In the unlikely event a Burleigh Heads art gallery had been sucked up by the tractor beam of a UFO this week, the crme de la crme of world surf photographers would have been gone forever.

Fortunately, this terrifying UFO scenario never eventuated, and talented young shooter Shelli Bankier's Blue Sphere Gallery was the scene of a giant party instead, a room crammed full of absolute photographic luminaries.

The "Masters & Apprentice" exhibition was an homage to the work of her mentors; Ted Grambeau, Joli, Lee Pegus, Dan Merkel, Hilton Dawe, and Andrew Shield. (Plus special guest star appearances from Sylvain Cazenave, Tom Servais and Dick Hoole.)

Despite fierce competition for images on the beach, they're a tight knit bunch and even tighter when you throw in some red wine and "surprise punch". The only fierce competition of the evening ensued from collectors and the buying public.