New Arrival / July 12, 2023 by craig levers

Is there a fine line between evolution and mutation? Probably. Here's a convoluted CP tale for you, in case you didn't know I'm infamous for not getting to the point and telling all the side bars. I'm trying to get better.

15 years ago I left the security of salaried employment. There wasn't a masterplan of turning into a successful surf book publisher. There was a drive to keep being a surf photographer and to figure out how to do that. In 2008 the PhotoCPL book hit the surf shops. Selling the book into the shops meant there was catch-ups with old mates in those shops. The retailers have always been generous with feedback and input. Sincerely, it's a really good thing.

And one of the recurring themes was individual photo sales. Raglan legend B-Rex did a great job of selling small mounted prints in the mid '90's and early '00's. You may remember them; a B&W 6x4 print glued onto a bigger black board with a simple bamboo frame glued around that. They were sold through Raglan Surf Co, Backdoor and North Beach. B-Rex sold a shit ton. I believe he stopped because the assembly was too labour intensive. But the retailer's would say, 'If you can figure out how to hit that price point, we'll sell heaps for you. ". Challenge accepted, in fact fellow surf photog Rowan Klevstul and I went into high rotate on research and development. We couldn't do it, we just couldn't keep the labour intensity in control. In the meantime new book projects and photo shoots were going great. The project got back burnered. Not abandoned, just put at the back on simmer.

The shop owners kept lamenting the B-Rex photo absenteeism. A mere 8 years later there was a solution, an evolvement of the idea. In 2016 the PhotoCPL NZ Wave Print Set hit the shops. The 10 prints were packaged into a heavy weight compendium, which meant the price per 8 x 10 photo print was under $3.50- great deal huh! There was utter conviction the problem had been solved. I'd be retiring to the Mentawaii's on my 40ft Cat, living off the re-orders and re-prints.

They sold OK, but at the time The South Seas book was in full swing. It is a book of NZ Line Ups, I wanted to compliment, not compete, and concentrated on singular wave studies. I think I over thought it. Also, because the print-set concept was new to market, it presented challenges in explaining just what was in the pack. It sold through in a few seasons, but it wasn't the runaway success hoped. I think because I have had a few runaways, like the PhotoCPL Book, The South Seas Book/s and The Big Little Beach Book, I have over inflated expectations for every project. No Mentawaii Catamaran.

Other projects came in, Warren Hawke's NZ Surf series of 4 books took main stage. But the niggle remained, the B-Rex void had not quite been filled. So this year, I've made this...

This time a showcase of 10 prints of idyllic Kiwi Line Ups and waves. There isn't an attempt to be regionally diverse and cover the country, there isn't even a Raglan photo. I've stuck to my best images, the proven sellers in the PhotoCPL Waves Gallery . 10 prints, ready to be mounted into 8 x 10 pre-made frames, like the inexpensive frames you can buy from the Warehouse or K-mart. And they retail at $34.95 for the pack...under $3.50 a print. This is what they look like;

Always refining and striving for better. I'm not going to hold my breath or start adding catamarans to my watch list yet, but I think the new Print Set is a great evolution of the concept. Hope so, 2 pallets of the little bastards are arriving next week!

Pre-sales are open, and there is free national P&P on all pre-sales. You can check out the pre sale offer HERE

FROM THE BOOK SHOP

It's a book themed post!!! And speaking of, NZ Surf Windows is going gang busters. We only have a couple of hundred left. With Warren's books we don't do reprints, once they are gone that's it.
Don't know anything about NZ Surf Windows... well, you can go HERE

Winter's Embrace / July 6, 2023 by craig levers

North Piha's new controversial clubbie tower, yesterday. I'm going on the record as loving it.

In the; 'Cleary No Surf' category, I do take other photos. In fact, between the obsessions of surfing, surf photography and the Troopy there's also been a long standing obsession with mega high resolution panoramics. This particular obsession put me on an epic learning curve, I went back to film cameras while also mastering digital stitching. Both have their place. International awards were won, that was pretty cool, 10 of my panos from 2012-2015 won Epsom Pano Awards. I sorta of chilled out on the awards after that- award chasing has never ever been my deal.

Piha Storm; Epsom International Pano Award winner 2013... and a firm fav with clients...whoa it's 10 years old!

I'm drawn to dramatic landscapes, obviously, living on the west coast an' all. Pano's compliment surf, when it is 10 foot and howling onshore, that is the weather I really like to chase pano's in. It is exhilarating, sooooo much can go horribly wrong.

And a very not stormy or wintery mega pano Karekare Point

Auckland Hospital Installation at 2.4 metres high by 8 metres long. A wonderful byproduct of learning to make mega panos

Short and sweet this week. Hope you've got great plans for Matariki.

FROM THE GALLERY

Fast becoming the new best seller, wait, it is the new best seller. Not really surprising is that? Sooo stoked to have witnessed and enjoyed this day...ahhh take me back. In the meantime, if you like Day of Days you too could have it wall-side... like Shay, below.

Wet Month / June 28, 2023 by craig levers

Wet June

The middle of the year, the shortest day, solstice, birthdays and a shit ton of rain. But that's not why June was a wet month. It was a month of lots of sea time, lots of surfing, lots of shooting surfing and even some water shoots. Currently I get a bit tangled up with posting images, it's a good tangle to have; A large website [that pays well] gets first dibs on the A grade stuff. But sometimes the A's get sat on and then not used as other stuff comes in over the top. That's ok, that is professional surf/photo/journalism, been around the block enough times not to get disheartened or worried about it. BUT! It's easy to forget about an older session and good stuff ending up not being seen anywhere. So here's some of a wet June....

Whanga is probably pumping today too, this is from the beautiful ground swell that came trough June 3rd

Corey Asplin, well versed on the Waikato’s long lefts …clearly

..and speaking of, the one and only Taff Kennings

Not what you think, Taff lets his granddaughter India take off. The pack on the Bar is always hungry, there are no freebies, groms sit down the line waiting for scraps or a fall. It is the way it should be, you earn your way up the line. But what a gift, if you could, give your grand daughter a hook up.

Course, Taff is still going to get his share of the sets, India on the inside of this one

Taj De Basco-Millar... been getting a few of him lately aye!

Ryan Health powering through on his fishy quad

Second trip to Raglan in one week, the first one was recreational and in the last web log. The second was work- the best work- shooting for The King and Queen of The Point comp. You can see all those images on Surfing New Zealand's Facebook page HERE

Then last week, home... 6 days in the water in a row, good times

Luke Cederman with sprays bigger than the Lion

Samuel Parkes... one of Piha's most surfingest people

It might have been cold and rained a lot, it may well be the start of El Nino, the start of the sou-westers, but man, there was a serious amount of water time.

FROM THE GALLERY

Escaping / June 16, 2023 by craig levers

*...and quite frankly why wouldn't you if this was available*

I'm officially a middle aged grinch, a grumpy Gen X'er. I don't like birthdays, well, I don't like my birthday, it's not that it's one year closer to the grave, or a reminder that you're falling a part. I just don't like fuss. And of all the days in the year, surely this date of all dates is the spot in the calendar you should be able to do what the fuck you want?

I usually manage to escape, being a surfer is the best excuse ever. You have the very valid alibi that somewhere, anywhere is going to be better than home. You should try it, get the ball in motion a few months prior, hinting that you'd love to do a birthday roady, maybe the rellys can chip in for a motorhome hire? My thing is; what do you really want for a birthday? To be tied to obligatory dinners or be out in the briny.

*Stairway to heaven...remember when it was those horrible needley stones?*

No prizes for guessing where this year. To be honest I kind of thought I was being a bit lame just driving 2 hours down the road. But I had the sickest couple of days. Shooting and surfing, hanging out with old friends, sleeping in the Troopy, just being a photo/surfie guy.

*My favourite image of the day, Brie Bennett*

*the indomitable Mr Larry Fisher, happy birthday my fellow Gemini and former co-traveler and adventurer*

*Manu, Taj and Luke spending Wednesday well*

*The man, the ledge, Terry between carpet quotes*

*Taj Millar Dal Basco bookending the CPL web log again*

***FROM THE GALLERY***
*Fast becoming the new best seller, wait, it is the new best seller. Not really surprising is that? Sooo stoked to have witnessed and enjoyed this day...ahhh take me back. In the meantime, if you like****Day of Days*** ***you too could have it wall-side... like Shay, below.***

May Days / June 7, 2023 by craig levers

May is normally a crazy good month for surf around New Zealand. Settled autumn weather and the start of Antarctic lows driving swell up both the west and east coasts. Cooling down but still not chilly. And still the option of a north east swell. Back in the heyday of NZ Surf Magazines, May was always a bittersweet month. You'd often end up with your best action photos from around the country, but the winter issue would be your lowest advertising revenue and therefore your fewest pages to fill. Inversely, the November/December issue would naturally always be your biggest advertising budget, but the hardest one to fill off the back of the end of winter and spring.

May 2023 was good, Raglan pumped with some beautiful swells, Shippies enjoyed some epic days, Taras, Gizzy and Kaikoura all had their days. Around here was a little mixed, but there was lots of activity, seemed like the Coro kept pulsing in swell around the 1-3 ft mark for weeks on end.

*Taylor Hutchinson up from the BOP on business*

*Actual visual proof of Forestry breaking in a surfable manner*

*Forestry's grass is greener lure...yep you should totally paddle down there bro :)*

*Ol' Mate Justin Bambury still dominating the wave count!*

*Braedon Williams between shifts at the Whanga Surf Shop*

In Other News

The very talented surf photographer Jean Pierre Guillotin has rallied the troops for an Exhibition/Fundraiser in support of our West Coast communities. Come along, and bring your wallet, it'll be a cool evening. To get more details click HERE

FROM THE GALLERY

Fast becoming the new best seller, wait, it is the new best seller. Not really surprising is that? Sooo stoked to have witnessed and enjoyed this day...ahhh take me back. In the meantime, if you like Day of Days you too could have it wall-side... like Shay, below.

Order Out / May 17, 2023 by craig levers

Sorry, not sorry for the repetitive theme from last week's to this post. There was a plan to fill this week's edition with tantalising liquid delights from the east-side. However, the wagon's alternator had different ideas. Who doesn't like a $700.00 round trip to Ngatea anyway?

The new best, Day of Days, 19th April 2023. Now available for print HERE

One of the... if not THE thing I love most about my job is selling prints direct to clients. The PhotoCPL website is geared to selling un-framed pieces, which makes for far safer sending. But I get a decent amount of commissions where I handle the print and framing job, right from a consult and measure up at the clients' home to hand delivery. It's super satisfying and so cool to share their stoke of a new piece.

A couple of recents

Generally, the custom commissions are because the client wants a bigger piece than is available on PhotoCPL . At the first consult, I'll take a pix with the phone of the space the piece is intended to go. Then supply the client with a visual, like this...

In this case, the clients were toying with the options of a stretched canvas or more traditional framing. After seeing the mocked up positional, which is more like a canvas, Shay and Alana went for classic black box framing, which matches the other art in their home.

They went big! The finished outside dimensions are 1760mm wide x 1200mm high.

Happy client, and very happy photog- thanks Shay! ... although not so stoked I managed to get glare in exactly the same place in both phone pix.

Offshores starting tomods... frothing. See you at the beach.

FROM THE GALLERY

Shot at dawn on 30 December 2022 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

Raising The Bar / May 10, 2023 by craig levers

It was soooo hard sitting on this image. There was a quiet, nearly unspoken agreement amongst Piha's locals; while the road was closed and the bank on the Bar was as good as it was, don't post. There were some infractions, but actually they got shut down pretty fast. The idea being, yes of course a collective selfishness, but more over arching; just not create the temptation for the over-the-hill surfers. It was an incredible time, even as it was happening Piha's resident surfers knew it was something special. From 15 February 2023 until 5 May 2023 the Piha road was only open to residents. The roads and all the public infrastructures, like the carparks and public loos, had been nailed in Cyclone Gabrielle.

The idea was to restrict traffic and the weight of traffic on the roads while they were fixed. The roads have not been fixed or stabilised. The slips around and above public areas and roads continue to move. All the local walks and tracks remain closed. The vast majority of Piha surfers didn't surf at all in the immediate wake of Gabrielle. There was too much to do, volunteering at the Surf Club to wash dishes, or peel spuds for the dispossessed neighbours. Digging out neighbours driveways, handing out water to the crew walking out of Karekare, suppling power to neighbours.

This one WAS going to be a print, but then the 19th of April happened.

The bank on the Bar was already good before Cyclone Gabrielle, or more accurately the left in the middle of the bay that had hosted the Nationals in January. The cyclone flooded the Piha stream and that 36 hours of torrent running south of Lion Rock pushed all the sand into the south corner, along the Camel and the Nun. From there it groomed up more, with only the residents surfers to sample. The vibe in the water was fantastic... actually the correct word to use here... everyone smiling, everyone checking in on each other. There were sessions with only 4 or 5 of your neighbours out, where we'd all be wondering where everyone else was.

Not the best day but pretty damn pumping

Taking turns, giving waves away, laughing and never for a moment taking any of it for granted. We all knew it couldn't last. The local businesses were grovelling, banged up from the Covid years already and then into another lockdown. Nor would the bank last, a week after the Day of Days... the day that every single element pulled into alignment, a big south swell tore a hole in the bank. It might reshape and fill in, there's signs of it doing so.

But will there ever be a day with only 20 surfers out and waves peeling from behind the Nun down to in front of the surf club? Solid waves too. Truth be told 19th April maxed out over the low tide with the building swell. There where was through sets, but between the wide sets the line up pulled tight, and right on dusk the tide had filled in enough that the bank handled again. In many books the perfect balancing act.

It's a day I'll never forget.

Surfline currently have a Feature up that I co-labed with Jerry Aubertin about the Piha Road re-opening. It's **HERE**

Rip Rag Panic [kudos to those that get the inference] / March 22, 2023 by craig levers

Pretty fun Manu Bay all weekend for the Rip Curl Pro

Back into it again last weekend shooting for Surfing New Zealand at the Rip Curl Raglan Pro. You can view all the action shots over on SNZ's Facebook page, in the galleries HERE

I've made a point of going true school on the last few comps. I intentionally went for full frame and concentrated on the action, rather than a surfer in a landscape. Both have their place, but I feel for competition photography it's all about the turn. That said, I've also been on a bit of a mission to make good portraits. It's easy to post up behind the tripod and get lost in the cut and thrust of the heats, no one has a better vantage point to the subtleties of heat play than the guy with a 500mm lens. But to break away from that a try to show some of the dynamic behind the scenes stuff is a real challenge.

Indi Lee-Rudell watches Ella Williamson prior to her own heat

...and the grom class of 2023 for sure; Alani Morse, Lola Groube and Indi

The champs! A lot of National silverware held by this trio of surfers; L to R Leia Millar, Ava Henderson and Pia Rogers

The full frame-ness mentioned; Callum Chuter and perfect lip positioning

I fanboyed out, 3x World Champion and the surfer that every Pre-Momentum surfer modelled their style on Mr Tom Curren

Tom was accompanied by his son Pat Curren

Dan Kereopa was cruising around all weekend with his tamariki

Dan and Steve Ria- both true legends of our surf culture

speaking of... Lazza Fisher and Deane Hishon, Raglan Surf Academy's helmsmen

Keeping in the Raglan Surf Academy theme, here's the ex students-slash - last weekend's finalists; L to R Cassidy Mann, Jay Piper-Healion, Liv Hysom, Caleb Cutmore and Ava Henderson

Dan Westerkamp and Jermal Paerata prioritising

Taylor Hutchinson and Tao Mouldey waiting for the final scores to drop in their clincher 1/4, Tao inched out Taylor

Liv Hysom, successfully transitioning from junior surfing to being in the open finals conversation consistently

And watch out Open surfers, Junior Kalani Louis has been in that Open conversation all season too

Yeah Emmit, good to see ya. Former NZ Surf star Emerson Tucker keeping an eye on proceedings with his new bundle of joy in that foreground...ummm...bundle

Someone has to win, and I have to say Tim O'Connor's grace in victory was of note. He was quick to praise everyone else and defer to how exciting it was to watch the women's division. Nice work Timmy.

And yep that's Curren... oh and Ava Henderson and Timmy O’Connor ..sorta ruining my Curren shot if I'm honest

Alright, so for many at the Rip Curl Pro over the weekend, the fun was certainly tainted by the terrible news that Gizzy surfing stalwart Don Pearson passed on Saturday while surfing at his beloved Maka Point. Don has always been a huge supporter of Gisborne Boardriders. A devout surfer and christian, Don was also pretty handy behind a camera. I've known Don for 25 years, more probably, he'd post up next to me while one of his three daughters were in a Junior heat back in the day. In recent years I could bet Don would be the first to like and comment [probably a terrible Don dad pun] on a post. He'd be the first to reply to these very mailers. We'd talk about camera gear, camera nerd out, even if he was a Nikon guy. So this one's for you Don.

Don Pearson 25/11/1961 - 18/03/2023 [image stolen from Don's Insty @origins_of_light ]

From The Galleries

Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of **Whanga Bar** you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is **HERE** for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

Got You Covered / March 15, 2023 by craig levers

Last weekend I had the absolute honour of being the shooter for the 2023 Hurley Boardriders' Cup. I've bleated on before how much I love shooting comps, seeing different surfers evolve, catching up with old mates. Making new mates- all the good stuff.

Relax, this isn't going to be a blow by blow account of the weekend. What I will add is that the format of the Hurley Cup is great, the nation's board riders clubs are invited to bring a team along. It consists of one O40, 2 Open surfers, one woman and one junior. What happens is each boardrider club brings an entourage of competitors, supporters and parents. It's as close as you can get to grassroots surfing. It is encouraging involvement and activity at a boardrider club level.

The Mountie grubs, there in support and as it turns out support for the winning club.

It is a great event and you can see all the action on the Surfing New Zealand Facebook gallery HERE

Established, I love surf comps, as unpopular stance as that may be. And I loved my 15 years of working at New Zealand Surfing Mag; loved being a salaried surf photographer, but equally I learned to love the production process. Creating an issue, working on the flow and pagination of that edition. Working with the printer, I was tasked with press checks; Every 2-3 hours the next 16 page section of the magazine page plates would be loaded onto the press. I'd sit in with the printer and we'd tweak the colours. It's amazing what can be done on the press. I remember the Printing company's Rep visiting us and stating the page rate had to go up because we were using 25 kgs more ink than any other magazine our size. Mission achieved, in my books..wait magazines?

So this convoluted mansplaining leads to how I still edit photos. I think and shoot editorially. I'm rounding out a story line. And as always looking for that cover shot. Page 1, the most import page of any magazine or book. Now, I'm not going to claim I'm good at choosing covers, in fact I'd argue that my history proves I'm f@cking terrible and choosing cover shots. But once in a while a surfer does something in front of the lens and the old default kicks in... that's a cover shot.

On Saturday morning Oakura Boardriders team member Tom Butland was having a warm up surf prior to the comp starting. I've been shooting Tom at comps since he was 12, he's totally an example of that stoke of witnessing a surfer evolve thing. And he got a cover shot, an old school, early 2000's style cover, full frame, highly technical shot. Only problem, there's no cover for him to go on. There is no NZ Surf Mag. I do the rounds with his sponsors... no budget, no place to put it if they did have. So just for shits and giggles... Tom, here's your cover shot bro.

Here's the full frame ...

Butters- good bugger with a crazy air game... actually check out his clip on Vimeo HERE

...OH and Speaking of Clips

The 11th Aotearoa Surf Film Fest is in full swing and coming to your town...if it hasn't already been. HERE is the schedule.

FROM THE GALLERY

Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

15 Yeahs / March 8, 2023 by craig levers

March 2023 marks the 15 year of PhotoCPL Media lurching into life. Relax, I'm not going to bore you with a blow by blow account of that 15 years. Of course it did set off a bout of navel gazing. 15 years ago, all I wanted to do is perpetuate a surfing life, keep that the core of why and what is done. I have strayed at times, but it remains the core value. So far there have been 11 hardcover book projects and multiple side projects like postcards, weblogs, print sets, clothing, commercial commissions, exhibitions and even stamps.

One of the things I love the most is simple direct client print sales. While they account for 33% of the annual income, my marketing of them is terrible to non existent. So for a while I’m using Instagram to display how some of the PhotoCPL best sellers look big on a wall. Some of the walls are virtual, that is, I’ve just done what every print maker does, download some walls from a photo library and then photoshop in the prints. Have to say, I reckon they look pretty good, it is a good way of visualising how a print does look in a room to scale. There’s also some real ones.

Super grateful to all my past clients, looking forward to meeting the new ones. In the meantime, the tide is filling in nicely, swell is a fun 2-3 foot and sea breezey. I'm out!

FROM THE GALLERY

Go Big Or Go Home... but small is good too / February 8, 2023 by craig levers

Smokehouse Bay, Great Barrier Island; a pano shot for the currently out of press Big Little Beach Book. This installation went in last week, it's on Autex sound dampening tiles- hence the matt look finish below.

There's a champion of my work. I'll be eternally grateful to them. This person has put my images forward for four large projects with Auckland District Health Board, Auckland Hospital. All of the images have gone through vigorous vetting protocols, including opening up the selection to the staff, a whole raft of political correctness and hoop jumping. There are now four huge photo CPL murals in Auckland Hospital.

The goal of the installations is the break up the clinical starkness of the labs. The labs that are often associated with stressful times and quite frankly bad news. A distraction for the patient, a different thing to focus on. It is all, genuinely, noble stuff. It's also an overt attempt to brighten up the workplace for the staff. Invariably these MRI and CT scan labs have to be windowless rooms in the bowels of Auckland Hospital.

Mission Bay, also orginally shot for The Big Little Beach Book

None the photo murals bare a signature or a CPL logo, there's no brash call to view the website. Maybe there should be, but I figure, these are in there to help make a stressful diagnosis, a difficult work zone, just little bit more pleasant. I've been paid my fee, I don't need an advert on them. Sometimes I think we live in a time where everything is claimed, logo'd up, sub-marketed, over branded, over commercialised.

Piha Layers at 2.4 metres high x 11 metres wide

KareKare Point, another large pano that featured in The Big Little Beach Book

Maybe I read too much into it, but to have four large installs like these in Auckland Hospital is a career and personal highlight. Nice to be paid, for sure, but knowing that they might alleviate some stress or soften a stark place gives me the warm fuzzies

AND Deeeennnnn...

Wowsers! Thanks to all you you good bastards that have bought Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows It was a solid push over November and December, shipping was delayed for 6 weeks. Normally that would severely hamper sales, but somehow we've sold through 75% of the entire print. Pre-sales were the best we've ever had for a book, probably in part due to everyone being more comfortable with online purchases. But also because Warren's 3 prior books were so solid. This one, in my opinion, is Warren's best. Dunno what I'm talking about? You can preview the book HERE

Getting ready for the next Cyclone, you stay safe out there homies... I'll see ya on the other side next week.

B4 The Rain / February 1, 2023 by craig levers

Firmly in the 'guess who upgraded their drone and went on a roady' post category; the gorgeous Ange and I went up north. It's an awesome migration, seems like 50% of Piha's surfers flock to the FFN for a stint in January. I fricken love the anomaly. In part because of covering the Nationals [you can read that post HERE] we were late to join the Piha posse. Didn't matter, along with our neighbours Dave and Emma we had an epic week of surfing, 4x4'ing, camping and exploring. I'm going keep this brief this week... hope you like the drone shots.

ooosh, Rarawa beach in fine form...

Kind of actually pumping...Dave maybe regretting paddling for the first one.

Dave and his mate Ray

The wind went east so we went west

January and only one other family camping at the Bluff

Hash tag; Camplyfe!

The drone wasn't the only camera in the kit... this photo is inserted to prove that

Went to Te Paki dunes to shoot sand, got captivated by the clouds instead

so serene

AND Deeeennnnn...

Wowsers! Thanks to all you good bastards that have bought Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows It was a solid push over November and December, shipping was delayed for 6 weeks. Normally that would severely hamper sales, but somehow we've sold through 75% of the entire print. Pre-sales were the best we've ever had for a book, probably in part due to everyone being more comfortable with online purchases. But also because Warren's 3 prior books were so solid. This one, in my opinion, is Warren's best. Dunno what I'm talking about? You can preview the book HERE
Hope you are staying wet from salt water not rain out there.

FROM THE GALLERY

And because this is the drone on about drones post. Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

The 60th New Zealand Surfing Nationals / January 18, 2023 by craig levers

The 60th Edition of the annual NZ Surfing Nationals was a feat not to be scoffed at. It featured the one of the largest entrant numbers, over 400, meaning something like 216 heats. I got to be the official shooter again, which puts me at around 20 Nationals attended. It's a stoke and a privilege not taken lightly.

Piha turned it on. It was pumping at the start, a bit shit in the middle and then verging on epic for the last two days, wait, yes, hold that, it was epic- world class for the finals days.

The 7 days did not go off without a few hitches. I'm embarrassed about my own generation of parents, my friends. We are the helicopter and bulldozer generation. The ones that refuse to accept that their daughter or son could possibly have lost a heat through their own mis management or even - heaven forbid- lack of talent. That somehow it's OK to storm the officials' area, to treat officials like they are imbeciles. That somehow, despite never judging a heat, attending a judges' course or having any qualification, they have osmosified the rule book into their very inner being. It was cringey.

It has knock on effects. It directly affects the heats after, one or two officials are forced to shift attention from their core tasks. It wears the officials down, they are human, having someone standing toe to toe and berating them is not fun. I witnessed more than a couple of these incidents over the week where clearly the offender had got the wrong end of the stick, but refused to take on the information. Sadly, more than one offical stated this would be their last event. As they decompress that may change.

Yeah Adrian and Sam!

Surfing New Zealand will have to adopt and enforce protocols that other sports have had to. To protect their volunteers and officials from abuse. SNZ doesn't have to look too far; both the WSL and ISA have clear protocols on how to query a result.

Moving on, Surfing was the winner on the day. It actually was. The surfing done in every division was incredible. Women, Juniors, Open and the older divisions- they were tough heats, exciting heats, stacked heats. Man, some of the older division heats read like the whos's who of NZ competitive surfing. Lots of former champions, like the OG Benny Hutchings, Darren Kiwi, Pando and Hench.

I used to have to write up a Nationals feature every year....I'm starting to fall back into that role. Don't have to, so I'm not. Here's a gallery of some of my favourite shots from the 8,000 frames taken. Despite the haters and the naysayers, the 60th Edition was one of, if not the best, Nationals ever organised.

Raglan's Kora Cooper was one of the safe bets for the U18 Men, I think Billy Byers may have sorted him out with a hectic nocturnal calendar though :)

Defending Champ Daniel Farr couldn't quite make the last bracket this time, but he was right in the conversation until he wasn't.

You can't go to the top if you don't come off the bottom; surfing 101. And your U16 Womans Champ Alani Morse searing her way to victory.

Dune Kennings surfed the whole event with a fire in his belly- his passion was un-matched.

The flatmate! Billy Stairmand 8x National Open Champ was the on form surfer. It was the others to take off him.

...and holy crap, there's a new threat in town, grommet giant slayer Kalani Louis from the Naki shredded all event making the open final. Watch that name.

As was Billy, former National Champ Elliott Paerata-Reid was very much the on form surfer. The final came down to who got the best waves...now that reads obvious, but what's meant there is that every surfer in THAT final surfed on an elevated level. It came down to the wave selection, and of course the execution.

Another Taranaki Terror. Tom Butland's radicalness and rail surfing was excellent- the junior has become a serious threat.

Yeah the old boys! Darren Kiwi, all style, so much so the judges award him a National Title- pretty good way to mark your 50th Birthday Darren- nice my bro.

Whoa settle down James Washer, you're too old to hack like that!!!

Dune, and the artful combination of critical and precise board placement

Caleb Cutmore's champaign was cut short in the semi's, but man, every wave he got was a combination of well surfed variations. A testament to the depth of surfing NZ has at the moment.

Rick Lasch! Your smiling assassin, he will beat you.

Jrod, aka Jarrod Hancock surfed so many bloody divisions he needed a set of gills!I it worked though, he walked away with his 7th National title. He was ripping.

Keyhole member Liam Joyce was sooo on form in his O40 semi, he came 3rd in that final.

...and Matty Mattucks Scorringe .... finally the bridesmaid no longer! With turns like this, worthy of an Open finals, Matthew clinched his first National Title, the O35's...cos you know, he's OLD now.

...and then you know what happened, Hosting club Keyhole Boardriders had two Open Men finalists, Dune and Elliot, Dune won, his first Open Title to compliment his Junior Title.

Yeah browsers!

Yeah Dune!!!

The Keyhole swarm was insane. I don't think I've ever experienced such an outpouring of support for a winner. Then the haka at the presso lead by Dan Native...well, just wow. This is what NZ Surfing is.

FROM THE GALLERY

I'm stoked to present a new addition to the Waves Gallery on PhotoCPL.co.nz. Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

The Top 9...but are they??? / December 22, 2022 by craig levers

Around this time every year people start posting their top 9 most liked Instagram posts. The top most liked post doesn't mean they are the best photos, they are the ones that have struck a chord on your hand held device. Up above are the PhotoCPL top 9.

#1

Straight off the bat this one messes with the concept of the best, I mean I fricken love it, Mackenzie Bowden oozes style and panache, but the reason its number 1 is because Mac colabbed it on Insty, so his likes from his profile are pooled in too. Classy turn but aye.

#2

Again a bit of a distort, although I almost don't want to point it out because Al Sander's bottom turn here is everything good, a great Piha surfer on a solid wave, kind of within a line up....BUT it was the leading image in a post that had 4 more images in it... so was Al's THE shot? Did the other four images help push the likes up?

#3

The post only cost 7K to make!!! Of course Ange and I didn't get the Troopy resprayed for an Insty moment. The old girl's paint was failing, it's 25 years old, it was over due. But I have to say very stoked so many people liked this post. The Troopy is pretty mint now.

#4

East coast peelers posted during a swell event, it's kind of a cheap trick, even although the wave is only in the 3-4 ft range, we all love Eastcoast swells. The funny thing is, if I post a couple of 3 foot west coast waves peeling down a bank, meehhh. Maybe because it's less of a rarity?

#5

This sequence of Luke Cederman is mad. Frothed I got to capture the uber talented Raglan surfer going through a nearly daily ritual.

Warren Hawke also used the main image in his book NZ Surf Windows

#6

No hedging on this one; one of the best barrel sequences of my career as a waterphotographer. It's technically near on perfect, sharpness and exposure etc. From a surfing point of view a heaving tube with Napes right in the driver's seat. Here's the whole sequence, I don't know which is the best frame.

#7

Who doesn't love a dreamy 4 wave line up of Wharikiriki. This older line up was posted because it is a full page in NZ Surf Windows as part of a feature about Ahipara and the changes the breaks have and are going through. It was the hardest feature to write for me. But I was able to reach out to locals and local iwi to hopefully convey a balanced perspective on one of our national surfing treasures.

#8

Another sequence, on a small summer's day out west, quite frankly the days I froth to surf, but choose to swim instead.
It paid off, Bill Byers landing more images in NZ Surf Windows

#9

Luke Cederman makes the top 9 twice...wellllll he had a little help; this post was another of those multiple image posts. Love that it's well over head surf.

It's certainly true that I also like these images too. Are they all my favourites of 2022, no. There are images from 2022 that where more commercially successful, like the use of this image in Auckland Hospital, which is the third PhotoCPL image/mural for ADHB, AND there's a fourth going in next year.

This post could go on for days, me splitting hairs over what photos of 2022 were best and what best means. 2022 was another strange year, still Covid affected, lingering injuries hampering shooting and surfing, regardless it was a good year. Warren Hawke created a book that I had the honour of publishing and contributing too...you may have noticed it has been mentioned a few times. Making a surf book is an all consuming project, it's taxing, but if you get it right, its also rewarding, hopefully financially too, but adding just a little more documentation to our Kiwi surfing community. It's not something Warren or I take lightly. Anyways... 2022- you where weird.

And that's it for me, see ya next year.

Courting Media / December 14, 2022 by craig levers

There's no point in crafting a masterpiece if you're going to hang it in a closet. I don't actually believe that, the creative process, the act of making something shouldn't be belittled. But in this case, the creation of a book, one of the most important things to be done is letting people know the title exists. Warren Hawke is very, very good at this. Courting media to garner exposure for NZ Surf Windows

Last Friday Warren was interviewed on Radio New Zealand by the absolute legend Karen Hay. You can listen to that interview HERE

Warren also secured the lead feature [and cover] of the Pegasus Post

Word has it that all the other Canterbury regional papers are picking up the story this week.

There's also a NZ Surf Windows book giveaway we are doing with Surfing NZ on their Insty accoun tHERE

All hands to the pump! Finally the first round of distribution is done, all the leading surf shops in Aotearoa have NZ Surf Windows plus it is in gift stores and book stores, support our retailers.... but if you just wanna get it, c'mon over to PhotoCPL.co.nz we'll sort you out.

We will be packing and posting right up until December 19 for Nationwide deliveries. But honestly, if you are thinking of getting any product, not just NZ SURF Windows, I mean anything from anywhere, don't dilly dally, the supply lines are under strain for sure.

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Surf is good Westside.... see ya out there - CP

Multi Discipline / December 7, 2022 by craig levers

...just wow.. 15 year old Zedyn Fellows

I'm not going to load you up with skate images from last weekend's epic Verticus, but you can view the CPL gallery over on Manual Magazine HERE

...and you should. Also if you have a passing interest in skate then you'll be excited to know David Read the founder of Manual Magazine has just put out a print issue of the magazine- yes PRINT. David reckons that the drive behind going to print is that the kids want it, they want to read and see images on pages not screens- all I can add is amen bro- you're speaking my language!

Gav Bisman and Cale Tolley, the organisers of Verticus at that post event sigh moment; 'we did it, nobody died, no dramas'

Z, Open winner and biggest air winner, happy as.

The division champs, Z, Leigh 'Squeak' McKenzie, Yeva Butler and CJ Hawker.

How sick is Al Ashworth's image and in fact all the images in the Surfline feature Burning Memories Part 1

There's a couple of CPL ones in there too, but to be fair I feel like Al nailed the day. Good on you ol boy!!! F#ck the lefts- look at those dreamy right hand canvases!!!

So excited. It's the start of the ramp up for the 2023 Aotearoa Surf Film Festival. I'm a founding judge, so absolutely I will be watching and I will be judging 2023 in a highly judgemental way. Now I mean this is a positive way; you'd be surprised how few and how lo-fi some of the Kiwi submissions actually are each year. In other words, don't be intimidated, have a go, behind the scenes collectively as judges try to support and nurture everyone who puts in a submission. Tell your surfing story. Check out the submissions page on ASFF HERE

N...

All hands to the pump! Finally the first round of distribution is done, all the leading surf shops in Aotearoa have NZ Surf Windows plus it is in gift stores and book stores, support our retailers.... but if you just wanna get it, c'mon over to PhotoCPL.co.nz we'll sort you out. Below is delivery cut offs from NZ Post.

We will be packing and posting right up until December 19 for Nationwide deliveries. But honestly, if you are thinking of getting any product, not just NZ SURF Windows, I mean anything from anywhere, don't dilly dally, the supply lines are under strain for sure.

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Pin Ups / November 30, 2022 by craig levers

These two pinhole camera images are winging their way to their new owner as you read this.

I wouldn't claim at anytime that I have great insight or overview. There are only a few times ever I can recall thinking, yep this is it. At the tender wee age of 9, surfing was one, I remember standing on my dinged up third/fourth hand Bob Davie at Orewa [yes Orewa!] and being so enthralled by the ride, and realising I was tapping into something bigger. Pure fun, pure stoke [definitely didn't know that word existed at the time]. Photography was more of a slow burner, I'd dabbled for 6th Form Art, loved it, but just didn't have access to a camera. Hindsight is a funny thing, I have in past kicked myself as to why from 16-21 I didn't somehow find a way to get a camera. I need to give young CP a break, I was growing up, leaving school, bailing to Aussie to pursue surfing, SURFING! Living at Kirra, being a teenage surf brat. The best of times.

This one incorporates the same Fuji Instant film negative reclamation technique as the two pin holes above.

I finally stumped up and got a 'proper' camera with 2 lenses when I was 21. The first roll of film was like those first waves on the Bob Davie, this is something I need to do. Probably because of my advanced age, a stately 21 as opposed to 9, there was an awareness I was tapping into something that I was going to do for life. Something that you'd keep on learning and growing within. So when I wrote; a very few times in my life- I meant only twice. I'm pretty shallow like that.

The biggest issue with photography is I can't seem to stay in my own lane. I love learning new/old techniques and just learning. It means the output can be confusing.

Salvation Mountain, California. Fuji Instant film shot with a 1970's Land Camera.

So sorry, not sorry, no surfing images with week. Multi media images made with 3 completely different film cameras- somebody clearly has a camera/ E-bay issue! AND DEEEN...

Promote, sell, process, pack. I like it, it is super satisfying work. There's been a lot of mansplaining about the the knock on effects of the whole shipment being 6 WEEKS... 6 WEEKS late. And here's another knock on. The time for Christmas overseas deliveries has gone! F%%%&&&&CK!

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

ANNND Deeen......Fast becoming one of the firm favourites... who are we kidding it's already a firm fav! This is where I'll be December 3, coping side making images like these ones HERE

Offshores and Going Postal / November 23, 2022 by craig levers

Did it have to end? It probably hasn't anyway. But for the longest spell in a while we have howling on-shores with no sign of let up. A stark contrast to the year and a half we've had of there always being an off-shore puff in the long range forecast. With the new book arriving, the windows I've had to shoot have been very time critical. Sure enough, the times and tides haven't worked out for swimming with the camera of those really epic sessions. Here's the last of the offshores, I suspect the bank won't handle the onshore lashing it is getting now.... but who knows, the storms could gouge the rip channels into perfect bank makers???

Brendon Shadbolt, all style as always..and probably into hour 5

Are you getting the impression there may have been good waves?

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

.Fast becoming one of the firm favourites... who are we kidding it's already a firm fav! This is where I'll be December 3, coping side making images like these ones HERE

Got It, Get It / November 16, 2022 by craig levers

It Was Marginal At Best....

the ol', Ohhh fricken great, here comes the duck diving practice, moment

It was one of those west coast arvos where everything should have aligned, it could have been just handling, the bank in question certainly had held a swell like this in the weeks prior. The carpark froth was at an all time high. Well that might have just been me, I was determined to swim out with the water camera, amping, but that little annoying niggle of logic kept niggling.

It's the eternal balancing act all surf photographers have to deal with; shoot from the water, reducing your hit rate dramatically, but maybe getting that banger. Or opt for the safety of the big lens and the tripod on the beach. Not as dynamic images, but a far higher hit rate. Can you swim out? Can you stay in position with the rip? Are the sets breaking in a predicable place to even line up? My default is ALWAYS try to swim.

This day logic won out. I doubt I could have made it out into the line up with the camera in tow. And then the ridden wave count was so low, it would have been next to impossible to be in the spot to be lined up with the rider. I opted for my favourite rock perch with the tripod and big lens.

Luke Cederman found a few diamonds in the rough

Post surf debrief, we figured out the swell pulsed that evening. That combined with an incoming tide, meant more energy pushed over the outer banks. Instead of the incoming tide helping the inner bank hold the swell, it maxed it out, making for some dodging, weaving and carnage.

Dune Kennings finding his way through a froth monster

Kye Bedford was on mission, he won the heat for sure

Luke expressing his full stoke and admiration of the conditions

Surfline used a couple of the shots last week, the lads got a run. Worth it!

AND DEEEN...

Leia Millar was pretty stoked with her feature in the new book NZ Surf Windows The Gundy/Millar clan were in fact the very first delivery, the first customers to see the book.

After 6 weeks...6 WEEKS!!! Of shipping delays, the new Warren Hawke book NZ Surf Windows is finally here. The last 5 days have been consumed with packing and shipping all the pre-orders and surf shop orders.

I was going to gloat about the tons of books that have been moved since last Friday. Then I worked out that it was only about 600 kgs, the same 600 kgs handled multiple times, divided, repackaged, collated, shipped, but I dunno, it just doesn't sound like that much aye?

Of course I'm not the only one handling the book sales, the other 2.5 tons of NZ Surf Windows have been shipped to book stores nationwide by our Book Representatives. About half of that 2.5 tons was pre-sold to the bookstores. You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Titles, Orders and Books / November 9, 2022 by craig levers

2022 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles

I've been fortunate to do some pretty cool stuff. I was so stoked to be asked to cover the Maori Surfing Titles for Surfline. Back in the early 1990's we'd always attend; this was when Dano Waiweri and the Waitara Boardriders founded the event. Dano Invited Chris Berge and I to cover it for NZ Surf Mag. I didn't realise until this year that I'd been at the inaugural one and the subsequent ones hosted by Waitara. We [Chris and I] loved the comp, we are both Pakeha, but the vibe and the unique Kiwi-ness of it made it a must do for the magazine every year. We placed nearly as much importance on it as the Nationals. Of course that was a lifetime ago, as much as things have changed, they haven't. The kotahitanga and manaakitanga have only become stronger. Anyway! Loved covering it, and super super grateful to the Ria whanau, Charles Kauwhata and Manuel Springford [and everyone] for all their behind the scenes help. You can read the Surfline feature HERE

Oh, and I got to rescue 3 different vehicles.... such a bonus- love a good snap!

Keep Your Eye Out

Oooosh!! The big guns have come out the play on this one, with a leather bound limited edition available [still, maybe!] and word from the OG's like Owl Chapman and Wayne Lynch- it's gotta be gold right? I've been told the print run is very small, so if this is something you'd want, best best you get on it.

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Check it out HERE

Order Up

How good! This commission went in a few weeks ago. The client wanted the shot they'd seen in one of the PhotoCPL mailers for this wall in their Air B’n’B studio. No worries, the end result is a 1200mm wide x 600mm deep canvas.

Do you reckon it should be loaded up to the PhotoCPL Waves Gallery?

AND DEEEN...

The shipment of NZ Surf Windows is sitting off Browns Bay, the vessel missed its scheduled berth. In the publishing world this is commonly known as ‘We’re F&cked’. Warren and I had already canned the proposed dates for the book launches. It does mean the Pre Sales deal, which have already exceeded expectations, has been extended. You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE