Why you need to follow California-based surfer Mr Matt Bauer.

There are many things the MR PORTER team loves about living in London. The weather, however, is not one of them – nor, unsurprisingly, is the dearth of decent nearby beaches. Yes, the closest we get to swimming in the ocean here is being engulfed by one of our fair capital’s trademark torrential downpours, and though we get the pleasure of riding the Central line every day, it’s not quite the same as riding the crest of a wave on a glittering stretch of Californian coastline, is it? That’s why this week, especially now that the weather is slowly beginning to get a bit better, the Instagrammer we recommend following is surfer @mattcbauer, whose carefully curated feed allows you to follow him on his awe-inspiring travels – and is currently giving us a virtual dose of vitamin sea.

**[@mattcbauer

](http://instagram.com/mattcbauer)**

WHO?

East Coast-raised Mr Matt Bauer has had a camera in his hand for as long as he can remember. Passionate about capturing memories and telling stories, he now resides in Venice, California, and is the co-founder of ROSEWOOD Creative.

WHY

“As with many groms [grommet: a young surfer], I started body-surfing and boogie boarding at a young age, getting thrashed in the shore break. I fell in love and got my first surfboard on my 12th birthday.”

WHAT

Filled with breathtaking photos of the sea, surfing, beaches and landscapes, his Instagram account has more than 85,000 followers. He finds inspiration in “being outdoors and feeling disconnected from it all.” No matter what sort of mood he’s in, “being in the ocean or amongst nature will always make [him] feel connected to what matters

WHEN

Being from the East Coast, he says his favourite time to surf is autumn, because “there’s something extra special about scoring a fall hurricane swell with just your buddies”.

HOW

He uses Lightroom and Photoshop to edit his photos. His favourite hashtag? #followback, naturally. His top photography tip is to “shoot a lot. Experiment and don’t let social media become a measure for success,” he says. The best photos, he continues, are “ones that are never planned or anticipated”.

WHO ELSE?

Mr Bauer recommends following @rosewood.

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