Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026
2025 was challenging with some big changes. I've been managing a dodgey hip and it's demise for a few years. In 2025 it all but completely gave out. In August I finally had hip surgery, a fancy as Birmingham procedure. A longer recovery than the standard hip replacement but a better outcome.
To compound rehab we moved from beloved Piha to Whangamata. I didn't really want to do it, but I'd come around to the logical rationing the gorgeous Ange presented.
Prepping your house for sale, selling and moving sucks. There is no fun in any of it, it is hard graft. We thought buying a new house would be fun. It wasn't. Uncovering vendors sins; leaky roofs, rotting framing, un-permitted additions and asbestos.
It wasn't the best idea to have two such significant life events happening concurrently. But that's what happened.
Big Boy pants firmly on, what it all meant is an exciting 2026, numero uno- get to go surfing again. It's been tough not surfing for nearly two years. And we did score a great property in Whanga, that has all the potential to be a killer pad... keyword there ... potential. It's a doer upper.
I miss Piha and the crew dearly. BUT Whanga is pretty fricken cool.
And seeing how 2025 was the year of change, Luke Darby and I threw out the old PhotoCPL.co.nz website. Completely reformatted and templated the whole fricken thing. It meant all 390+ blogs were lost. The theme seems to be taking a hit for the greater good eh?
In keeping with trends, here's my top 10 images from 2025, a bit eclectic, random as well as the obvious.
The Taranaki Nationals 2025 was a big one for me, the first Nats I ever shot officially was the Taranki Nats 1995. It was like a homecoming, full of good vibes and great sessions. That emotional connection is why 4 of my top 10 come from that one week.
The Naki legend Tom Butland, absolute man turn
Kaniya Webb from the same session, this shot was later used as a full page in Submachine Magazine Vol 16
Yeah Ava Henderson! Your 2025 Open Women’s Champ, the peoples Champ and alround good bugger. Yep she’s giving me the bird, but it’s an inside joke. And she is number 1 after all.
Good vibes! The Keyhole Boardrider’s support crew at Stent Road, Finals Day
8128 represent! Dune Kennings and Elliott Paerata-Reid’s permanent tribute to our fallen neph
I got a new lens after the Nats. I love full framers, so when a 800mm F5.6 Canon beastie popped up on Trade Me I had to hit the buy now. Actually Wazza Hawke put me on to it, he text the listing, I text back; you bastard. We both knew it was a costly chat. Here’s Dan Davie, filling the frame
May Days, it’s the time of year everything falls into place in Aotearoa, surf wise. This May didn’t disappoint. This is probably the shot of the year for me as far as popular and print sales. You like? Well you can buy it HERE
Obligatory ad break…. you can even wear it! Check out the PhotoCPL Merch Store HERE
This image of Karne Pitcher was also used as a double page spread in Submachine Vol 16. Pretty stoked on the image, the sequence and that it got printed in a mag.
The first water session after the hip operation. And it was a goodie; reconnecting with old mate Shaun Boucher and coming in feeling that the hip was strong. Bloody good times.
Harrison Biddle was out too, we got some good hook ups
oopppsy, 11 is the new 10. The second camera swim was really good too. I’ve added this one to the Waves Gallery HERE
See you at the beach crew!