Froth (AKA the Unibomber) is on the Bus--Again!!

Snapped this shot of froth, while he was chillin in the VW. The neg was grossly underexposed but I like the portrait despite the poor neg quality. Funky negs, light leaks and blur all make the diana such a special tool- still prefer it to the digital slr for most pictures.

Saw a couple of Dead shows over the weekend- i went in kinda skeptical, walked out kinda stoked. While Jerry is sorely missed the band is still playing with a level of intensity, fresh setlists and Warren is putting his unique stamp on the classics. check out the http://www.archive.org/ for recent shows and old classic soundboards.

flat again..... but sunny and warm

beautiful spring weather and flat as can be........ at least I got outdoors for awhile.

tough time relatin'

While I can't really relate to more high performance shortboarding, it can be pretty fun to watch when there is longer period swell around. The problem is around here these swells are few and far between. I pretty impressed by the shortboarders who can stay in synch despite our lack of wave consistency.

spring fog

I haven't been shooting much as of late, especially with the diana camera. This shot is from last tuesday afternoon. The afternoon was extremely foggy with an erie quality as people seemed just to emerge from nowhere.

searching...

for tom curren's black beauty

In the pocket on a onefin

Justin's tucked in...... I believe it's a single fin Tom Parrish.

Real Retro

A guy I surf with son has been riding his dad's early 70's original fish. The board is 5'0 and real banged up, it has absolutely no rocker, hard down rails, and a rather blunted round nose. Despite these less than forgiving properties, the kid kills it!! These photos were taken last week on a day with some decent longer period ground swell in the water and pretty low tide bowly conditions, he was having no problems.

I talked with his dad about the board and he said he was surprised his son enjoys the board so much, because even in the 70's he thought it was a bit of a dog.

a salami sandwich

I snapped this photograph last week during our last swell. I like the way to two loggers frame the surfer.

an experiment with anti- analog equipment

I spent a good deal of Thursday morning playing with a canon rebel digital slr with a long lens. Such a very different shooting experience when compared shooting with analog/lo-fi equipment. The tool definitely has its place in the camera quiver as it allows the opportunity action shots, however I realized I have a lot to learn about shooting in this manner, and I feel the digital cameras lack a level of "organicity" that I enjoy. I'll be posting a couple of shots over the next few days that came a digital slr, hope ya dig them.

the bus came by and I got on, that's where it all began!!

While Cowboy Neil is not at the wheel on the bus to never ever land; my friends Bill Patron (AKA Bar Bill) and Kingbee, throw down these crazy Bus BBQ every week over the summer at a pseudo "San'O" parking lot here in NY. The food is amazing as are the libations and company. This is the kick off BBQ for Saint Paddy's day - Freshly Corned beef, cabbage and vegetables!! Bill is a completely insane cook and Kingbee kicks a good vibe with his selection of tunes and homestyle hosting.

Happy Accidents- A Case for lo-fi analog tools

I love the happy accidents associated with lo-fi equipment and the image above is a perfect example of the possibilities of error.
This being said, I have been struggling with a good amount of ambivalence related to photographic technology over the last week or so. I have been shooting a bit with a digital slr and I must say I have been enjoying the ease of operation and flexibility. While I have been generally happy with the results; the images appear rather sterile for my liking. At the same time, I have also been frustrated by the limitations of my diana camera for surf photography as I can not really capture surfing, only the subtle vibe associated with the pursuit. While this is important documentation to me, it does seems somewhat limited in its scope of vision. It's obvious that direct confrontion of my underlying irrational cognition's related to "all or nothing reasoning" must commence. Why must it all be lo-fi or all digital?? After all there are no real rules!!! Solution: pack multiple cameras and try to keep the spirit of flow and mindfulness.

a photo-sketch

For what it's worth. I need to shoot some more... hopefully today and tomorrow produce some new stuff. the light has been a real issue as of late- so is it really Spring? doesnt feel like it..

Current Quiver Shots

Finally took the boards out of the garage to photograph.

1) 10'1 Cooperfish Nosedevil

2) 9'8' Cooperdesign Malibu Foil II

3) 7'6' Fineline Microant II

4) 6'6" Liddle Smoothie M3P

5) 6'6" Rainbow Speeddialer- Pavel

6) 6'2" Swift Movement Twin Keel Fish-Mabile

I recently read the surfermag- three board quiver article and it made sense, but I guess I am not willing to trim the herd down. Each of my boards have rather unique properties that I appreciate. My only wish is that I could surf them all better. My limited ability combined by my schedule and the inconsistent waves around here really compromise my progression.

The Fat Man Rocked and The Dead Live On!!!

I have been on a DEAD bender lately. I just can't get enough of them. In my opinion no band sans John Coltrane (love supreme era) or Miles Davis (kind of blue years), are able to capture the magic of the moment that the grateful dead were able to. When they were/are on, the interplay that occurs between the band members is transcendent and results in a truly flowful experience. I am seeing the Dead next week for two shows, and can't wait, albeit it's never been the same since the fatman checked out. Nonetheless-Phil will keep the train chuggin and mikey and bill are a pleasure to watch. I have always really appreciated Weir's rhythm guitar work-it is totally underrated in my opinion.

My first show was at the nassau coliseum on May 8, 1981- this led me on a completely obsessive journey with 100 plus shows in the memory banks. While the 80's had there moments for dead mastery- the late 70's are my favorite years. I have been discovering a lot of shows i used to listen to on cassette on the archive.org data base. Also this week's NYTimes arts and leisure section had a great article on the dead.

Below are some recent shows i have been listening too, in addition to my dicks picks selections- The first three listed were show that i was at:

1) Nassau Coliseum 5-08-81- first show-killer set list

2) Rochester War Memorial- 11-08-85 Second Set Scarlet tease into Revolution- She Belongs to Me, insane Estimated.Eyes- Satisfaction encore.

3) Giant Stadium 06-17-91 Eyes of the World First Set opener- unreal - Dark Star runs in and out thoughout the entire show

the remaining listed shows are just classics

4)Greek Theatre 6-16-85

5)Rosco Maples Pav- stanford University- insane china>rider

6) Cornell may 8th 1977- regarded as best ever show- i like it a bunch but the best? not sure

7) Buffalo War Memorial May 9th 1977- the coolest bertha going

8)Melk Weg Bar Amsterdam-10/16/1981 weir's birthday in a hash bar- acoustic set- nothing more needs to be said.

Leave a comment if you relate to the post and list your favorite shows- I will definitely check them out

In the shed

I snapped this photograph shortly after I arrived home from a dawn patrol log session. The morning light coming through the window and garage door kind of illuminated things really nicely. I love the look of old wood planks in sepia tone. This is a digital image, but I thought I'd include it anyway. Hoping for offshore winds tomorrow with alittle fish/hull wave.

AHHHHHH....... Vacation!!!!!!!!!!!

Off for vacation for the next week and a half. Very psyched to chill abit and hopefully get a bunch of surfing in. This morning worked out better than expected- a little waist high wave with light enough on shore winds. Hoping for a little log session tomorrow morning and more on Saturday. Good to be back on the twin keel after too long.

slave to the blog.....

I have not been shooting as of late due to lack of good light and waves and a fairly busy schedule. I am also becoming somewhat visually bored with my typical surf haunts. i guess i need to hunt around a bit.

This shot was from a couple of weeks ago. got to surf for the first time in 2.5 weeks and i was as expected somewhat rusty. I am always amazed at the guy who paddles out only a handful of times a year on solid days and has not adjustment problems- I can not comprehend this as I tend to go into "full spastic mode" if I am not regularly in the ocean. today was good proof of this. I got a week and a half off ...hoping to get a lot of surfing in here and in the surrounding areas... hopefully "huey" will cooperate and hopefully some good shots to come.

a nice little line

this is an early morning photograph from the last decent wave around here. a little speed ramp with room to move. I really like the light quality and the cloud formation that compliment the wave

street loggin'- if only i could read my neighbor's mind

Beautiful day today- too bad the small swell we had was gone!! I haven't been able to surf in over two weeks due to life's ability to get in in the way. At least I got out for a bit of skate today. Just playing around in front of the house. Riding the 5ft'er getting me excited for some loggin'.

Help on the Way... Searching for Phil and Friends With Ryan Adams

I was hoping someone out there in blogland might have a killer soundboard of a Phil and Friends show featuring Ryan Adams. If so I would love to get a copy... Their version of Wharf Rat is epic... and I want to hear more. IMHO no one comes as close to ADams in replicating the spirit of Garcia's vocals and he and cardinals guitar work fits in so nicely.. Help me please...

the beauty of form

Probably one of the most innately beautiful objects associated with surfboards and surfing are fins. The Larry Gephardt marine-ply keel is on the top of the list aesthetically for me. Pure beauty!!

Something a bit different

I have been playing around with manipulating some of my lo-fi shots. I have always been interested in Bill Brandt's use of contrast and grain in his photography. Also Ryan Tatar's work is also insanely interesting. Still fine tuning the way that i would like my images presented but this is a sketch of a recent shot. hope ya dig...

NP-Grateful Dead DICK'S PICK Hartford Civic Center early 80's- the most insane Scarlet>Fire on the Mountain