The surf mag article about the second time I went to the Wairarapa for a surf shoot went like this. 'The Sun Igor...the Sun' screamed back seat tabulator Pipi Ngaia as Igor hung the combat vehicle out on every metal corner enroute to to our destination. Rooster tails of gravel fanned out from the tyres to the tune of Chris Cornell wailing through Spoonman.
What a start to a surf story! And absolutely true. We were heading to the Second's Deer Stalker hut for a week. As the driver, I did not want to tackle the old 4wd track from the Spit side to the Seconds side in the dark. Not loaded up with precious cargo like Pipi, newly crowned National Champ Brett Hutchison and my editor and chief Chris Berge. We did make it in time. We had 5 glorious days of Second's rights with fellow tabulators Glenn Carkeek, Vaughn Baucke and Nick Ngau Chun.
It was a defining week for me as a photographer. I was getting my water photography dialled in. And as a magazine team Chris and I were hitting our straps. But that was a mere 26 years ago. The hut is gone, access to Seconds is harder. The Tabulators are scattered to the corners of NZ and in fact the world.
I've returned to the Wairarapa many times since. In part because it holds so many warm memories of past surf missions. Mainly 'cos it's so goddam ruggedly beautiful. And I get to be Igor again.
This Pano was what we came for, and this is pretty much exactly what I had hoped to make. So stoked, so stoked in fact it's now featuring in the Elements Gallery on PhotoCPL.co.nz HERE
No Seconds this time, I think it may have been really good too, although the wind had quite a bit of north in it. This time we just leisured around Ngawi and it's epic tractors. Checked the now famous Lord of the Rings Pinnacles to make some panos. And then finally some surf. In fact pretty pumping surf at the Gap.
Our good mates Trinity and Dean ...and Nom nom the husky hung out at Castle Point...we need more camping trips guys!!!
Actually pretty pumping!
We wanted to stay longer, but also didn't. We'd scored epic weather on our three week roadie, we'd seen some sights that is for sure. The Troopy, the new combat vehicle, hadn't missed a beat. Igor was happy, although he noted there were some streams and deserts that desperately needed to be crossed next time.
From The Elements Gallery
Back home and into the massive photo edit! Keyboard jockey supreme, Igor would not like. Anyway, here's a massive pano that I love, love so much it's now loaded into the Elements Gallery for you to view and perhaps get printed! It's from the Sedgemere Lakes, Molesworth Station. You can check it out better HERE