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.

two backyard shapes....

Rhode Island point surf out in the backyard and a home grown backyard log with extremely classic/kitschy lams.

the waiting continues...

It's been a month and a half since my value replacement. While I got clearance to re-enter the water on a limited basis about three weeks ago and I have only had one session. Seems like feast of famine in these parts as of late. Either the waves are punchy and a little more than I am willing to go in at this time, or it's been dead flat or sideshore junk. I am getting itchy to say the least, and the water is only getting colder. Hopefully some oily glass in the waist/chest range will show eventually so that i can get my comfort level back and test the ticker abit. thewaiting is the hardest part (wow never thought I'd quote T. Petty).

the two shot above are from a very marginal day (shin/calf high haha) in august. The morning light and the glass conditions make the shots appealing to me, despite the lack of any aqua theatrics.

Rhodey styles

I caught this guy as he was changing boards up-switching to the fattie.

Happy Sixth Birthday to Avery!!!

Happy birthday Avery!!!! Wishing you a great year, filled with fun and exploration!!! you are the best!!!

A few from 10/17- World Toy Camera Day

10/17 was World Toy Camera Day for all the obsessive analogue crappy camera nerds out there. I happened to be in Rhode Island for the day and I shot a bunch of film using several of my crappy cams. Here are a couple of shots from my Russian Lomo LC-A that I cross processed. The previous post of the bus was from an old brownie hawkeye. Rhode Island has some much to offer photographically, I wish i had more time and better light, but I'll be back.

VW BUS stories

I was talking to a friend over the weekend about his old VW bus and he was saying how everyone has their own unique VW bus story that they want to share when they find out you own a Bus.

I got my own story that involves traveling the Pacific Northwest for over a month with five people and a dog named Gandolf. Fun-filled albeit odoriferous memories come alive when I see a Bus. Times were so much easier and so much less complicated back then. Clearly, this was one of my most memorable months alive. I guess that's why these buses are photograpically hard to ignore for me.

Waxing philosophical

New board and the first coat of wax. Such a unique experience, the anticipation of what is to come makes the rather mundane preparatory task of waxing take on new meaning.

Salt Stained Eyes at Myopic

Killer weekend in Rhode Island- Cruised up Friday night, stayed at a place right on the beach. It was great meeting Myopic' s Kristen and Danny as well as all the folks who showed up for the opening. Much thanks for the opportunity. My only regret was my inability to take part in the tasty swell event that was in full effect. Such a nice set-up up that way, and i was real impressed with the apparent quality of life that people enjoy in the ocean state.

The Irony of it all: "Do Not Feed the Wildlife"

I snapped the first photo after a session some weeks ago. I love the irony of the sign next two the bike in an abandon lot in the middle of the small "city" of Long Beach NY. The only "wildlife" I have seen in Long Beach is in the water at Laurelton and at the Bars on the West End.

Hoping for a nice turn out tomorrow at MYOPIC BOOKS IN Wakefield RI. Daniel and his wife have been so gracious leading up to the show. I'll be showing approximately twenty pieces. Photograph sizes range from 24"x24" to 7"x7" If ya get a chance stop by and check the prints out up close and personal. http://www.myopicbooks.com/ hopefully some surf too!!

Tomorrow is world Toy Camera Day- i'll be loading up all my crappy snappers with a choice selection of tmax 400, expired ektachrome and some color print film- come on nice light!!!

lenny bo-log-nese AKA Lenny Text

I look forward to my daily surf report text from "lenny bo-log-nese", even though he knows there is no way i can get to the beach!!! The man is always on it and quite accurate with the report info. I don't think he quite gets the "blur" though...

Nikonos V test roll two

Here are two more shots from my second go with the nikonos V. The top shot is of Ryan G., who is probably one of the best loggers on the West side of NY. He's got a real jivey style and he likes to make the nasal passage. The second shot is a random one from a super small day over the summer-I am liking the flare as it gives that feeling of first light. Its funny watching people attempt to paddle into ripples that NY is so accustom to. surely it can be the "endless bummer" in our parts.

A couple of questions I ponder

Why is the cleanest wax always on the tip of my logs???

"If I could have one board in here which would it be? " Mollusck NYC

Post-session portrait

I like taking portraits of people after they completed a surf session. Moods are amplified- most often for the better and the face is relaxed and spontaneous. While the embraced blurriness of flipped brownie hawkeye obscures the details in Mark's face his flow experience is evident!!

Looking forward to The Myopic Show in Wakefield Rhode Island this coming weekend- hopefully a good turn out will be on hand.

Sometimes a smile says it all...

This guy was obviously amped about his session and his Hess.

a self-portrait of sorts

I finally got around to developing my second roll with my nikonos v. Early morning light, a few friends, a clean log wave and my nosedevil. What else can you ask for on an ordinary day?

Salt Stained Eyes at Myopic Books in Rhode Island

I am honored to have been asked to show my work at Myopic Books in Wakefield, Rhode Island. The show's opening is on 10/17/09 from 6-8PM. October 17th happens to be "World Toy Camera Day" for all the lo-fi analogue freaks out there, so its kinda cool to celebrate the BLUR. Danny (Cuda) has been so gracious in opening his space up for the exhibit and I am real happy to be showing in such a surf stoked community. Rhode Island has some of the best surf available to us Northeast Coasters. Hoping to surf a little while there... if you're in the hood (new england) please stop on by and say hey!!

Here is a link to cuda and his wife book store- looks like the ultimate bookstore http://www.myopicbooks.com/

fish fantasy

What can I say, full-on San Diego styles here. 6'2 Larry Mabile Swift Keel Fish(Gephard fins), 6'8 Josh Hall Long Fish Simmons (daniel Partch quad fins), and my 6'3 Chris Christenson double bump quad fish.

Summer Remnants

The last of the buoy lines. Surfers in long beach, NY are well acquainted with how annoying these senseless lines are. What purpose do they serve anyway??

Post-session reflection.... a connected experience

something I think we all do after a fun session is to look back at the ocean for a minute or two and reflect on the beauty of our experience. surfing allows a grounded connection to the planet energy that is very tangible...

Classic Deck Design

Such a classic deck. This is a photograph is from my first roll using my newest addition to the lo-fi quiv (rel deal russian lomo LC-A). The LC-A emergence of the LC-A in Prague was responsible for the whole lomography movement. 35mm lens and cool lo-fi lens. Shot with ASA 100 fuji provia- cross processed- the roll was a little under exposed and the cross processing produced a bit to much green-anyways.

Enjoy Everyday!!

I got in the water for the first time since my medically-induced hiatus yesterday. surfed a little fish session in the morning and then went back for a little log session. The waves were less then memorable, but I will not soon forget the session, as it all seemed so new, and fresh and allowed me to again realize how special the act of surfing is. It was a seriously cleansing experience. Don't take for granted what ya got, enjoy everyday!!

Matt and J.C.

Here is another shot of Matt going about his daily tasks. check out the tat!!

A word about photographic process-to photoshop or not?

I have been noticing the words "no photoshop" tagged or labelled on a lot of photoblogs lately (especially surf photoblogs). I am not sure what exactly this means or implies. Does this statement mean the photograph is better?, more pure? more skillfully articulated? Does it reflect more photographic talent? etc.

While this mindset is not new to photography (filed negative carries to reflect uncropped images for example, sun exposed contact prints), it does question the process of photography and I believe art in general. As it pertains to the "no photoshop" aesthetic, I would argue that the proper use of photoshop is no different that the use of standard dark techniques, including the use of different contrast grade paper, differing papers (cold tone, warm tone etc), use of chemical toning (selenium, sepia ect), selective dodging, burning, and selective bleaching, not to mention the use of the enlarger and the transfer from negative to positive. All these techniques serve to help articulate the image and ultimately the art. Have all the photographic masters (you insert your master) relied solely on the contact print? i think not. Interested readers should check video archives of Ansel Adams in the dark room. While I am not a big fan of his images, his camera technique, understanding of exposure and the negatives and the zone system have been a hugely important to photography. That said he still was a slave to the image when in the dark room thereby completing his articulation of the image through dark room manipulation.

Keeping this in mind, I believe the use of photoshop is just an extension of the darkroom, and with all photographic tools the artist must know when to say enough is enough when working on an image.