“A book of fantastical images that make you feel as if you are in the tumult of the raging ocean." — The New York Times

"One of the most striking surf projects we've seen in a long while."‍ ‍— Outside Magazine

"A visually mesmerizing poetic triumph that can hypnotize its reader as easily as the ocean shifts sand." — Surfline

“The writing is a revelation…chapter after chapter Bickford proves himself a master wordsmith of many hats,"

“The images in Chris Bickford’s book Legends of the Sandbar are black and white, but his world is anything but monochromatic…Some of the photographs seem to leap from the page, the people and settings crisp and precise; other images have a life of their own, muted shadows and blurred figures suggesting a world just beyond our reach.” — Carolina Designs

Legends of the Sandbar: A Life of Surf on the Outer Banks by Christopher Bickford is a critically-acclaimed cinematic photographic exploration of the tight-knit surfing community inhabiting the isolated barrier islands of North Carolina. Far removed from the glossy, sun-drenched cliches of typical surf culture, this 264-page duotone collection functions as a visual poem, part historical record, and part personal memoir.

Through moody landscapes and raw, dynamic action photography, Bickford captures the visceral relationship between the local surfers and the volatile, constantly shifting sandbars that shape their waves. The book documents a culture defined by harsh winter swells, coastal storms, and a fierce spirit of independence, providing an intimate, striking portrait of a community living on the literal edge of the Atlantic.

The result of an 8-year personal project, the Legends was published by Burn Books and was printed at Editoriale Bortolazzi-Stei in Verona, Italy, on Scheufelen’s Phoenix Motion Xantur paper, a high-quality stock that highlights the three-dimensionality of the images.

At the time of this update, there are less than 50 copies left. Each remaining copy will be delivered signed by the author. This book is a must have for lovers of the Outer Banks, surfing aficionados, and collectors of high-quality photography books.