Behind the Shot
In Hawaiian culture, when someone dies, memorials called paddle-outs are commonly held to celebrate the life of the deceased. After the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, a three-day paddle-out was held in his honor in Honolulu.
This shot was taken at sunset on the first day. It shows people on boards in an unbreakable circle in the water—a symbol of unity against racial injustice and in honor of George Floyd’s life. “It was incredible to see people coming together with a unified voice to drive change,” says photographer Connor Trimble.