☛ LIFE hosted by Google: “Seen from her back, young woman lying on beach wearing bikini viewing the ocean as in the distance male surfer comes out of the water”, photo by Co Rentmeester, California, U.S.A., April 1970.

Rentmeester is an award-winning American photojournalist born in Amsterdam (Netherlands):

Covering the Watts riots was his first assignment, and he captured some of the most dramatic moments, which earned him early recognition. After joining Life’s staff in 1966, he spent the next three years in Asia, primarily in Vietnam covering the war. His photographs of a battle-weary tank crew won the 1967 World Press Photo Grand Prize. A few months later, Rentmeester was wounded by a Vietcong sniper near Saigon.

Since returning to the United States in 1969, he has photographed a vast range of stories for Life and other major magazines, including Sports Illustrated, People, Stern and The New York Times. In 1972, he won the recognition of “Magazine Photographer of the Year” and received the “Best Sports Picture” award from the World Press Photo FOundation. (Official website, Flash is required)

For more vintage photos of American beaches in the 60’s and 70’s see this entry on LiveJournal: “California Surfers” posted on March 18, 2010 (it has some more photos by Rentmeester as well). Alternatively, one can also browse LIFE photo archive for more images by Co Rentmeester.