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Aloha,
This is what I came here for, this is what you spend 48 hours travelling for. THIS is what the North Shore Pilgrimage is all about. Today, for a few hours, the Banzai Pipeline was absolute perfection. The swell came together, the winds were in a good mood and Da Hui held their Backdoor Shootout.
Funny thing isn’t it. The Pipemasters runs mostly at Backdoor while the Backdoor Shootout runs at Pipe. Go figure!
Why weren’t you in the water I hear you say. Well I was, at least I tried. I tried and the ocean spat me out to perform the Walk of Shame. I swam, attempted to swim, out from infront of Pipe but ended up way past Ehukai Beach Park and near Rocky Rights all within 5 seconds. I timed it completely wrong, completely. I hung my head in shame, walked back kicking the sand sat down and contemplated it again. There were a few occasions had a I become Aqua Man I could have made it out but I paid heed to the spooky feeling I had all morning admitted defeat and shot from the land. Had I not you wouldn’t be seeing this perfect lineup.
Until tomorrow . . an alarm clock means get out of bed.
Mahalo
Aloha
Please understand why I cannot use an A-Grade for the postcards but today I will resort to the over used word of froth. People, I am frothing over todays photos. If this is not the absolute best just imagine the frame a split second after this . . . CHACHING
Yes I had a fanbloodytastic day at the office. It started with smaller than yesterdays offerings it was water imitating mirror glass but it was small, so I phaffed around passing time till the expected bump in swell. Come afternoon we decide it’s time. After consulting my surfers I head down with the big lens, BAD IDEA. Don’t have someone else tell you which lens to use. Back to the house I race to switch for the fisheye. Chad aren’t you glad I did that, so much for no barrels.
One or two A-Grades, a bevy of B-Grades and tomorrowis expected to be just as good if not better! Can you contain yourself!!
From all the cycling and swimming I’ve been doing lately my legs are feeling like jelly sticks so it is off to bed as I have given myself an early rise time of 7AM.
Until tommorrow . . bring the granola bring the yoghurt, its aqua wednesday!
Mahalo
Aloha,
Glassy glassy conditions this morning but we held off for what we thought would be better conditions in the arvo but alas it dropped even further. Never the less I swam out to further master the art of the zoom port and Mr. Roy Powers came out for a bit of fun.
I have a new target to shoot at, Shaun Joubert joined the North Shore community and both he and Chad were busting their airs and landing in 20cm of water. Nice time to snap your fins when in 3 days it’s going to be cranking.
Sorted out my Aussie visa as well today. ALL visa applications should be online like the Australia ETA visa application. Credit Card details pay your 20 Kangaroo dollars and wham your allowed in for three months multi entry, if yo have an Italian passaporto that is, mwhahaha.
Swell charts indicate a bump is on the way, rumor mills recon the best swell, meaning cleanest, since the start of the season. Dust of your lens cloths format your cards, lube the o-rings and get ready for some aquatic eye candy.
Fourth cover on the way, yes I only have two so far but confidence didn’t kill the cat.
Until tomorrow . . when faced with photo selection dilemmas, cast a vote and veto if your favourite is not the winner.
Mahalo
Aloha,
Lucia you gem you, I owe you a drink, a Starbucks a something. Maybe even a box of scons and some English Toffee. Who would have thought a little rub a dub dub would have solved all my port problems. Get your mind out the gutter those of you snikkering right about now!
Thanks to Lucia and her little trade secret I bring you this shot of Chad who now joins the “Two Postcard Club”. Getting bored of the fisheye barrel shot, yes yes how could one get bored of such a glorious view, trust me you do. After watching Chad pull double grab air after double grab air I had a brainwave, ‘Imagine that view from behind with all the palm trees’. Today wasn’t quite the day for it, yes we had sun which I will get to but the ramp section wasn’t enough. It will come oh yes it will come, I waited long enough for my prized barrel shot so I can wait a few days longer for my air shot.
Today was a beautiful sunny day, the first day of sun and only sun in a full month. Not a drop of rain to seen, felt or heard. With that in mind I think I have seen more rainbows in 7 weeks than I have in 7 years but I still haven’t grown tired of them.
But with the sun came the crowds and with the crowds came the WolfPak. No waves for anyone else, game over.
I got wet I got tanned I got my shots I was content, then I came home had my hotdog sandwich and I was satisfied. A cuppa tea a sunset and I was finally happy to let the day drift into the realms of groundhog day breaking status.
Until tomorrow . . . when the sun is shining get out of bed before 9am!
Aloha,
In the words of Murry, “Damn Tourists”. The bike path is just that, the bike path. Not a place to congregate for conversation nor is it a place to rest your bikes while you sit on the railings. Damn tourists.
This is seriously getting annoying now, I understand it is the tropics but a full month of rain everyday is too much. I have resorted to cycling in a specific set of clothes thanks to mud splashes. I must look like a trolly hobo in the same set of clothes everyday, a well off hobo though since I am pedalling with all my gear.
Started off shooting land this morning, got some ok stuff but the call of the ocean got the better of me when I witnessed what looked like some very round sets rolling through Backdoor.
Needless to say it was not as round as it looked, nor was it as good as it looked. I did get a barrel shot or two, a nice fly-by of terrydactul. Can’t remember this chaps name but it’s todays pick of the choice.
In order to shoot in the water today I must have cycled a great number of kilometers before I had all the gear required. One trip to get the housing and another trip after I forgot the all important fisheye.
Until tomorrow . . word on the street revolves around an early monring Backdoor session.
Mahalo
Aloha,
That’s correct folks, the life of a travelling photographer is not all glitz and glam. When Murphys Law strikes a backyard corridor becomes the next best thing to a studio.
I had to get a photo of Terry Ahui (pictured) for a group shot of “Da Hui” which Aaron did before he left but Terry was not present so after some photoshopping Terry will look like he was right there with the rest of the Hui.
You see I needed to have similar lighting to the original, it was cloudy when Aaron did the main image. It was cloudy all day long, until I had to take the photo that was and then the sun came blaring through in all its glory making my life muddy. So my white sheet to make cutting out nice and easy and my assistant, a very tall 17 year old by the name of Brent went trompsing through the mud.
Never the less, I hope the boss is happy with my attempt, if not I blame it on the wheather.
Until tomorrow . . . unlike the Law of Murphy nothing is guaranteed.
Mahalo
Aloha,
Looks like a lego setup doesn’t it. But no it’s not, infact this is Sunset from the channel. Wish I could say I was going for the lego look but alas I would be lieing and liars never prosper. I can forsee great headaches from shooting with the zoom port. Give me a jetski any day.
Low and behold the sunshine this morning, low and behold it didn’t last long. Does it still count as a Groundhog day if I did something I hadn’t done on the North Shore yet, I refer to the swim at Sunset.
Happy Birthday Jugs, Happy Birthday Phil. Remember, hot tubs and soap on a roap go hand in hand, scuse the intended pun. Is it too early to start counting the days till my birthday? Can I at least start my wish list?
Took my extended family out for dinner as a small thanks for putting up with me as a squatter. Tasty food, no matter where you are in the world Chow Mein is always tasty. Oh and bananas wrapped in pastry, TRY THEM TASTE THEM YOU WILL LOVE THEM.
Until tomorrow . . . when the chips are down eat the crumbs.
Mahalo
