Eastern Chills

While it has been great chasing western storms the last month, this week started with soaking up some fun eastern swell.  It wasn't a photo trip, it was a surf trip. A good old fashioned east coast chase with my good mate and former flatty Will Bailey.

This is not a photo of the waves, it's a shoot of the Rip Curl 4/3 Flashbomb... damn I love that wetsuit's fleecey warmness.

Probably a lot better than the text alludes

Lipper to the head

Pretty backwash light play

Will is also a photographer, he did a casual internship while I was the Editor at NZ Surf Mag. This led to him getting a cover of Sam Willis. Will became the mag's swim-wear photographer, which sounds way more glamorous than it was. 

Will is one of Auckland's pre-eminent fashion and advertising photographers. Check out his website.  

The 'I'm smiling with my mouth but I'm really saying f&ck off don't point that thing at me' look- aye Will! 

What do photographers talk about on surf trips? The Kelvin scale and tweaked camera profiles, pixel pitch or emulsion ....nah... surf! Surfboards, the WSL, dream surf trips of the future, funny skunkings of the past. 

We didn't score the most epically epic waves of all time. In a funny way I enjoy that. When the job was to be at the epicentre of a swell's focus I felt the pressure. The old, 'orrrr maaate; where were ya' used to burn. Sometimes it still does. But now I'd rather just find a good bank and get a couple of sessions in. 

That's what we did, caught lots of waves, laughed, soaked up the rays and had fun.

From The Galleries

It's all about the East this post huh! This day was most definitely about being at the epicentre of the swell's focus....sooo good. 

Just click on the image to see it bigger and of course purchasing options

So Close

There's a photographic theory that great days don't make for great landscapes. It's the stormy days that yield the drama. It is those marginal moments of a sunburst through a laden sky. I'm a fan of this theory, and I find myself more and more amping for weather drama. Thick clouds, but broken up, windy but not quite gale force. It's the direct opposite of what you hope for on a surf trip. 

I'm sure it was way more stormy than this shot shows! Waiting for some sun pop on the Lion.

There has been some storm chasing going on the last few weeks. Sitting out rain fronts, layering up and keeping warm and dry out in the elements. It's fun; as long as you don't spring a leak or there's a layer system failure. 

What- Film!!! And an actual lightbox. The exposure was good, but the lens choice/composition wasn't quite right. Reset and wait for the next stormy day. 

That's better. And a pop of sun on Lion Rock- well worth the revisit a week later. How rad is the rip on the north side of the Lion.

Surf wise this week was all about being close, but just not quite. South easterlies act more like a cross shore than a clean off shore breeze on the Auckland West coast. Rather than grooming the swell, it cuts it up and makes the sets ropey. And it has been cold! Not freeze the water in your plumbing cold, but you sure ain't wearing boardies! 

The hardy and hungry have jumped on the first glimpse of 'clean' waves in weeks though. It hasn't been great, but at least there have been waves.

Surf amped as ever, Ratso has been out everyday this week. He departs for Tahiti this weekend to join the WSL in his role as priority judge.

Former BFM DJ Jon Davis... not bad for a 50+ club member

Liam Joyce wisely opting for the cleaner insiders

Happy to be back in the water

Winter and quiet walks along the beach

Steve Walker on his self shaped rocket

Tony Walsh dealing with being back after a tropical trip

Spot the Beanbag! 

Beanbag and Steve stoking

From The Galleries

Captured during a huge swell and dodging rain squalls was all worth the fun to create a dramatic panoramic like this. And judges liked it too;  it was an Epson International Pano award winner in 2013.

Just click on the image to see it bigger and of course purchasing options

Not All About Me; Take 3

It is a theme I’ve harped on about before and it is one I’ll probably repeat again. I’m convinced that it is vital to share your knowledge and help people starting out on a journey you’re already along a bit.

Whether it is sharing your surfing knowledge, even where to paddle out, or something as mundane as how to wax a board. Photography is the same; great photographers mentored me when I started 25 years ago, so I totally adhere to the ethos of giving back.

Rachy co-piloting in Va'Vau Tonga. Photo Magenta Hyde

My friend Rachel Stewart has become quite the Instagram sensation with her drop dead gorgeous New Zealand Landscapes. She has a staggering 54,000 followers. Deservedly so, she has a great eye, she has embraced the Instagram community; hash tagging like a demon and going to Instagram meets. Rachel is a successful case study in how a social media platform can actually perform. If of course the talent is there to start with.

I have to add this disclaimer before going forward, I had no idea I had influenced her to the extent she mentions. In the first draft of the interview I edited out her references, but then the answers made little sense, so the flattery stays in... although I’m incredibly not comfortable with it. 

Rach and her signature hat at Tawarewa

Say hello to Papamoa’s surfing mother of three, the humble Ms Rachel Stewart.

When we did the Tonga trip in 2010 you weren't taking photos. What was the inspiration/ motivation to start getting into photography?
 
I had always had an interest in photography, but had never really pursued it. At the time of our (AMAZING) Tonga trip, my two great loves were travelling and surfing! But I do remember that trip having quite an impact on me. I watched two talented individuals, yourself and our great mate Magenta (my bestie) combining their two great loves. For you it was surfing and photography, for her it was whales and photography. That really stuck with me.
It wasn’t until a few years later when I started taking a few sunset snaps when walking along the beach that I realised that I quite liked capturing moments that meant something to me.

Owharoa Falls selfie and that hat!

You have eluded in the past to having goals with Instagram. Could you explain your original plan?
 
Well, no word of a lie, I joined Instagram to follow you! You had put a facebook message out to say you were starting an Instagram account, I had no idea what that was, but joined anyway to follow your photography, which has always inspired me.
Then about a year later I started uploading my own little grams. I had no idea that it would turn into a full blown passion, and end up being a way for me to make a living.
When I realized that I was starting to gain exposure and more followers, I set out to make the most of every opportunity I had to take photos, better my art, continue my passion. That was my main plan, but I also wondered if I could somehow turn this into a way of living. Along the way I have had some great opportunities, met some amazing people, and been inspired to carry on with the journey. I’m thankful for all those good things that have happened to me.

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound...are you kidding me! Race's posts like this average 8,000+ likes

That plan has evolved as the Instagram community has of course; so now you're sitting at over 54000 followers, has this opened doors for photographic work?
 
Two years ago I couldn’t have imagined having over 54k followers on the gram, it even sounds crazy to me saying it out loud.
It has definitely helped my name gain exposure, and I have had quite a few photographic opportunities come my way because of it. I would have to say my proudest moment is being sponsored by Lee Filters, that really was a dream come true.
My photos have been used by Pure NZ in publications overseas and quite a few other tourism branches throughout the country. I’m really happy that companies seem to like the way I capture our amazing country.

Lake Matheson photo Rachel Stewart

Your photography is beautiful, you've done a lot of long exposure work; is this still your favourite style of landscape shooting?
 
Long exposure is still my favourite type of photography, and it was after seeing photos from yourself, Sarah Hatton (iso100photography) and Crystal Hutchinson (midnight_photography) that I really wanted to try it for myself.
Recently I have really been enjoying incorporating a human element into my photos, and sometimes that doesn’t require getting the filters out. A scene can often look just as beautiful without using the long exposure technique, and I’m really enjoying exploring that style of photography a bit more.

Pure cloud porn; Mount Cook Road. Photo Rachel Stewart

The average weekday for Rachy?
 
Looking after my beautiful young family
Coffee
Working part time in my ‘real’ job haha
Coffee
Running my photography business
Coffee
Taking photos
Coffee
Editing photos
Coffee
Spending time with the amazing people in my life
Walking, hiking, being outdoors
 
The photoshoot day for Rachy?

Trying not to forget anything!
Depending on where I’m going, I try to do a bit of research on what the place looks like, what angles are available.
Checking weather, clouds, sun times, wind, driving and hiking duration.
Assessing the scene once there, including the above factors.
Assessing the different compositions I’m going to shoot once the light starts to get better.
Choosing what filters to use.
Taking photos
Of course other times (and so many times) getting taken by surprise and just scrambling to get to a good spot and use the right settings to get a photo!

For the budding grammers what's the four best tips you'd give someone wanting to have a great Gram account?

Try and find your style, and keep some consistency with it. I am absolutely all for trying new things, but try and stick to something that makes your shots signature to you. 

Engage with your audience. You don't have to tell them about your personal life, but let them know you appreciate their support and give them the odd insight into who you are 😊

Follow people who inspire you and want to make you a better photographer. 

Don't forget to upload shots that mean something to you and ones that you like. Sometimes they may not be the best ones, but you gotta remember it's your life and your gram account 😊

Follow Rachel's fine work on Instagram HERE

Check out her website HERE

From The Galleries

It's all about the long exposures this post huh! This is not a Rachy one, it's a CPL from the May South Island Roady. Shot on the 617 pano. It missed the cut for the next book...kind of think we may have had a shocker not featuring it!!! 

Just click on the image to see it bigger and of course purchasing options

Mini Mission: Te Henga

Bethells Beach/Te Henga is special place for the Levers' clan. In the late 1950's my parents and Auntie owned the Swanson IGA grocery. This was pre supermarkets in New Zealand and the IGA franchise of small owner run groceries were large in every community. The Swanson IGA serviced families right out to the coast. The extended Bethells' families being one of their largest accounts. The weekly supply orders would be rung in, Auntie Audrey and Mum would box them up and then Dad would deliver them in the trusty [actually from all accounts not that trusty] Hillman Husky van.

Te Henga late 1950's- Photo Audrey Levers

Auntie, Dad and Mum have always spoken fondly on those times; being a part of the local Santa Parades, the community spirit around the store. Long days sun basting on the black sand [Dad loved having a good tan] By the mid '60's the writing was on the wall for small community groceries- Supermarkets were opening up and squeezing the margins, the Levers sold out of Swanson. 

Aunite Audrey's shot of Bethells from 1959 that was used for the cover of the book Beached As Then and Now

The oldies and Auntie keep in touch with a lot of their friends from the Swanson years, as kids we were always dragged along for Sunday afternoon visits out west. Mum and I still go out to Swanson for lunches. The village is now a suburb in Auckland's sprawl, but Mum points out Calverts Butchers and Yozins every time. 

Bethells Beach was always going to feature large in Beached As 2 because of that, but then the Whitcoulls buyer suggested 'That shot with the old cars' should be the cover. It was a last minute change, and I'm glad we did it. 

The first beach spread in the book... kind of had to be aye! 

Over the last few weeks there has been a real itch to get out to Te Henga. There have been a couple of false starts. The gear loaded in the wagon and then at the last minute a swerve left back home to Piha. Landscape photos are as much as anything else weather photos. The way the light falls on the land; you are chasing extraordinary light. Marginal conditions create that light, those fleeting moments of a burst of sun through storm clouds... holy crap I'm getting a bit lyrical here... what I really mean is setting up the cameras in some bloody dodgey winter weather hoping for a bit of sun to pop through. 

It all came together on Monday arvo- windy...but not too windy, raining...but a real chance of fine spells. Here's what happened; 

You wouldn't even know the camera bag was drenched 2 minutes before. This is the 617 film camera set up to test a new Linhof lens, lens is good! The actual image- too stock standard. 

This is more like it! Clouds racing so a cheeky 4 minute long exposure creates that movement in the sky.

The tsunami sirens are gone and the sand is over a metre higher; another 4 minute exposure

Just after the sun has set for that clean, sombre, contrasty mood. 

Young Blood

It was a simple enough email. A student from the Raglan Surf Academy was asking if I would share his video clip on the GoSurf website. No biggy, in fact as the new Editor-slash-content chaser, it was what I wanted.  The clip wasn't great, a bit shakey, a bit grey.  Just shot around the Surf Academy surf sessions. But it was local Kiwi content. 

A week later and there's another email from another Raglan Surf Academy surfer about their new clip. Ahhh me old mate Larry [Fisher] has got the kids onto media wrangling eh! Sure enough, same camera opp, same surf sessions just the cut of a different surfer. 

There was a series of these clips posted on GoSurf. They helped grow the site's popularity. It was grass-roots stuff. Every clip was shot a bit better, edited a bit tighter and had more personality. Billy Lee Pope, a Surf Academy student himself was the grommet on lens and edit duties. 

Billy on point at his local

GoSurf took Billy on as an intern. The Raglan born'n'bred grommie moved up to his grandparent's place in Auckland for the weekdays. Tasked to do the day to day office crap that had no application for what he wanted to do. But in amongst it we got him out on shoots and he did gain an insight to some of the surf industry.  

GoSurf was gaining popularity and cred in the surf community. And then it evaporated, the owner changed tact, we were all left high and dry.

Billy took it hard, he had been so stoked to work in a growing media entity. He worried about his own reputation within the surf industry [as did we all].  Would we be tarred with the same brush as the decision maker? 

He need not have. The cream always rises to the top. In the past few years Billy has plugged away at his craft. He has gone on to study media at Waikato Uni all the while keeping up a solid output of video content. 

Billy and his good mate Arden at the finale of the Aotearoa Surf Film Fest 2016 

His entry 'Little Things' in the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival 2016 came second. Underscored judges, underscored!! It showcased Billy's evolution as a camera opp/director/editor.

And then last week he dropped 'Old Toast' - the highlight reel of his first trip in Indo this year with Billy Stairmand and Tim O'Connor.  Every surf site world wide has picked it up, 20K views so far on Billy's Vimeo account...but a staggering 60K+ on the SURFER Fb page- it's a huge thing, here's a bunch of Kiwis running with the big boys. 

No better time to grill the ex intern/dish bitch right? Here's Billy: 

Was the Raglan Surf Academy where you started getting into filming? 

No it wasn’t. I used to skate heaps with my friends when I was pretty young. I got a hand me down digital camera which could also record video. The quality was terrible, but that didn’t matter to us, I made a few cringe worthy skate clips that I hope no one ever digs up haha! From there I continued my interest in film, taking it as a subject in High School.  Then I attended the Surf Academy which really grew my passion for surfing and film-making/photography and kinda molded it as one.

Because of the clips, we got you interning at GoSurf, what were the highlights of that? 

Yeah straight after High School I was swooped into the big smoke as a nervous, nail biting 18 year old to Intern at GoSurf. Looking back It was pretty cool being to hang out observe and pick the brains of guys like Jake Munro & Scotty Sinton who are both super talented Filmmakers/Photographers. I never realized it at the time but it was also a good opportunity to have glimpse of the NZ surf industry & make contacts with some smart guys who I still stay in touch with today, haha CPL was one of those guys. 

A highlight that inspired me a lot at the time was hanging out with CPL and shooting Taylor Knox when he was in town for the Rip Curl Pro. Seeing content being created by Jerry Aubertin, Rambo of DGZ & Cory Scott of NZSM before it was in the next magazine, that got my mind ticking. 

Taylor Knox during the mentioned sessions at Ruapuke Photos CPL

This year- first Bali mission- and you make a banger of a clip that gets shared on every surf site in the world- you're viral. Are the job opportunities rolling in? What's the Billy L P master plan? 

Yeah the Bali trip was epic! It was a really cool experience, nothing but good people, good vibes, good food, fun waves and the clip has gone down pretty well too! Really stoked Billy and Liana had me on the trip, still frothing on it! 

Haha I haven’t quite got an inbox filled with John John and Jack Freestone emails. I think the main thing is that I’m out there doing it, creating projects that I’m stoked on. I'm still learning heaps too, every 6 months I'll kinda look back at myself as a filmmaker and think; wow I was a full kook! No doubt it will happen to me again 6 months on from now.

I'd love to one day get to a level where I am creating video parts that people anticipate and then freak out on! I don’t really have a master plan. I just want to keep progressing, honing my skills and stay open to all opportunities in and out of surfing.

Check out more of Billy's good work via his Media page on Facebook HERE

The Cedermantaray

Most New Zealand surfers would know the name Luke Cederman. The lofty goofy footer has been a surf media darling since he was a grommet. Regarded for years as being NZ's most underrated surfer, but it's an onerous title.  You're rated by your peers as not achieving the results your ability should yield. 

The Cedermantaray in it's natural habitat, Manu Bay's Ledge section

Luke has always felt the pressure in contests. He hates losing. I've watched him surf contest heats since he was 11. I've seen him self destruct many, many times in a heat. Score a nine, then wait the whole heat out for a wave that will yield another nine. Whereas a cheeky four pointer would get him through. Luke never wanted to just progress to the next round. He wanted to stamp his mark on every heat. All, or nothing. 

Jai Earnshaw and Luke hamming it up 16 years ago on Kuta Beach, both representing NZ for the World Grom Contest

I've often been behind the lens at a contest, muttering; 'for fuck's sake Luke catch that bump and do two wiggles. Wanting him to more ruthless and less honourable; a win is a win, be the mongrel. 
It is not him and it was not anyone's place to fit his octagonal peg into a round hole. 

Luke has always had other stuff going on. Years ago he started an alternative contest press release under the moniker Shadow Doodleman. The moniker is a clever play on Shaydar Elderman, the savant surfer from Kaikoura who gave SNZ their computer system.  The press releases were filled with in-house jokes, acute observations and subtle payouts. They gained a cult following fast.

Luke at Padang Padang, waiting for the fold

Luke got cover shots and video parts in international surf movies. But, if you're not going to, or able to, blindly follow the WQS path... where does that leave you? Luke sat in a no-man's land, it was hard to quantify what he was. Couldn't win a heat, but one of NZ's most exciting surfers to watch- ever. 

One of my all time favourite cover shots, thanks to Luke. It was highly planed; the angle, the conditions and direction of sun. We also used it as a spread in the book PhotoCPL

And then, three years ago, he made NZ's most well known surfing selfie.  Ahead of the pack, at the time innovative and actually, truly viral. On Vimeo it has almost 60,000 views.  It was also picked up by Surfline and Surfer's Path where it got 41,000 additional views. In a strange way it ended up being Luke's surf star swan song. He was NZ's most known surfer, but where next. 

Luke's head would be a strange and wondrous place at the best of times. But could you imagine succeeding in creating that much media attention. The thing your sponsors want. And then what? How do you back that up? Do you even want to be that guy? Could Luke have been the goofy footer tripping to Lakey Peak, Teahupoo and Skeleton Bay to shoot more viral selfies? Definately.
 
Luke swerved instead and ended up in surf-less Grey Lynn. He stopped surfing, he resented surfing- he was burnt out on surfing. It happens, it happens more than you think. You just don't hear about the surfers that fade surfing out. The Temple Of Surf's high priests are hardly going to highlight the faith strayed. It is hard copy to write. 

Grommet Luke tucked in at Bingan

Luke's time away from surfing has been productive. The energy spent on the selfish activity now spent on other creative ventures. Acting, yes, the once shy but cheeky grom from Manu Bay can act. Directing and story telling; the man knows his way around a story-board. Comedy... for god's sake someone give this guy an open mike! Mad Butcher adverts, 48 hour film festival entries and Action Sport show co-hosting. This is not a lad prone to idle hands. 

Over summer Luke started a new side project, The Raglan Surf Report. A series of web clips that have a cult following already. Luke's dry observations and overview of surf and alternative culture hitting a perfect and popular tone.

I'm a fan of my friend Luke. We've shared many great times travelling, surfing, solving the world's problems and making images. Luke would be the first guy to say leave the camera - grab your board bro. But what now, what's the big lug gonna do next; best bet we ask him huh!
 
So Luke, you’ve read that gushing intro, I’m betting bits were at least itchy if not prickly to read, do you think it’s an accurate account of the state of play?

I’ll tell you what, it’s pretty spot on I reckon.
 
Could you elaborate on your thoughts around your own contest surfing?
 
Yeah, I’m no good at them. I’m not really interested in them. Lack the attention span. It was always the thing to do growing up, so I followed suit because that was really the only path to take if you were a surfer with some talent. I could never get my head around them, how you had 20minutes to surf better than 3 other guys. What does that even mean? I want to surf better than everyone all the time, not just in those 20 minutes. Even when I occasionally did well, I’d still think ‘oh cool, but who really gives a shit?’ not to be negative, but really, who gave a shit? I’m competitive, but not in that structured arena. I just don’t get it.

All or nothing paid off sometimes

I know there were people who had expectations of me, to be this successful surfer or whatever it was, to go and compete on the qualifying tour, do this do that, but nup, that’s not me. A Tiger can’t just go and change it’s spots ya know? Or Panther, you know what I mean, the big cat with the spots. Oh yeah, and I lacked any self-confidence which was actually a pretty big hurdle that I never really overcame.
 
Are you still burnt out on the selfish act of surfing or would you jump at the chance for a week at 6 foot Lakeys?

I’d definitely jump at the chance to surf 6 foot Lakeys, are you kidding me?! Haha. I’m not burnt out on surfing, I just don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all, there’s a lot more to life than have everything in your life dictated by what the ocean’s cooking up. Some people are in to that, that’s their way of life and that’s totally cool. I just went through a phase, had some shit times which made me think about things in a different light. These shit times made me realise how much I’d missed out on, in terms of a life outside of the surf bubble, by having this one track mind of surf, surf, surf. Once I found some perspective, I started to enjoy surfing more, and enjoying life more.

Are you surprised people like the Raglan Surf Report so much?

Yeah, I am. I started it with no real intentions, I guess I wanted my mates to get a little chuckle out of it. It’s difficult putting yourself out there though, really difficult. Being self-conscious had previously held me back from getting in to that sorta thing, being in front of a camera, but I got to a point where I was like ‘ah fuck it, I like doing this, I need to do this, I’m doing this’. So I did it.

Do you get people that simply don’t get it, and do you respond to those?

There are people that don’t get it, not too many, but there are some. I almost prefer it if someone doesn’t get it. If someone thinks it’s a real surf report then I’ve nailed it. If I can make someone question the validity of one of my surf reports, then I feel like I’ve done a good job. I occasionally like to challenge people, as you may know haha.
 
 The Mountain Dew show just got axed, what reasons were cited?

Money I guess. I don’t know too much. The world revolves around money so I’m guessing that was the case.
 
What are you and the other Luke going to do about that?

Probably make our own awesome show with pyrotechnics, stunts, thought provoking subject matter, influential interview subjects, lasers and dangerous animals, failing that, maybe run Tuesday night pub quiz’s. We’re doing a show on Burger Fuel Radio at the moment which is a bit of fun, talk a whole bunch of shit. It’s great!

Luke's Bachelor audition tape... clearly TV producers have no idea how cast a hero, I mean, would Luke kick Fleur to the curb...no

From The Galleries

Here's Emerald Fin, it was made a while ago and has been commissioned only a few times. It was part of a surfboard exhibition in 2010. Here's a nice example of it big... bloody average looking easel holding those canvases though ehh.

Just click on the image to see it bigger and of course purchasing options

The Happy Place

Larry Fisher December 1994; Rip Curl used this image as a Double Page Spread, NZ's Ceo Paul Muir citing that the background made it such a Kiwi photo. And for that reason it was also used as one of the opening spreads in the book PhotoCPL.

It has been 22 years since I got my first 'professional' water-housing. I wonder what the CP of 1994 would think of 2016's water world.  It seems every second photographer has a water-housing. It would be easy to sound quite bitter here. Catch cries of the digital shooters not having to deal with only 36 frames on a roll of film. There were no YouTube tutorials of how to swim out with a housing. No surf photog forums in my day- boy!
 
But where does being bitter leave you? Crying into your beer in the corner of the local "back in my day!" That is not the go. 
 
A couple of years ago I was over it. Over swimming out and getting good images that no one wanted. It felt like the magazines didn't want my work. No one was buying water shots off the website. And to add salt to the wound, it's always a conscious trade off; shoot or surf.
 
I went surfing. I needed to go surfing. 

Hamish Divitt looking on to a pitch perfect scene

But then it kicked in again. That feeling you get when you paddle over the shoulder of a wave. A mate gets a sick ride. You see, maybe just for an instant, the most perfect section pitch. And you think; that would have made a great image.

Our National Champ, Billy Stairmand back home from South Africa in time for the off-shores

There was a re-stoking. But also a significant change in why to swim out with the water-housing. There is no thought of getting cover shots anymore; I swim out because it's my happy place. To scare and to challenge one’s self immersed in Mother Ocean's power. There are endorphins flowing strong.

That is more verbose than needed. It is simple; it is fun.

Like surfing, for a few precious moments the world gets washed away and you are in the now. Those moments get stored on the camera's memory card. A good name that, memory card.   

These images are from the last few fun sessions. Challenging water at times, stoke factor: 10.

Expectant father to be any day now, Corky McAlpine

See... happy place... 

Corky handling the pressure drop with ease as always

Bevan 'Napes' Wiig maybe taking that stoke thingy too far?? 

Napes's haaaaappy place for sure! 

Thick and wide, just the way we like it

From The Galleries

It has been a good run of waves, solid waves, moments of perfection. 

Just click on the image to see this image bigger....and buying options of course! 

Rewinding

We are past the shortest day and winter really kicks in now. It's the time of year we all start thinking about a cheeky tropical respite. Even if it is just 10 days- hell 7 days of fun in the sun. 

Over the last week I got reminded about one of the best Indonesian Boat trips I was a part of. In 2000 a boat trip was organised after the World Grom Titles in Kuta. It was a star studded trip, Jay and Holly Quinn, Dan Scott, Matt Scorringe, Bobby Hansen, Ben and Leigh Hawker, Ainsely Gunness, Kylie Milek, Dan Birch, James Coulston and Rowan Smith. It was pretty much the who's who of NZ Junior surfing at the time. 

The team scrambling for the shoulder at Scar Reef 

The boat trip itself was the well trodden route, Nusa Lembogan to Desert Point on to Scars, then Super Suck and finally on to YoYo's. What was exceptional was the swell we scored. 

The 75th Cover of NZ Surfing Magazine, Matt Scorringe. We chose it as the cover because Matt was only 15 at the time and we were trying to draw some weird parallel between Matt's age and the Magazine's vintage- both born in 1985. 
 

Matt on the perfect line. 

The Groms were well and truly challenged, very literally thrown in the deep end. Scar Reef was pretty sizey. 

Micro grub, well in 2000 he was, Dan Scott at Scars

Super Suck is a hard wave to score good. There was no swell forecasting involved in this trip, the boat had been booked for the week months before. We just got damn lucky with the swell. 

Ben Hawker on a smaller one at Super Suck and Ainsely Guness looking on in. How rad are all the booties in these pix!!!! 

Ainsley from the same Indo escape

Rowan Smith contorted.... and the reason for this retrospective rant... 

Jay Quinn, one frame out of a crazy sequence that ran as a double fold out gatefold in the 75th Issue. It was also used in the book PhotoCPL

It was a great trip for photos and probably pretty formative for all of us on it. Of course that was 16 long years ago, most of the groms are married, hell most of the groms have groms now. We are scattered, living our own lives, but still hopefully joined by past good times. 

Here's another old photo I took of Rowan Smith, it was shot one Anzac Day at North Piha and was run as a centre-fold in NZ Surfing Mag. It was a crazy bank that stayed around for months. Rowan was living in Auckland at the time and a part of Keyhole Boardriders and Ratso sponsored him for boards. The Oz-Kiwi had earned a reputation as a cruisey bloke that rips. As mentioned above Ro' is actually the reason for this post. 

Rowan and his boy Jaxon

Rowan has been doing it tough the last 7 weeks. He's been in ICU the whole time, the doctors struggling to figure out what is wrong with him. His Ozzy mates have rallied and created funding page for his young family. It has been unreal to see everyone chipping in for the family. 

The link to the funding page is HERE

If you remember sharing waves and laughs with Rowan, if you remember being stoked on his loose natural style in the Piha line ups... well isn't that worth a couple of bucks for his family? 

Thinking of you Ro' ...bro... get through this mate

From The Book Store

From where all the books started waaaaay back in 2008; what was I thinking! 5 books later and another on the way. Wanna get retrospective about a chunk of NZ Surfing; well.... 

Just click on the image to see more of the book

High Energy

It has been an exciting week out west. There have been moments amongst the mad energy that inspired awe. There have been moments of perfection. 

The swell was on the brink of being too big for our coast. It would have been easy to check it and write it off, too strong, a foot too big, no banks. The eternal balance; the tipping point between too much and not enough.

White Horse, click on the image for purchase options

I was excited to shoot the energy using slow shutter speeds to convey the fluidity and movement. The challenge is, again, a bit of balance; not slow enough and the image looks out of focus- soft, too slow and it's a blurry mess. 

Surf shots are normally shot at around 1/1000th of a second, that freezes just about any movement so everything is crispy and sharp. Most of these images were shot at 1/8th of a second. It was one of those beautiful west coast evenings where everything goes gold and green.

The whole beach was bathed in golden light. 

Green Fury a new addition to the PhotoCPL Waves Gallery, care of Monday evening. If you want to see it bigger just click on the image. Look pretty great on your lounge room wall huh! 

Who would be mad enough or proficient enough to get down the slabbing, frieght-training walls. Dune Kennings and Elliot Paerata-Reid did as did a hardy crew of locals at the other end of the beach. The dead low tides took their toll on fibreglass and egos, but the reward was there. 

EPR evening two

EPR locked in

Elliot and Dune...probably weighing up the high price for the big dividends about now

Never to be seen again

Dune positioned perfectly within the beast ... before it entombs

.... and maybe less than desirable placement

Dune's redemption

Below sea level drainer for Dune

What do you say, too blurred by the slow shutter? [Not a rhetorical question- I'd love to know your thoughts]  

The bones creak, muscles ache and plans are a foot the the next bout of offshores. Thanks Tasman for giving us the goods.  
 

From The Galleries 

Another slow shutter shot; this one is from the other coast, but an equally as exciting day of high energy. 

Just click on the image to see it large

The Big Picture

There has been some big stuff happening in CP land, big orders, exciting orders and challenging commissions. Here are a couple of the latest greatest; 

Two different applications for Piha Layers. The square one, top, was made like this to fit above a fireplace. It's a big piece at 1160mm wide and high. The frame is light toned wood, which is a nice style coming through a bit at the moment.   

The bottom one is the full crop of the original pano, it's at 2000mm [2 metres] wide on canvas, that's the size of a domestic door. Loving the book placements on the shelving too!!! 

Just click on the image to see it bigger

Here is the nicest framing option for a canvas I've seen. This is a 1200mm canvas, stretched on a standard pine frame, the stretched canvas is then recessed into a white box border frame. I have worked with the good people at Factory Frames for the last 8 years, and right here is a reason why. Clever ideas and awesome finishing every time. This one is on the gallery wall at Factory Frames in Apollo Drive, Albany. 

Below is still my favourite version of Piha Bar Barrel, and [spoiler alert] it's on the set of the next TV series 800 Words. This commission is a beast too, 1000mm print on satin archival photo paper, white on white box framing. 

click on the image if yo want to see it in more detail

But here are my favourite commissions from the week! 

YESSSS, it is all about me after all; these are my birthday presents to myself.

Best Ugly Bagel's flagship store in Auckland Central had commissioned Keeler Camp as a 4x2 metre vinyl banner, it stayed in store for 2 years. 

It was well overdue for a swap out, so we did this... 
 

A cunning plan was hatched for the old vinyl. Helen Jowesy from Stash-It Board covers has been specialising in recycling old billboard vinyls for a while now, it seemed like a perfect way to repurpose the Keeler vinyl. It is. The board covers are sturdy [Stash-It covers have always been top notch] and I'm loving that they are locally made, supporting a local surf co like Helen. We used to sell Stash-It board covers in the surf shop I worked at in 1988!
 

Keeler in colour, click on the image to see it better.  

From The Galleries 

Here's a modern classic; a rare resin tinted, custom Dunlop Mal. It was shot on the 4x5 camera using FujI Instant film and then ran through the negative reclamation process. Sadly Fuji have discontinued this film stock so this type of shooting is fast becoming impossible to do anymore. No vsco filters here - this is film. 

Just click on the image to see it large

The Barkers Profile

In June 2016 Barkers Menswear ran this profile on Craig. The associated Barkers email went out to 110,000 subscribers. 

Here is the Barkers profile; 

Craig “CPL” Levers, award winning photographer and publisher has spent over 20 years chronicling
the phenomena of the coast.
 

Based in Piha, with the iron sand between his
toes and in the shadow of Lion Rock, we met with Craig to explore what it takes to shoot some of New Zealand’s most iconic surf photography.

How did you get into photography and was there something that inspired you to start?

For my University Entrance Art, I did some black and white studies of my surfboard and wetsuit. The photos were nothing great at all, but it resonated with me. I was fascinated with the ability to control what is in focus and out of focus. I loved being in the darkroom seeing your image appear in the developing tray. I loved learning the processes. My art teacher told me I had a good eye for composition but not a good hand for drawing. She was brutally honest.

Living and working in Piha must be amazing, especially with how changeable the West Coast can be. Do you have a favourite spot to shoot on Auckland's west coast?

Piha has been home for over 20 years now. You are right; it is a constant source of inspiration. When the surf is good I'm still stoking out like a grommie, trying to find the best place to surf or shoot surfing. But when it is wild and stormy we have all these nooks and bends that create different sea-scapes. We have Auckland's highest sea cliffs and little bays hidden past caves. Then there are the expanses of North Piha and Karekare. And then there's the Waitakere bush and the Hillary Trail...it's a never ending palette for a photographer.

Travel and being on the road seems to be a really big part of the inspiration for your work. Where are your favourite locations to shoot in NZ/Overseas?

Did I mention Piha...ahahaha. This is a tough question! I've just returned from a three-week photo trip around the South Island's coasts. It was never going to be long enough, but it reiterated for me how spectacular our coasts are. I'm in love with New Zealand.

That said, in 2012 and 2015 I've gone to the Mojave Desert for photo-shoots. I love American grit; it is the direct opposite and so alien to the Kiwi experience. It amazes me that homes and whole towns are just walked away from. That people live in such a harsh environment, they'd probably say that of communities in the Catlins though right?  

Amboy Shack - Available for purchase at photocpl.co.nz

 
You have bought a decommissioned Chevy 4x4 ambulance after owning a 4x4 Hi-ace campervan for a couple of years. How important is being mobile to you and also being self contained when you are in some of the pristine coastal locations in NZ?

It's vital. I bought the Hi-ace in 2013 as a bit of a tester. I've always loved the idea of being able to stay right where the surf is. Being able to wait en situ for changes in the light. That said I hate the smelly, hippy van folk image associated with van-life. I'm not a poncho wearer, nor will I be playing in sunset drum circle. The Chevy is the antithesis of those van folk. 

But going bigger was pragmatic too. The Chevy has self-containment certification now and we have big [expensive] plans to further convert it into a motorhome. I strongly believe you should take out what you take in. In fact remove a couple of pieces of extra trash. Leave it better than you found it.

Most of your current imagery is based around landscapes and empty line-ups. Is there a surfer/skater that you have enjoyed working with the most over the years when you were shooting for NZ Surfing and the brands?

What I love about being so immersed in the New Zealand surfing culture is the real feel of Whanau. I wouldn't want to pick out one surfer, because my way of shooting surfing was/is to be as inclusive as possible. I think a surfing magazine needs to reflect the community it's trying to satisfy. It is vital to celebrate elite surfing like shooting with Maz Quinn or Billy Stairmand. It's also imperative that the whole surfing community is reflected. So getting a really good shot of the local hero often had more value to me.

What kind of photography equipment do you use, digital or film?

I use both film cameras and digital cameras for my work. On the digital side I'm dedicated Canon, only because of histrionics. I think people get too tied up in the latest greatest; Canon vs Nikon is kind of like the Ford vs Holden. 

I use digital cameras for all my commercial and surfing work. I have lenses that give me a range from 700mm telephoto to 15mm fisheye. I use a digital camera in the water-housing because I can to swim out with 1000 possible frames with a memory card. Back in the day we had to swim out with only 36 frames on a roll of film. I was always cautious on trying something different...now we are free! 

I shoot on film because digital can't do what I want for the Beach Books. I've always loved the 1 to 3 ratio of the image panoramic cameras give. I use two new Panoramic film cameras. The PTB 617 in the shots of me setting up was bought brand new in 2010. It is old technology of course, but it gives me to ability to use a lot of different lenses. Most of my award winning images have been made on film. 

You have won a couple of photographic awards. Were they pretty well planned or did they come out of being at the right place and the right time?

Yep, 10 international ones for panoramas over the last 3 years. When I was working for the magazine I couldn't see the sense in entering comps. But I get it now, on a personal level it matches you against your peers. It's a healthy challenge that makes you strive to do better. 

I reckon it's about planning to be at the right place at the right time. You make your own luck by getting out there. I never use the phrase “you got lucky”, it robs the person's credit for their graft.

You're on to your 6th and 7th books now I think. How did becoming a publisher come about? What are the next two titles about and when do they come out?

It's the evolution of working in print for the last 25 years.  Sure, I was the Senior Photographer for NZ Surfing Mag for 15 years. That was the glamorous part of the job and only 50% of my actual job. The other half was being Editor and Editorial Director. I was responsible the direction, content, look, deadlines, scheduling and production. As much as I like sand between my toes, there's something pretty special about the smell of fresh ink on the print shop floor. 

I'm just applying the skills learnt during my 15-year apprenticeship. 

The next book in production now is beach book. I did the books Beached As Vol 1 and Beached As Then and Nowto get way from being just a surf photographer. They sold out so that's nice. But they also challenged me to be a better photographer. So the next beach book is better photography.  
There was a realisation that big books are hard to post and travel with. This next one is a small landscape size 15cm x 21cm so it's user friendly.  Easy to post, easy to carry a couple with you overseas to gift. It is still over 200 pages and hard cover... it's a nugget.

Our working title is The Big Little Beach Book- Loved New Zealand Beaches. There are over 50 Kiwi Beaches featured, from Cape Reinga to past Bluff. There are iconic ones in there as well as hidden treasures. It'll be out for Fathers’ Day. 

The next project is a biggie and back more to surfing. After doing the two beach books, my co-collaborator Brent Courtney and I did the South Seas book, which was back to surf culture. That has sold through 2 print runs over the last 3 years, but we can't keep pumping out the same book. 
We're working on the follow up/ evolution but it is a bigger task than we first thought. We're working on it, but prioritising getting the Big Little Beach Book out on time. 
 
You worked on NZ Surfing magazine in the era before Instagram/Youtube/Vimeo etc. In a world where content is consumed in seconds now do you think the current magazines are doing a good job of staying relevant?

No, they are failing. It's sad to see a lot of them on their death rattle trying to punch out the same formula that we created in the 90's. Dude...move on or get steamrolled! There is room for magazines in our insty world, but they have to move with the times and fill the void that instantaneous fixes miss. Well-written, well-researched, interesting stories about people doing good things. The magazines that have moved to this will survive, but the days of being king of media are gone.

Lion Walkway - Available for purchase at photocpl.co.nz

 
You must get huge satisfaction when you sell one of your prints to a new customer. Do you have a favourite image?

Massive satisfaction! I love dealing one to one with clients; I love helping them get a piece tailored to their home. I learn a lot too, clients taste in framing may not be mine. I get to carry on that experience on to the next client, it's fun!

Nah, they are all my favourites! Oh wait you mean do the clients have a favourite; yeah for sure there are some perennials. This one called Lion Walkway is one;  Atkinson Coffee have it on their bulk bags. It is in homes in NZ, Australia, England and USA.  It's going to be the cover shot of the Big Little Beach Book because of all that.

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It Is Not About ME

Definitely my best side. Photo Reagan/Barkers

I'm incredibly uncomfortable about self promotion. That is why from the get go, since 1991, photos were credited CPL...Photo: CPL. It's not about the fame, it is about the work, it is about the stoke. I would have made a better magazine editor if I had been less self-concious and seized the opportunities to be the front-man and promote the magazine. But it's just not me, I like the idea working behind the scenes to get shit done, not up the front basking in glory.

working that back angle. Photo Reagan/Barkers

Things change when you're self employed. There's a realisation people need to know you're still doing the work; you're still here. Instead of turning down opportunities for coverage, they are now gratefully taken. I'm still incredibly uncomfortable about self promotion. I steer and redirect the emphasis onto the photos or the books. Maintain the credo; it's about the work not the ego.  There have been magazine and newspaper features, website profiles, web log interviews and even a few TV and radio spots... all painfully nerve racking to do. But done in hope it'll get the work in front of people that will stoke out on it. 

Camera Obscurer. Photo by Reagan/Barkers

Today is a big day in PhotoCPL land, today the Barkers Menswear mailer goes out, this week it features this crusty, salt 'n'peppered fellow. 110,000 people receive the mailer. Am I a ball of nerves, am I prepared for mates mocking messages.... you bet. But it will show the work to a whole new crowd. I'm deeply grateful to Barkers for giving me the opportunity and I got to keep the gear I was shot in!
 

Here is the interview

From The Bookstore

Me, Me, I, I, yuck.. It is not all about me! In fact here's a book that has nothing to do with CPL, except that I had the absolute honour to be it's publisher. 'What' you say- 'I didn't know about this amazing book' - well.... 

Just click on the image to see it large

Good Days, Good Mates

Good days in the surf have been all too few this last month. No doubt it feels worse than it actually was because we had such an incredible summer of waves. 

Yesterday, the start of the middle month, was a good day. By the looks of the mid range forecast, we are in for a nice Queens Birthday too. She's getting cold though! 

Raglan was the pick of the week so far. Billy Stairmand is back home after taking out 3rd in the The Ichinomiya Chiba Open. It's a a great result that has pushed our current National Champ up 62 places on the Qualifying Series to 9th. Let's stop the QS now! 

Billy, home and happy

Billy is on a high from the placing, he's stoked. He's also well aware it's just the start of the QS year. "I'm back for 2 weeks, then I'm off the Melbourne and then onto South Africa. I'll come back home after that for a few weeks and then I'm gone for the rest of the year." 

You can't go to the top if you haven't been to the bottom; surfing 101 with Billy

Billy adds "I'm stoked about the 3rd, but I know it's really only a good back up result. I'm resetting and concentrating on the year of comps that lie ahead." 

Billy has always done well on the European leg of the QS. In 2010 Billy won the Pantin Classic in Spain, in 2013 he backed that up with a 2nd placing at the same event. Our 5x National Champ feels comfortable there.

Driving at home 

Yesterday was so fun. Catch ups, mates and waves. Today I'm sore from treading water for 3 hours, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Here's some of the fun...

Tairua's Jackson Bright came over for the day too [above and below] 

The master of the one liner- Mr Mike Clarkeson actually had a Facebook page dedicated to his quick quips. 

Grommie in the drivers seat

Front foot on the lip, square surfing from Bill

Stage two of the day's adventure; new peaks to be surfed

ohhh the anticipation! 

Cheeky head dip

Peaks bigger than hills

Billy forehand rail game

Pretty nice place to finish the day off at. 

From The Galleries

This one is a bit different; the shutter was slowed right down to blur the waves, dunno if it really worked. What do you think? 

Just click on the image to see it large

BIG Week, Big Swell, Big Art

Last week's web log was one of the biggest read ones done. Thank you for reading it and thanks to everyone that  participated in the conversation. It is always a bit nerve racking putting out your own heartfelt opinion. It is nice to know I'm not alone in how Ahipara is straining under pressure. You can read that web log here.

Last Year's Mega Swell... not this time.

But I did get skunked! That nor-west devil wind and then the switch to 40 knot sou-westers meant Ahipara wasn't going to be great. I opted for the easy; I went to Whatipu. The surf sucked, but being a photographer there is always a silver lining. The coastline of Whatipu is a photographer's playground. Here's a couple of fun shots.

Little Huia, just a wee bit too little

Arty mate, it is A R T Y

On the upside, there was a pic published on Coastalwatch.com 

On Thursday the opportunity to visit Gibbs Farm came along. Dunno what Gibbs is about? Here's the link to their page.

There's a lot of walking involved so I packed light.  Just a camera, a 50mm Zeiss lens, a powerful neatural denisity filter and a light tripod. A 50mm lens is about the same view a eyesight. It's often favoured lens of photographers and often the sharpest lens most photographers own. A ND filter is a dark grey piece of glass; it limits the amount of light through the lens.  It means you can make very long exposures- over 30 seconds [which is in turn why you need the tripod]. If it is windy and the clouds are racing you can create dramatic skies. That is what I was going for; the massive art works pitted against a big sky. 

Here are my favourites; 

From The Galleries

Not Gibbs Farm; The iconic Thames pilings have become an installation of their own. 

Just click on the image to see it large

Have Fun Respectfully???

This weekend throngs of surfers will make the pilgrimage to the Far North. Lured by the hope of harnessing the massive 7 metre swell that is about to hit. The long lefts of Ahipara will be well patronised. I doubt a single wave will go unriden. 

Last Year's Mega Swell

I love Ahipara, Shipwreck Bay, Shippies, Tauroa Point. It has been woven into our surfing culture. Since local butcher Bob Atherton started making boards and surfing the points in the 1950's.  Since Andy McAlpine featured the left hand point breaks in his seminal 1960's surf flick 'Children Of The Sun'. Shippies has become a rite of passage. 

Shippies in 1993, waaaaay before the interweb told us to be there

It isn't just the lure of having a leg burning 2 kilometre ride. It is the adventure. Camping out around the reef. Testing your wagon's 4x4 abilities. The inevitable sump bump, or worse, exhaust system amputation. Yep, I've done that, it is not a fun drive 4 hours from home. 

Jos Kenning as featured in the book PHOTOCPL, taken in 2002...still no interweb

Last month local surfers made national news for vanadlising a surf-camera set up to live stream the Points. I applaud whomever did it. I accept I'm part of the problem, but I sympathise with the locals. The advent on pin point swell forecasting and surf predicting websites has meant Shippies now gets overrun EVERY swell.  For the surfers that have chosen to make the Far North their home it just isn't fair. 

Malcolm McGregor setting up the next downhill run 2015

Shippies campvibes winter 2015, loo onboard.

There is another problem. It's the amount of surfers freedom camping around the reef. Again, I'm one of them, I love being around the reef, camp-fires, camp-vibes.... LOVE IT!! But here's the distinction, I'm self contained. There are now too many of us camping around the reef for the resource to handle. 

Click the logo to link through to NZMCA's self containment explanation 

It's our dirty secret, hidden a dune in from the long lefts. Just about everyone shits in the bushes. Human landmines with dunny roll flags adorning their peaks litter the underbrush. These open casual latrines are above where we camp, and surf. When it rains, water runs down through the latrines and pools beside the campsites. Something has to change. We need to change. 

Supertubes

I could claim to be leading by example, but that is not my motivation. It is guilt. I don't want to have the finger pointed at me, so for the last 3 years I've been self contained. What I take around the reef I take back home. A 30 litre grey water tank costs as little as $20, a camp toilet costs as little as $50 on Trademe.  

Jesse Peters; a regular Shippies visitor

And those local surf cam haters; every spring they organise a voluntary working bee to clean up the reef from Blue House, back to the Bay. Currently they are maintaining and planting more Pohutukawa around the Points. Next week they are meeting to further discuss their role as the custodians of Shippies. An anti surf-cam T-shirt has been made; 50% of the proceeds will go to the local Iwi. 

Enjoy your surf, respect the locals, respect the land that makes the waves peel for miles.   

Mini Mission: Copious Roady

The Waikato funpark turned it on for us

Just once in awhile the elements all come together ridiculously well. This last week has been A One Of Those. The plan was to assemble members of the Copious crew to get good action shots of them for possible use in point of sale posters and print advertising. Big Call, but here's how it worked out... 

The first stop on the tour was Raglan to hand out with Lee Ririnui. A day after we shot Lee got selected for the NZ Junior Team

I reckon he'll make a worthy addition, if he surfs like this in the Azores in September

We didn't think Raglan was going to be THIS good, of course; while my priority was on the Copious crew, there were others ripping the bag. 

Didn't catch his name, but how cool is Mr Surfmatt! 

Me ol' young mate Billy Lee-Pope joined us for the Raglan Leg, he's now in Bali with Billy Staimand filming their next clip. Check out Billy Lee-Pope Media HERE

You never just know who'll show up at Raglan, 1995 National Champ Brent Hutchieson, shot over from a family holiday in Miranda for a cheeky dawnie.

Always a great catch up, you're ripping Henchmia!!! Good luck in the Mentawaiis next week brother. 

Of course Copious's boss and founder Cale Tolley can walk to talk

Pretty good photographic studio to spend your work day at 

Larry Fisher on bomb

Stage 1 Done...onto Stage 2

Matty Groube and Cale, loving the Grobe hospo for Stage 2

Skating is a huge part of what Copious is about, more specifically transition skating; Bowls, Pools, and Ramps. Matt Groube very kindly opened up his personal funpark for Copious to skate and shoot. It ended up being a 10 hour... yes 10 hour pool session. Here's some of the highlights. 

The man himself, Matty Groube, owning his own pool. 

Shaun Boucher, twilight Madonna in the deep end.

Wellington's Jordan Nunns joined the session with some great hip work

Yep that'll be the boss again, walking the talk

Cale's high speed 50/50 in the deep end

Shaun's Smith locked in

Out With The Old, In With The New 

Best Ugly Bagel have just renewed their PhotoCPL image. Thanks guys! Keeler Kamp has adorned their flagship store in The Auckland Works for the last 2 years. It was time for a change... but keeping in the caravan theme. 

Just click on the image to see it large

Mini Mission; Taranaki

There was no web-log last week, so this week's one is early. The reason for the miss, well you probably guessed from the heading, the Naki' was calling. 

A part from a few tidy up day trips for supplementary images, the Taranaki mini mission marks the end of the shooting for the next beach book. It is pretty exciting to near the end of a stage, and to leave Taranaki to last was a great way to finish in style. 

The Three Sisters, with Elephant Rock behind,  last Wednesday.

It's a region that I've always felt a strong connection to through the years at NZ Surfing Mag.The drive always conjures up fine memories of my first Nationals as a photographer in 1994, the first roady I ever did for the mag in 1993 with Daniel Kereopa, Nat Barron and Larry Fisher. 

Hemi Takarua, Stacey Lamb, Motu Mataa, Chris Blain Dwaine and Barbara Mataa at Stent Road 2007; this shot was used in the latest Damaged Goods Mag

Motu, Rocky Lefts 2006

Then on other roadies hanging with the Mataa brothers and staying at Barbara Mataa's pad in Oakura. Full on ping pong wars at the Waitara Boardriders with Dan Waiweri and Ed Martin. The Mill with Pip Ngaia, Club 55 with Stacey Lamb. There's a huge amount of gratefulness for the hospitality Taranaki surfers have always shared. Mainly I just remember laughing a lot and being made to feel at home.  

Pip Ngaia shot in 1994 for a Rip Curl clothing advert... And in the book PhotoCPL of course!

This trip was a good trip for photos, all that was needed was images from The Three Sisters at Tongaporutu and Fitzroy. 

The 617 Pano camera set up for a 4 minute exposure... fingers crossed the film look nice with blurred out water and cloud movement. 

Elephant Rock...looking Elephanty

After seeing that left in the image above, well, Stent Road could be good right? The imagination raced with thoughts of walls like this...

Morehu Roberts at Stent Road, 2002

Stent Road 2001, or maybe this...

Graveyards 2012, this pano was used as the opening Taranaki spread in The South Seas Book, We felt it encapsulated the Taranaki experience, rocky points, long waves, and long scrambles over slippery boulders.  Or even this... 

Definitely not telling where... But no such luck, I got this...

The onshore cutting the swell to shreds at Stent. 

No surf this photo trip, but I did get what I went for. Good Three Sisters Panos and a pretty good sunset at Fitzroy.

It was a light chasing mission, not a surf chasing trip. 

#ishootfilm #shootfilmstaybroke

These are probably my two favourite hashtags, especially the latter, mainly because it is closer to the bone than you'd ever think. It has been a massively boring week in CP Land, tedious, repetitious, RSI inducing, eye blurringly BORING! 

No chasing west swells down or up the coast, oh yes I have FOMO big time. It's not even Fear Of Missing Out, it is I Missed Out... missed out on this...

Are you kidding me!!! Where was I?! 

Well sometimes you have to shut the world out and do what photographers really do... which is this ....

Removing micro dust particles at actual pixel level from high resolution scans that are 2 metres long in real measurements... yep mind numbingly BORING. 

But it does mean I have these to share, beautifully rich, sharp panoramas that will handle being used at 2 metres long with ease...and that's why #ishootfilm

This is Kohaihai Beach which is at the end of the road above Karamea, on the West coast. Click on the image to see it larger.

Two and a half hours down the road is Punakaiki and I think is my favourite Pano from the roady. It isn't overly tech, but there are subtle plays, like the slight blur of the swell. Click on the image to see more detail.

Over on the Catlins side; more rocks, rock made from volcanoes and 180 million year old trees. Check out the wood grain by clicking on the image. 

Just up the road a ways from Curio Bay's Petrified Forest; Nugget Point and its iconic lighthouse. I like this angle because it makes the lighthouse a beacon, above the horizon line. I like it 'cos it has those really oversaturated colours that Velvia film is infamous for. You can click on the image if you want to see it bigger....you can buy it at 2 metres wide if you really want to enjoy its full fidelity :) 

So what are you s'posed to do if nature gives you two bangers in one morning at the same location, hide one away never to be viewed by anyone else? God bless the interweb... more is just...more. This one is quite tech; filters stacked to get the exposure time down to 8 minutes... yep 8 lots of 60 secs to get the swell and the swirls of the currents around the Nuggets emphasised, it also streaked out the clouds really nicely. Oh you can't see that? If you click on the image you can see more detail. 

Kapiti Island from Paraparaumu. I have spent no time on the Kapiti Coast, so part of the mission was to stop instead of just punching through to the ferry. The Kapiti Coast is cool! Definitely one of the coolest camping grounds around, The Kapiti Holiday Resort....yes RESORT if you may. Big name, but it's backed up with great grounds just a wee walk from the sand, where I got the pano above which you can view larger by clicking on the image. 

Over on Instagram I've been loading up the black'n'whites that apart from Insty I don't really know what to do with. I love shooting with the Fuji Gw690 camera [and I love the review of it in that link] Here's some of those for your viewing pleasure. 

...there had to be some sort of Ambo shot it there ehh! 

AND THE WINNER IS>>>

Last week's mailer had a comp to win this T-shirt in... a limited edition, sold out T at that! 

The answer was Keeler Kamp... clearly the question was far too easy. Jed B was the one that got drawn by Random.org's randomiser. Thanks for playing fellas!!!  

Back From The Mainland

The three weeks on The Mainland went too fast. It always was going to be an efficient photo mission; no dilly dallying, stick to the hit list. There was a huge amount of luck involved, the weather played ball at every location. The problem is there is just so much to see and shoot, are mere three weeks is just not enough- but it was a massively successful mission none the less. 

The mighty Chevy proved itself as a more than capable camera bag, never missing a beat. Here it is perched up a Karamea.

On the way home there was a quick sidetrack the the Hawkes Bay...beautiful Waimarama Beach. 

Missing those perfect southern lines

Here's the result of three weeks on the road, 25 rolls of 6x17 panoramics. Now the real work begins, scanning and colour grading the keepers... and man there are some keepers. Over the next few weeks there will be a lot of film shots shared on Instagram and this mailer. 

The motivation for the 3 week photo mission was to gather the bulk of the South Island images needed for the next Beach Book. Happily, it is definitely job done, but it has left a reminder of what a wonderfully diverse and varied little country we live in. Of how many unspoilt and largely un-populated nooks and crannies our coasts still hold. Of how good a good roady actually is. 

In The Press

The roady didn't stop other work from happening; The latest issue of Damaged Goods just dropped. It has a funny wee account I wrote about the Piha Carpark in the '80s. The article also features this shot I took in 1987-8 of th old funny block at South Piha. Grab a copy, the feature on iconic Kiwi Surf Car Parks is really good. Sure there is a basis, but it's a cool concept. Luke Cederman has done Manu Bay, Simon Deken; Stent Road, Warren Hawke; Meatworks. Pete Morse; The Blowhole plus more.  

Oi, and what's this? Spotted in the latest Allpress Press, a little cameo of one big two PhotoCPL canvases in at North Drift, Ahipara...Jonny why are you looking so glum bro!!! The canvas is Dream Swell, which was taken during last year's monster June Swell. You can see it better HERE

Big Commissions 

The problem with big prints and canvas orders is that I'm so stoked the client wants them that big, I always give them a great deal because I wanna see the image that big too...gotta learn to be more business like! But this one really turned out amazing; It's Piha Layers on canvas at 2 metres long. The size of a door. What really hit home with this size was the sharpness and detail in the foreground stretch right through to the farthest headlands. It's on its way to a new home in California. Find out more about Piha Layers

And another big one a little closer to home. It now resides in Torbay. The client went for a triptych on this 2 metre x 2 metre beastie. I haven't presented ANY images like this before so it is great to see. Again it really popped; the sharpness and detail in the falling curtain is actually mesmerising. This image is called Perfect View, you can see it better HERE

T-shirt Giveaway Time

Wanna buy a PhotoCPL T? Well you can't, they are all gone! But when you signed up to this mailer there was a commitment to doing subscriber giveaways. So this one is happily for you. Email back with your preferred size and the name of this image [you just have to click on the image- but there has to be some skill question involved].  Every correct and eligible entry goes in the draw to be drawn next Thursday. Better odds by a country mile than lotto! 

From The Galleries

Here's is the first of the new panoramas, Glenorchy Sundown....loving the subtle palette 

Just click on the image to see it large

In Preparation

Getting ready for any big surf or photo trip is always exciting. Culling out what is not needed, finding excuses to acquire that extra bit of kit that just might, maybe come in handy. My week has been in this mode; it's time to pack the Cambulance. The mission is to complete the photography needed for the next beach book project.

I get asked a lot about what camera I use; but as I get older I understand more that photography is not about what camera you use, it is about successfully conveying to the viewer what you felt you saw at the time. I used to post all the technical details of how an image was made to demonstrate that the image was technically sound and could handle being used huge. This week a commission was a great example of this;

Just click on the image to see it bigger

I need to know if a client orders a big print from the website, the file not only can handle that enlargement, it'll actually come alive at the biggest size. This enlargement is 1.35 metres wide, the framed finished piece is nearly 1.6m wide. Every blade of sunlit grass is crispy sharp, every twine within the ropes is discernible.   

Clients need to know the finished piece will handle the jandal, I need to know it will! When this piece was delivered [I make a point of hand delivering when it is possible] the first reaction was "WOW! I didn't realise it was THAT detailed" ... that is what you wanna hear right?! 

I've come to realise that it is only the camera geeks that want to know the tech stuff. The clients are looking for a piece that will fit into their home, the colours, the place, the feeling are what draws interest. But I'm a camera geek, I know some of you guys are, so here's the foundation of the kit I'm taking. 

Left to right; The Berlebach wooden tripod, a article of East German craftsmanship, honed from an Ash tree, wood soaks up and dampens vibration. Wood is the best. Ash is the best wood. The carbon fibre legs- when I'm lazy and don't want to lug the wood. On top of the carbon fibre sticks; The Arca Swiss p0 head, better than a ball head, although technically it is a ball head, Swiss-French precision. Above the tripod, Canon Speedlite and diffuser; I don't really like using artificial light but it is good to cover bases. 

3rd row from left, at the top; Mamiya 50mm shift lens w/ ef mount; this lens is crazy sharp and ideal for digital stitches with the shift function. Below the Mamiya, one of my favourite lenses the Canon 70-200mm F2.8L, everytime I use it I remind myself to use it more. Below that; the Canon 300mm f2.8L again crazy sharp, and great for panned back surf shots. 

what the Mamiya 50mm shift lens can make- big digital panos [just click the image to see big] 

Next row from left, top Canon Ef 100mm f2.8L- I use this a lot in the water-housing- again lauded by the critics as one of Canon's sharpest lenses. 2nd from the top, my oldest lens a Canon 15mm 2.8 fisheye- a dangerous lens as everything looks so damn dynamic with it- another water-housing lens. Extension tubes for macro close ups. Slightly right and below; Carl Ziess 50mm F1.2  sick for portraits...but I don't shoot heads much. Below that, Sunway indexed pano head w/ Arca Swiss bar- essential for digital stitches- not that I do many digi panoramas anymore.

The 15mm Fisheye...dangerously good [ yep, click the pic to see it big ] 


2nd row from right, top; The Shen Hao PTB 617 Panoramic camera, made of Rose Wood...just a thing of beauty and responsible for most of the Award winners like this one...

The PTB camera paired with the Nikkor 200mm [click the image to see it better] 

The SPL Splash Housing; just looking at it makes me itchy to swim. And below it the workhorse; the Canon 5D mk iii, that fits inside the housing. Attached to it is another workhorse, the Canon EF 17-40mm F4.0L.

Far right row, top; sometimes interviewers ask insanely inane questions like 'If you only had one camera for the rest of your life what would it be?' Well it would probably be the Texas Leica aka Fujifilm GSW69. It is a film camera and it takes beautifully toned and brutally sharp photos like this...

Getting the drill on the images- if you click on them they link back to a bigger version

The next film camera below the Fuji is the newest, it is the Fotoman 617 with a German Super-Angulon 75mm lens. It takes photos like this...

click away my friends click away :) 

Below the Fotoman 617 is the Nikkor 200mm lens which fits the PTB camera and below that is my trusty Sekonic light meter. 

Missing from the kit photo are all the filters and random accessories, I've already bored you enough. The next mailer will be from the road, and I can honestly say I have little idea from where- except that it will be in the Mainland. Hopefully it will be dripping with tasty Kiwi line ups- so stayed tuned.