystem of marshes, palmettos, and sand junipers. Consistent surf happens rarely, yet the culture thrives in the humid southeastern atmosphere.

Should’a Been Here Yesterday isn’t a book about the quality of surf; you won’t find world-class waves here. It’s not a history book of surfing in Georgia either (although people have been surfing these islands since the 60’s). The goal of this project is to document the feeling of surf on the Georgia coast – the feeling of swallows gliding through coastal dunes on a hazy morning, thick rain from a warm afternoon storm, or a beer on the beach in the red fire dusk after a day spent in the water – there’s still adventure and mystery in the deep oak hollers, draped in Spanish moss and ferns. It’s a feeling of freedom and interconnectedness with the natural world – like an old dream or a vision of surf in California before the population and pollution bloomed. The secret to surfing the Georgia coast is like zen – don’t think. Just dance along to the rhythm