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.  

Cuteness And Stoke

In the last mailer/ web log it was all about hardcore step offs and challenging the boundaries of what is rideable. That's not to state that last week's Jet-ski session was the biggest waves ever ridden- it was about extending the limits of what is surf able around these parts. There is no doubt Dave and Jamie came in from that session stoked. 

This post it almost the direct opposite. And the grounds of it is just one photo. A frame that was completely missed in the first two edits of the weekend's Billabong Grom Series Final. I reckon it's a photo that shows more surf stoke than just about any other I've shot. Meet 12 year old Summer Carkeek [the one smiling] and her bestie Alice Westerkamp.

Over the weekend they both would have had about 20 surfs, including their heats in the comp. They were literally in the surf all day, both days, coming in for fuel stops and sunblock replenishment.  Both those surnames may sound quite familiar too, Summer is the eldest daughter of Jackie and Glen Carkeek, Glen of course is the man behind Primal Surfboards and a former NZ surfing team representative himself.  Alice is the daughter of Jan and Nick Westerkamp both stalwarts of the Northshore surfing scene.

Alice dominating the Lion Rock peak

Summer on her way to a 2nd placing in the U14 girls final, Alice placed 3rd in the event too

Glen and Jan reckon this has really been the summer [as in season] that the two girls' surf stoke has hit critical mass. Surf trips for the Westerkamps and the Carkeeks are no longer about finding the heaviest, biggest pits. It's about seeking out grommet friendly runners, making sure the frothing fremlins are hydrated and watching tuckered out besties pass out from exhaustion on the drive home.

In exactly the same vein, meet NZ's current youngest contest veteran Indica Knox Corcoran, the 8 year old

Then there's a bit of brotherly love with Teddy and John Rua

A highlight of shooting the Grom Comps is witnessing and taking part in surfing families coming together from all around the country, friendships are formed and networks made. It has always been like this. There's also the business end of the contests, where the groms get to match themselves against their peers, in heats for sure, but it's often the free surfs around the event that push everyone to surf better.

Raglan's Taylor Hutchison showing the groms how it is done

Trust a Raglan grom to find a left on a right peak, Jayden Willoughby

A welcome return to surfing after 12 months of injury; Dune Kennings made it 2 for 2 winning the U20 division of Piha Grom comp after winning at Whanga a fortnight earlier

Dunedin grom Jack McLeod charging on the morning before the final, he posted a credible 2nd in the U17s

Taylor Hutchison slicing froth

Dune's winning form

Piha charger Claudia Fraser made the U20's final, but found herself out of rhythm in the last heat

Bianca Samson edged out her twin Gabby and Claudia for the win

Bianca, Claud, Gabby and Brit Kindred. The U20 finalists and mates that have all been surfing together since they were 12

From The Galleries

Here is a firm favourite that has just been ordered BIG again this week. There is a hint of its future use in the caption on PhotoCPL too. 

Just click on the image to see it large

Big West, Films and More Muck

Surfing Big North Piha

We all know Piha and the wild west coast is renowned for its big surf. The issue for resident surfers is not how much swell we cop.; it's where can we surf when it gets over 5 foot [10 foot faces]. Rips come into play too much, the breaks become too shifty and paddling out from the beach is neigh on impossible. It has long been a source of frustration for west coast surfers- you can see potential out there, but you know you just can't quite get in position with all that water moving about. 

And that's the beauty of a jetski, you can get put in the right place, that massive playing field gets nicely shrunk. Piha locals, Paramedic Dave Woods and Fireman Jamie Piggins, are the latest to venture into Piha's bigger stuff. Only last week they committed and co-bought their new [mint second-hand] ski. Dave is no stranger to skis and IRB's as a former captain of Piha Surf Lifesaving, Jamie is on a steep learning curve, but clearly already is a natural. 

Here is yesterday's session, their first ever session in pretty solid stuff. It was far from perfect, but they got more waves than any other Piha surfer yesterday over the low tide and peak of the swell. No one else could get out, they had the whole of North Piha to themselves. 

Dave Woods; always playing up, but always on to it.

Jamie... is that a nervous grin??? 

The boys' new set up

Reforms on to the Bar... grinding!

No scale, could be 2 foot right?

Jamie giving it scale with the one that got away  

Woody on a big outer bank left

Woody loving the outer banks

Jamie's freight train

A beast of a right

The sort of perfect wave that would be nearly impossible to catch without a ski

Here's a cheeky 25 frame sequence made into a gif for your viewing pleasure

Of course, there is always a price to pay, and Piggy is paying hard right here! 

Aotearoa Surf Film Festival

The ASFF is in full swing now and touring the country. Gizzy experienced sell out crowds; must of been the excellence of the Judging Panel and the selection of films huh!

Here's the schedule; get in there!  

Epic Reunion

After a long 18 years, Muckhole reformed to play at the Kings Arms, Newton. If you do a search for Muckhole you'll find that they are credited as being arguably the biggest Punk Rock band New Zealand has ever produced. Their last hoorah, 18 years ago, was to a packed out Powerstation, which is no mean feat for any band of any genre. 
 

I used to shoot a fair bit for the Muckers, I loved it, helping out mates and witnessing them succeed. So being asked again to shoot was no chore at all, in fact Sean O'Brien [lead singer] and I are agreed; we probably ended up with the best shots Muckhole has ever had. 

Check it out the full photo set HERE

NEW RELEASE

Is it wise to use Instagram as a gauge of popularity? Probably not, but if you were to, then this image should have been made available months ago. Hands down one of the most liked PhotoCPL images posted on insty 

Just click on the image to see it large

Fresh Muck and Kitsch

The Muckers - back in 1995, behind the Felix rehearsal rooms in Symonds St...lurking outside the womens..as they did- Photo:CPL

Last night, after a long 18 years, Muckhole reformed to play at the Kings Arms, Newton. If you do a search for Muckhole you'll find that they are credited as being arguably the biggest Punk Rock band New Zealand has ever produced. Their last hoorah, 18 years ago, was to a packed out Powerstation, which is no mean feat for any band of any genre. 

And last night... oh boy last night, the lads proved they still have the energy to electrify a crowd. Supported by old partners in crime Kitsch; the two bands played brilliant sets of tight well honed Kiwi punk rock anthems to a packed house. 

Here's my photo set of an awesome night at the KA! 

Eastern Journeys

I'm a proud Westie, I'll admit it. Not Westie as in bogan, more a connection with the West Coast, from clean off-shore waves to invigorating winter storm fronts. It is exciting, it is active. But you can't stay put all the time and over the last week it has been all about journeys to our eastern shores. 

Paunui sunset and moonrise

Picture perfect lefts all day

Uncrowded rights, where was everyone! Oh yeah the Island

Crystal cylinder; version 1

Crystal cylinder; version 2

Mission Bay Mission

There's a really cool doctrine in photography; and that is to set yourself projects and see them through. In practice it means you've clarified what the goal is and you've got a clear direction, it gives your photography purpose. This is being applied to the two PhotoCPL book projects this year. One of those books is a New Zealand Beach book, it'll be the third one done, it'll also be the best one- that's the goal. 

A book project like this leads to going to places [beaches] you wouldn't normally bother with. That kind of sounds bad aye, but as a westie, what possible reason would there be to make the journey from beautiful Piha to some artificially enhanced inner city beach? Well 1.37 million people can't be all wrong right? Turns out old bloody Mission Bay is actually pretty darn nice on a balmy summer's evening.

Long exposure at Mission Bay

Summer vibes in the big little city

Mission Bay's fountain- with a bit of added i-phone light painting- had to get some waves in there somehow

Mission Bay, you are alright...for a city beach

Cool Website

In New Zealand Surfing's photographic ranks, for the most part, we all support each other and there's good open dialog. Daniel 'Digga' Davie is one of our leading proponents. Actually Digga is one of those annoying mates that happens to be REALLY good at anything he puts his hand to; Shaping- yep his Dad Bob Davie taught him pretty darn well, airbrush and fine art- yep he has a great hand, surfing..ahh ah, there's a PhotoCPL covershot of him back in the NZSM days.

Diggs has a new website for his photography, which  is well worth a gander; my favourite section is his people and portraiture.

The wave images are, of course, nothing short of eastern goodness at its best. 

Check it HERE

From The Galleries

Keeping it East, here's a technically demanding pano made a few winters ago. Love the real lens-flare!

Just click on the image to see it large

Bowl Jams and Thick Lips

The Bowl Jam 2016

For the 5th consecutive year the Mangawhai Bowl Jam ran last weekend. Once again Jesse Peters taking on the task of organising the event and doing a great job of upping the ante yet again with a solid turn out of NZ's best bowl riders and a pretty damn big crowd to boot.  

Willie Beggs and Jesse Peters MC'ing the Bowl Jam

Super grom from Taupo Remus Henare on his way to third in the U16s

Remus's older brother Rico won the U16s

Mikey Bancroft was on form, posting third in the Open

Mikey!

Christchurch skater Dan Kelcher made the pilgrimage north to claim second in the open

Shaun Boucher shook off his bridesmaid status, taking out his first win this year after a string of seconds

Old mate Lee Mackenzie upset the Masters beating Morri and Crab- you bloody legend

Andrew 'Morri' Morrison came out of a 16 year competitive retirement for the Bowl Jam

Morri- good ole uncle Mozza

Another legend of NZ pro skating Dave Crab put on a clinic of vert too

Crab's stylish frontside Smith- locked

The old boys with US skating legend Eddie Elguera- Eddie gave one of his El Gato signature boards to Lee for winning the masters

One very very stoked winner!

I love shooting Vert and Bowl- thanks Jesse for the front row seat bro- amping for the next session!  

Thick West

And straight off the back of the Bowl Jam the swell jumped on the West coast. The Tasman Sea creating its very own type of vert ramps...

A nice coping to smash? 

Whangamata transplant Matt Honeycombe

Not the best place to be sitting with a water-housing; but, byjingos that's a glassy wave

And then, just once in a while, the clouds part just enough and a peak trucks through the light

Cool Shorty

Silver Surfers from Janine Hedley on Vimeo.

Submissions have closed for the Aotearoa Surf Film Festival and I'm in judging mode. It's great to see more Kiwi shorts are in than ever before. This one has been a standout, not because the action is crazy, but it's a warming heartfelt tome from the local Piha surfers I grew up inspired by. I dunno if the other judges will get it, but for a Westie it's a damn nice short film...spot the seepage cameo! 

Eastern Treats

A highlight of making books about NZ beaches and surf is that you just HAVE to keep on doing mini missions to some of NZ's worst kept secrets. Last weekend it was Waikawau Bay. 

Waikawau Bay is on the north eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula; it's about an hour's drive north of Coromandel town. Nestled behind the southern dunes of the beach is one of New Zealand's best DOC camping grounds. A staggeringly expensive 10 bucks a night! Dude are you real? $10 for this!!!

Click on the map to get a better idea of Waikawau's location

The Cambulance and the stunning camp grounds of Waikawau

The tail end of TC Victor's swell was still lurking about

Waves bigger than the Coro ranges!

Balmy evenings and fun, playful peaks

Just like a beer advert- where you'd rather be
 

The Aotearoa Surf Film Festival 2016

Every year the ASFF gets a little bigger, the format gets refined and the network spreads. I've been asked to be a judge again, and I'm absolutely chuffed to do so. I've been a judge since the first ASFF in 2012.

The O'Neill Aotearoa Surf Film Festival will kick off in Mount Maunganui on February 25th. Tour dates will run through March and April. The full film schedule and tickets on sale now over at www.asff.co.nz with more tour dates to be announced very shortly. 

Local Sessions

A lot of Westcoast Locals have chosen to ignore Tropical Cyclone Victor, the resounding theme and rationale being that the waves are pretty good right here in front, why waste the gas? I've been doing the same. It hasn't been easy, there have been moments of greatness on the East Coast over the last week for sure, daily phone calls to the east to check in, but it seems as though the sea-breeze has kicked in most days at midday.

Out West has just been fine. There have been good waves everyday for weeks now, us Westie's have been surfing a lot! Yesterday the surfboard was finally shelved in favour of the water-housing. It actually wasn't the best conditions, but it was time to start shooting.

Hard to leave home with this happening just down the hill

TC Victor making his presence felt on the westcoast yesterday...filling the water tanks and watering the gardens

Local leather goods purveyor Greedy giving it the ol' 1-2

Happy Greedy, surfed out Greedy

Even though the swell had eased off yesterday there were still a few to keep you honest

Our World Surfing Champion, the legend, the GC, Mr Ian 'Ratso' Buchanan in the rain

The mighty Lion

Second generation local, bar owner and model Chris 'Powelly' Barron
 

Powelly's blue steel

Greedy burying rail very nicely

It'll stay like that if the wind changes mate :) 

...and more of this today too... ohhh the achy bones...

MP- Untold

Here's a great book, if you get the chance to grab a copy, it's well worth a glance. I reckon that quick glance will drag you in and before you know it, you'll be hooked. The premise of MP Untold is that when author Sean Doherty was finishing the Bestseller MP, he had interviewed Michael Peterson's competitive rivals and surfing mates. Sean was left knowing only half the story was told.  MP Untold goes a lot deeper; Sean interviews Michael Peterson's closest friends, girlfriends and family. 

Cleverly, Sean has constructed the first person accounts into a timeline of MP's life, the result being a honest, but not quite tell all biography, of one on the world's best surfers and his ultimate undoing with drugs and mental health. It's a tale of tragedy but it's also a wonderful account of family bonds and life long friendships. As MP was a must read, MP Untold is even more so; and it is beautifully illustrated with a mix classic MP images and never seen before photos to boot. Published last year, you can suss it out more HERE  

Beached AS- Then And Now Is Back! 

There's a book storage facility in Northcote, thousands of boxes of new books are indexed, palletised, and fork-hoisted onto giant, industrial metal shelves that tower over you in the double storey vaulted building. Somewhere in that organised tonnage of papery goodness was 4 boxes of forgotten Beached As- Then and Now books. They have made a lair of the author, the title is not sold out at all, there's a special reserve of 64. 

Did you miss out; where you one of the people that contacted me to get your copy? Well it's back and you can view and purchase it HERE

It's Not All About PhotoCPL

There's lots of great stuff going on with my photographic colleagues at the moment; and here's just two new ventures that I reckon are totally worth a virtual and even physical visitation.

First up James Culley has his first solo exhibition on right now at The Arborist in Wellington. It's a daunting but necessary process for a photographer to go through, the stresses of finding a suitable venue, the gawd awful process of image selection and then the painful task of actually stumping up the funds to have your work printed and framed. Will anyone like your work? Hell, will anybody actually show up? 

Jim has jumped through all the hoops and curated a great solo exhibition entitled Still Motion Collection. 

The top 3 have been printed at A1, mounted with an off-white matt window and framed with dark ramin, finishing at close to A0. The remaining 12 are all printed at A2 with the same finish close to A1 in size. All have been printed on Hahnemuehle Photo Rag 308gms with non-solvent, archival grade inks. No expense was spared in ensuring they are the highest quality finished prints.

The exhibition is running at The Arborist on Willis St, Wellington until the end of January. Check out moreHERE

Then there is Warren Hawke's new website, and not before time Wazza!!! 

Master NZ Surf Photographer since the 70's and he's still going strong. Surferswall features Warren's latest shoots, there is even last week's Nationals already up there. It is an image saturated site, check it out HERE

Of course if you are a fan of Warren's fine work you've already got his book NZ Surf- Captured By A Surf Lens right? 

What!!! No?

Want to see more and even procure a copy? Click HERE

And Me? I've been surfing, there has no time to take photos... well I did do these post surf the other day...

New Addition! 

This one has been in the must get scanned file for way too long, but here it is in all it's massive glory. Shot on Velvia 100 iso transparency film using the Fotoman 617 Camera with a Schneider 75mm lens, 8 second exposure at F45. It was a very fun dawn mission. Loving the sun lighting up the Kaikoura Ranges.     

Just click on the image to see it large