Groups of girls splashed through the shallows laughing and posing for photos in the waves. Families snapped playful pictures of their kids. Friends, couples and visitors took turns capturing selfies against the ocean horizon or framed by the towering city skyline. People in turbans, beachwear, streetwear and smiles. A street photographers dream. Perfection for everyone else .

On the edge of the beach, a photography school was using the setting sun to practice rim lighting – a technique that uses the low sun to create a glowing halo effect. People passing by thought the student models were famous film stars on the rise.

Surfers Paradise always delivers a dynamic mix of nature, architecture and a sea of humanity. With the Pacific Ocean to the east, a forest of skyscrapers to the west, exotic tropical greenery and people from all over the world – every snapshot tells a story. Stories bathed in sunlight.