dawn of a new day

I am anxiously anticipating the start of a new year. A chance for new beginnings.

my sled on snow

I did something for me today- it felt good.

Holga Relics

An old D fin and rusty lounger complete with old school chain link fence.

A tribute to Greg Brady's Tiki God Jinx

I was stoked about the art on this guy's board. It must have been some kind of herb-induced tribute to the Greg Brady Tiki jinx I guess..

A look down the beach

a couple from my old holga- the thing is so light leaky.

Remembering My Brother..

10 years ago this evening (12/23) was the last time I saw my brother, Tom. Unfortunately, later in the early hours of 12/24/99 he passed on. My memory of that evening with him is etched in my mind. We had good laughs and quality conversation that evening that I often think of. Tom's tremendous spirit filled with soul, thoughtfulness and sensitivity still lingers with me. He is missed greatly. Happy Christmas to all!! Enjoy, the time spent with loved ones- Be awake in their presence and encode the memories.

Winter dawnpatrol

I took this shot sometime last winter- i really like the way it captures the early morning quietness of winter dawnies.

My beloved pile of crap

My current camera quiver. embrace the blur!!!

a hull print

An impression in the snow of my microant II.

the arrow says go right but..the wave says left

Today is the first snow fall of the year - about 15 inches of snow in total. overhead slushy surf reported... time to dig out the driveway and car.

tidal flooding

I took this shot during our last swell event (ida). We are expecting a low pressure system to swing into action Saturday into Sunday.. Hoping for some frigid lines with artic north winds on Sunday morning. Its always fun to have to shovel out the car from the snow prior to the dawn patrol.

low tide

Good times last night at Andrew Kidman's Ether show at Gallery 303- His photographic work is very inspiring to me.

Calling all Coops...

I am looking to trade this 10'1 cooperfish nosedevil for another quality log (tyler, cooperfish, lance carson or tasty vintage rider). If ya got something drop me an email brullj@gmail.com
The board is in very good condition and is a moving sidewalk/noserider- i just wish it was a 9'8"

abandon service stations...

I have always really liked abandoned service stations- not to many around my neck of the woods but this one struck my fancy last week.

Old and in the Way..

I have been very interested in photographing old objects as of late- I have always been very inspired by Walker Evans photographs of objects in decay.

Don't look back... take it for what it was..

Here is a shot of my friend Adam, after a desperado log session in September. I was out of the water recovering from my surgery and somehow I was imagining the surf was much better than it actually was-- I couldn't understand why everyone was talking it down. In retrospect the wave was lame and I was just jonzing and feeling a bit whiney that I couldn't be doing what I wanted to. This was my second x-processed roll shot with an old lubitel 2

winter's last light

Winter sunsets in New York are unreal. The only time of the year we get to see the beauty of a days end occur on the ocean's horizon.

Rhode Island...

I exposed this photograph after an extremely fun log session on the Friday after thanksgiving. The sun was attempting to come out during a very rainy and cloudy day. The diffused light was so nice despite the rain creating so many soft tones.

Avery Hunting Sea Shells

Here is a recent photograph of my daughter on one of our trips to the beach. She loves looking for sea shells and so do I!!!! Hopefully this summer, she will begin surfing, I can't wait to share that with her!!!

Off to see Bob Weir and Phil Lesh tonight at the Hammerstein Ballroom- looking forward to it big time.

a hurricaine fence..at dusk

This photograph reminds me a lot of an early pictorialist photograph. I am very inspired by the early work of strand, Stieglitz's and crew. The photo is taken with my trusty modified hawkeye, cross processed ektachrome 200, post dusk hrs in November.

It's been a year.....

It's been a year to date since I established this blog. A quick and rather chaotic year that's been marked by personal growth and some trying times. Surfing and my photography have been tremendously cathartic outlets that have nudged me forward while time keeping me in touch with the dynamic interplay of anticipation and mindfulness.

incoming tide...

Captain Jack's Phish Sticks

r to l- 6'2 swift movement Larry Mabile, 6'4 Chris Christenson Quad Fish, 6'9 Josh Hall Long Fish Simmons- all rolled san diego down rails- giddy up...
headin' to see phish at the garden tomorrow night- kinda psyched

late afternoon light..

I was really stoked on the quality of the light when I exposed this shot-so warm and subtle.

another shot of IDA at dawn

landmarkers.......

I had the opportunity to surf this spot over the weekend, what a nice set-up- the waves were perfectly groomed by the combination of cobblestones and offshore winds- so fun on my malibu foil II. Those in the know will recognize these boulders..... thanks for the hospitality.

absurdity of form 2

I am not sure why, but I can not resist snapping photogrpahs of any sort street side vehicle that is covered in some sort of vinyl or canvas. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is a boat, car, scooter or motorcycle, there is something about the absurd form attracts me... for what its worth.

On another note, yesterday I did a quick hit to Rhode Island to pick up my photographs from Myopic Books in Wakefield. I want again to thank Kristen and Danny for their generosity in inviting me to display some of my photographs. If you are in Rhode Island and you dig used book shops, I highly recommend a visit. I got to surfed with Dan for a few hours at Matunick-what a super fun log wave. Nothing like cobblestones and off-shore winds to groom the lines. I enjoyed getting in touch with my coop malibu foil II again- such a well crafted log.

happy thanksgiving!!

Give thanks to this beautiful thing called surfing!! Enjoy the unique pleasure of this fortunate pursuit of ours.

the lo-down

Here is a shot I exposed using my brownie hawkeye- I love how the lens captures the low ceiling that the most recent low pressure system produces.

Ida at dawn

I exposed this photograph at the pre-dawn hours on a cold, cloudy and rainy morning as IDA approached. I like the sense of anticipation and the drama of the pre-dawn light and the outline of my friend scouting out the break. The tidal surge was quite high, creating a psuedo mini-river mouth. This morning was the start of the 5 mil wetsuit season.

Nor'Easter Ida continued...

This photograph was taken last saturday morning- Ida was filling in, despite the tide bing a bit too high, some big ones were rolling through.

parrish in da haus

Tom Parrish- never heard a bad word about his boards...

Dan and his Sacred Craft

This is a photograph I took of Dan and one of his sacred crafts last sunday (ida peaked). Dan rides a variety of boards shaped by a underground shaper here on Long Island (see previous posts of Matt). Dan is so stoked on Matt's boards, quirks and all!!! Check it- a twin fin stinger with diamond tail and wide point way forward. The board is so thick with volume to the rails. say what ya will about it, but Dan is so stoked on them and he rides them WELL.

ida don't ya cry

November Nor'easter mornings are always very mood- cold winds, cloudy rain, east swell.

thoughts of the evening session

What a great evening session tonight- I finally caught the remnants of nor-easter Ida. Clean minus tide bowls and good friends to share with. The waves were a little fast and the drift was a bitch, but the occasional freight train made it all worthwhile. The sunset was incredible, casting violet light on the froth and the seabirds were swarming. To top it all off I took the biggest thrashing in a long, long while on a late take-off bowly set wave- It felt so good to get worked! kinda made me feel alive and well!!

mmmmmollusk....

I was clicking around a couple of days ago in the blogosphere and I came upon Ryan Tatar's shots from molluskny on shakasandsinglefins. His shots put me in mind of the shots I took some time ago when visiting my friends at MolluskNYC. I wish I had know that Ryan was in town as I am a huge fan of his work and I would have enjoyed meeting him. His compositions just work for me as they seem so spontaneous and in the moment.

NP: Soundtrack from Kidman's LAST HOPE

Please Tell My Brother.....

Here is a portrait of my brother that I took shortly before he passed away (1999). Tomorrow will be the second annual Tommy Brull Foundation Benefit. Tom is my brother who passed away ten years ago. My family started a foundation to keep his memory alive. Monies generated from the auction, and event go to support agencies and individuals in our community who are dealing with physical, mental or emotional challenges. Last years event raised over 20,000 dollars. This years event features an Andrew Kidman set, as well as dub style djay (Mach from Shipworm and Gribble). Auction items include custom shortboards, a noserider, and some surfy Art (Matt clark, Tommy Colla, Susannah Ray and myself). If you would like to hear more about the good work of the foundation or would like to donate-shoot me an email brullj@gmail.com

Real Irish fisherman knit

here us another photograph from my trip to Inishmore- such a seafaring island!!! i am sure there are some killer surfspots to be found with its rocky coastline

a jersey morning

Over the last week, I have gotten several inquires about this image- Its one of my personal favorites- The light was so soft, the wave was so perfect..

windblown walk back

a fliipped brownie shot from rhode island. I kinda like the off-balanced body position so counter to surfing.

Captain Fin Scratched My Anchor...

Here is the Good Seafaring Irishman. The photograph was taken on during my boat trip to Inishmore (Aran Islands) sometime ago. He had the complete look going. He could be walking around "billyburg" these days.

early morning summer time micro-glass

rhode island hunter seeker

this dude was quite serious about his video gaming-kinda scared me a bit!!! x-processed LC-A image

tidal pool 1

Snapped this one on a beautiful morning with some intense clouds and an easterly swell. full moon tide was dropping and leaving some neat tidal pools.

one from the archives

this is one of my favorite shots from the past year. i posted up early in my entry into the blog world and i thought i put it up again. i like the play between the tractor marks and the wave. hoping to get some clean ones this afternoon

A connected evening

I got in the water yesterday for my first consecutive day to day surf session in some time. I hesitated a bit due to the limited light (day light savings time) and sketchy wind report but I finally mustered up the motivation to make the trip. I got in the water from 4PM til 5:30PM and enjoyed the most intense sunset/moonrise combination i have seen in some time. Total glass-off at dusk, so the ocean took on a transcendent quality of color, energy, stillness. A moment to moment awareness emerged that allowed the distance between the me (the individual) and the environment at large to dissolve and merge. While the waves were a little fat and the swell angle was to east- the experience was still quite fulfilling and a deep sense of relaxation ensued.

On another note- i stumbled upon two brief on-line write-ups on my photographs that i thought I'd pass on:

http://driftsurfing.com/blog/?p=2571

http://www.theadventurelife.org/2009/11/from-lo-fi-to-head-high/

It is nice to read that my photographs are being seen and understood. thanks drift and the adventure life!!

getting back to normal

Yesterday I celebrated my 44th birthday (ouchh) with a extended morning session. Clean waist/rib high lines coming in and I spent time getting re-aquainted with my hull. Every time i ride my hull i am always amazed at the speed,very different that fish speed as when in trim it just excelerates. Put it neutral and let her FLY!!!
I happy that things are starting to feel normal. My anxiety is down and my timing and wind are slowly returning. My stoke meter is back on the rise- feels so good!!!!

Fooman and the Rad Warrior

Missing the early days of fall, with the crisp morning light, wispy off shores, warm water and a vague sense the summer was still around. Hoping to get my latest aquisition in the water tomorrow for her maiden voyage (mid sixties hansen 50/50). Surfcasts are calling for light offshores with a little knee-thigh high wave. I havent ridden my longboards in quite a while- looking to get re-aquainted.

last light after a good swell

I love photographing at pre-dawn and post dusk- the negs become much more tricky to work with but these under exposed lo-fi. negs can really capture a mood. Sometimes less detail evokes more mental/emotional reactions for me and hopefully the viewer- i haven't shot in a while- just not feeling too inspired-i did get in the water yesterday for the first time in over a month- good to cleanse!!

another view from out back

Here is another photograph from RI- such a great location. long, long lefts.