Two Months! It begs belief. There hasn't been a Photo CPL web log for 8 weeks. I even surprise myself with my slackness.
She's so preeetttty
So, Covid. No big deal right, well, I feel like I was lucky. The only reason a RAT test was done was because I felt a bit off and I was about to visit mum in her Care Home. It was a huge shock to see the test go straight to a firm positive. It wasn't too bad, a few days of feeling a bit crap and body aches. No cough or vomiting like other people have experienced.
7 days after testing positive I tested negative- sweet right! No. That post viral fatigue thingy happened. It messed me up for the following weeks. Wanting to get on, but unable to concentrate and then motivate to do ANYTHING. A constant state of frustration. So, the reason I'm sharing is simply this, if you get sick, be kind to yourself, if your partner or family is sick be kind to them. Most everyone I've talked to that has had Covid, its the ongoing fatigue that's the lingering thing.
It's not to say that I've had 8 weeks of watching Netflix. Or hibernating for the New Zealand winter. There just hasn't been an attempt at getting the web log happening. Here's a slice of happenings;
Whanga Surf Shop
This install went in fast O&E NZ needed an image of Ella Williams for their banner on Whanga Surf Shop and Ella suggested they use this one from one of our 2021 Piha Sessions. Chur Ella and Braedon. And stoked Ben and Ritchie from O&E
Billy And Liam's
I love scoring commercial commissions, private ones always seem more special. I was super stoked to get this one from Piha locals Billie and Liam.The Piha Gap at 1200mm wide on Canvas.
Surfline Sessions
Always a stoke when a photo from a forgotten session gets used. This one of Rungi Ormand was shot as part of a Whanga Surf Academy story, which is on the back burner. Rungi's the Academy's surf coach, pretty cool to be a student paddling out and your coach does this in your face huh!
Got a wee feature of Otago surfer Luke Grubb up on Surfline too... soooo fatigued shooting this sesh... think there was an arvo nanna nap involved later.
The obligatory and welcomed dune board meeting
Yeah Lozza and Cork! Thanks for sharing your Covid stories- made me feel better about not being able to get going
James Jnr - Occy-esque
James still stoked even if the waves weren't quite the plan
Good from far, but far from good
The infilling tide was a different tale though
And I don't know what Napes is trying to convey in this interpretive dance... but its good!
NZ Surf: Windows
The no photo part... This is what has been the over arching theme of the last 2 months, and the year. Warren Hawke's new surf book is getting printed right now. Photo CPL Media is the publisher and I've been the senior contributor. It's the 4th book we've done together. It is not quite the time to share teasers, so this is a pre teaser, tease that there is going to be a tease soon. The hard cover 200 page book is a banger and on schedule for October release.
The Recreational Society
The Recreational Society website has been ticking along nicely too. Christie Prior did a great wrap up of her and Is Dickie's Northland vay-cay in a fancy motorhome. You can read about that HERE
Then this week there is a mouth watering feature on Sam Minnell's epic green Troopy. He's done such a good fit out of the old girl, you have to see it. It's HERE
Skate and Surf
Jason Parkes in his own 9 foot pool
Morri, Smithing over the death box
Billie Morrison, not even her best shot... you'll have to wait for that one. But how rad is this, Billie grinding the deep end
I value these all too rare sessions so highly. To be invited along a be a part of a backyard session even as an observer/photog/mate. This session didn't go to plan, although to be fair there was no plan. Both Parksey and Morri were fielding injuries [lads... we're mid aged, when are we not!] anyway it quickly and naturally became Billie's session. Morrie on dad/coach duties gently prompting his daughter into going a bit higher, getting her weight over the coping. Parksey on the lighting duties, me leaning over the coping with the camera just suggesting maybe one more, and then another.
Mini Monkey.... even better than it looks
Johnny Edgell, the Chezzel, the Yam Jam, the legend, carving the bank to shreds on Monday
Bourney Buirski working on his flow and edge work nicely
If you've stayed around until now, thank you for putting up with the work dump, there's been other photo sessions, false starts and commissions, these are the ones that sort of hit the mood.
See ya next week aye!
From The Galleries
Piha Storm Pano. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE