Absolute C%ck Up / September 21, 2022 by craig levers

Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows is about to drop. I was raving about its goodness and crispness last week. The idea was that we were now open to Pre Sales. Traditionally the Pre Sales of Warren's books have been unreal. But last week after announcing it; crickets...nothing, nada, zilch. Then the dreaded email; 'Hey bro, I just bought two books, can I get them signed' wait a minute - there's no payment notification. Very very long story short, the payment button on the webpage wasn't working- looked like it was working, if you bought a book it said it worked. It didn't. The good news is, for those that thought they bought a book or two last week, no funds have been taken from your account. If you didn't receive a PayPal email of receipt, the transaction didn't go through. The kicker is I have no way of knowing who thinks they have secured a book from last week.

On Monday arvo it was finally sorted. The payment button now works and Pre Sale orders are coming in. If you thought you bought one and you didn't receive a confirmation of payment email, please check your bank balance, and/or email me and I can tell you whether a payment has come through. It's a monumental cock up.

Anyway, Its done. So YES, Pre Sales are definitely open, they are working and we are offering free postage and packaging New Zealand wide for Pre sales before 20 October 2022.

And with NZ Surf Windows as with the past NZ Surf books the print run is limited to what we know we can sell. A reprint is not planned.

On a higher note [yep there's the dad joke] I got the shoot the Verticus Session presented by Skull Candy. Hyper Ride and Vans also assisted. The Idea being that organisers Cale Tolley [up above- and another dad joke] and Gav Bisman wanted to tap on a preview event to the main Verticus event scheduled for December 3rd at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui.

Mount legend and perennial Ants McCloud

Skull Candy Sessions invitee/winner 12 year old gurl Yeva rips!

Palmy legend Griff warming up

Griff's son Flea showing the ol boy how it's done

Stephen Nichols fakie

Nick Clegg, stylish as ever

Groms on the sticker scramble

A quiet moment in the chaos

NZ Surf Windows / September 14, 2022 by craig levers

Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows is about to drop. It's the fourth book we have collaborated on, along with the very talented graphic artist and fine artist Josh O'Rourke. The fourth in Warren's sell through book series NZ Surf. I've been tremendously proud to be a part of the process from day one. Warren has always been a photographic inspiration for me since I was 13. To work with the legend ...well, who gets to do that right!? I sort've get to sit back for the first half as the Was traipses country wide creating images and stories doing the long miles and hard mahi. The second half is where I waltz on into the role of publisher, distributor, purse string holder and seller.

That said this time round Was did push me harder to contribute more of the content. It's a strange role nowadays, for the last year or so I've been under instruction from the author not to share the A grade for social platforms. Save it for the book, at peril of it being passed over for the book- no premature show'n'tells.

Case in point; Luke Grubb; kept off the socials, wasn't allowed to even share with Luke! That Was, he's a taskmaster.

NZ Surf Windows is distillation of the formula Was used in NZ Surf The Collection Vol 1 and 2. Both those books sold out. But Was evolved the formula, NZ Surf Windows, while still based on the same concept of being highly inclusive of the wider NZ Surf community, the design of the book is a lot cleaner. It's a tough role for an author/photographer/photo editor; cull the good shots, the images that supplement the story, let the great shots breathe. Was has always wanted his books to be as encompassing as possible, so this distillation of an already proven formula was challenging. But you can see on the pages of NZ Surf Windows there is a more refined approach.

Was plays with the concept of Windows. Windows to the past, swell windows and the windows of opportunity surfers crave and seek. The theme ties in all the chapters of the 200 page book well.

I probably should use this opportunity to hard sell the book, guised as an impartial review. But dude, I fricken published the thing. While neither Was or I will be resting on the laurels of past successes, nor will we be relaxing already knowing 33% of the 1600 print run is already pre sold into book stores nation-wide [hold on that means we got another 66% to off-load, that went from half full to half empty real fast!]

Pre sales of NZ Surf Windows are now open, as with the past NZ Surf books the print run is limited to what we know we can sell. A reprint is not planned.

Photo Dump / September 6, 2022 by craig levers

Last web log it was proclaimed, and intended, to get these things back on track. But then the surf got good, unseasonably good. I got committed to shooting, the combination of that and house guests, as lame as that reads even as it’s written I missed another due date.

So this week is a bonus content web log, here are my top 30-ish images out of the 2,500 I shot last week.

Piha grub Maceo Thompson attacking the shorey

and their ol boy Beej is no slouch in the briny either

Probably my fav image from last week, Al Sanders absolutely searing around the base of a Bar screamer

Anyone know this soldier? Pretty sure he’s on a Ray Findlay twin with a green haul

Another local grub Seb has really hit his straps

Bourne Buirski harnessing his inner Sealtooth

12 year old Mountie Indi Corcoran hung for the week of offies

His old boy Matty came along for the ride too

The three Mountie musketeers; Lennox, Indi and Tai pre paddle out

Another grom that’s been hanging around and getting a fair bit of celebrity

Zeke Pragert is another Piha grom that’s really starting to be noticed in the line up

Former Piha resident and National Champion Andrew Robinson was on a tear this evening session - so good to see the 1997 champ hasn’t lost any of his flare

Speaking of flaring… Christian Fougere fins in the aforementioned position

Looks like we are in for more offshores for the rest of the week. See ya at the beach!

…And Over on Recreational Society…

C’mon over and meeting one inspiring and can do woman, Tania Graham-Brown and her epic red Toyota Coaster bus. Tania has lived full time on the road for the last 3 years, in this feature she explains why and how.

Check it HERE

Back After Covid / August 18, 2022 by craig levers

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

Screen Shot 2022-07-18 at 8.40.49 AM.jpg

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

Loggers 9 Scores / June 29, 2022 by craig levers

Taylor's Mistake surfer Jack Tyro won both the Open and the Juniors division this year. He also placed 2nd in the Old Mal division... that is some serious amount of heats surfed. He also happens to be the National Junior shortboard champ and National Longboard champ.... watch this 15 year old.

The 9th annual Logger Heads long-board competition was held last Friday and Saturday. As was the case in 2021, founder and contest director Tony Baker opted to use both the west and east coast. Friday was at Bayly's Beach just north of Dargaville for a full day of heats. Then we reconvened on Saturday back at the home of the Logger Heads, Mangawhai Heads main beach.

Logging legend and scholar Daryn Mcbride westside

Once again I was very happily drafted in as the official photo taking guy. The gig is awesome, it feels good doing it to help TB, and witness the gathering grow over the years. Love being immersed in the Logger community.

Also the Troopy is used in one of the ways always planned. A big mobile camera bag, an office, lounge, cafeteria and motel. There's very few downsides to the Logger Heads aye!

Moti Proctor opened both days with awesome karakia, especially significant this year of course because it was Matariki

This years Logger Heads was the biggest so far with all the divisions filled to the brim. It meant expanding from a one day event with 9 hours of heats to two days needed with 14 hours of heats. In winter it's a big ask to get 9 hours of heats done anyway, last year the presso on the beach was in pitch black. Spreading over the two days was far more civilised... as a long-boarding gathering should be.

Defending champion Dan Proctor came ohhhh sooooo close. Dan came second to Jack by the slimiest of margins. He'll get ya next year grom!

MC Proccy... and a welcome return to political incorrectness beaming over the PA

Gathering is being used here very intentionally. There is most definitely serious competing going on, no one enters a division to lose. It is the catch ups and the korero that stoke me out... oh and of course making some good images.

Moonbob and Brownie, two of the nicest gentlemen you'll ever have the honour of meeting

TB was stoked this year. The first 8 Logger Heads all had elements of being a bit grindy. Not great waves, not the ideal venue. 9 was the ticket, no one minded the mobile call to the west, by the finals Main Beach was really quite pumping.

and predicable dad joke... TB talking the walk

Former Logger champ Matt Newdick pipped Jack in the old mal division and gave him a good run in the open finals too

Rhys Fitt and Matt Fergusson; two OG's of the Logger Heads since the first one

Three of the best in the business; Jack, Dan and Van Groobey All I see is Dan's water ballon ankle...bloody hate a wettie that does that

Kegg and Rhys... always watching, always judging ... Dan in this case

Matt and Ollie whet Jack...and look at responsible Dan there, guarding Jack's prize pack from the flow, top bloke.

Bring on number 10.

Open Logger

1st Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

2nd Daniel Procter (Gisborne)

3rd Matt Newdick (AKL)

4th Ollie LeNoel (AKL)

Wahine Logger

1st Wini Paul (Whangarei)

2nd Jay Ryan (Gisborne)

3rd Dharlia Lynch (Muriwai)

4th Jess Costello (Mangawhai)

Junior Logger

1st Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

2nd Sol Taylor (Ohope)

3rd= Taj Robinson (Mangawhai)

3rd= Scott DeBruyn (Whangarei)

Old Mal Division

1st Matt Newdick (AKL)

2nd Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

3rd Kevin Hiha (AKL)

4th Paul Culpan (AKL)

5th Matt Ferguson (AKL)

6th Rhys Fitt (AKL)

At Logger Heads With Matariki / June 23, 2022 by craig levers

I'm excited. It's Matariki which is now officially observed as a holiday, and about bloody time. I'm going to the Logger Heads, again in the offical capacity as the event photographer, so I'll be stressing, making sure there's diversity in the images, giving Tony Baker- the founder and director all the deliverables he'll need- fun stress, can there be fun stress? This year, once again Tony has flowed with the weather patterns and we're going westside to Baylys Beach for Friday and then returning to Mangawhai for Saturday. The draws are full in every division. There is about 9 hours of surf spread across the two days...and coasts for that matter. You should totally come and check out the action. The Facebook Page is HERE

Wini Paul, defending champ and poster child

Defending champ Dan Proctor will be there, and will me ol maaaate Daryn McBride

Bayly's, last year's Logger Heads and Te Troopy .... see how this is about to segue ...

One of the key reasons there is extra froth for the long weekend is that it'll be the first mission in the flash as improved Troopy! We haven't had the old girl for 6 weeks, seems longer. But the wait was worth it.

New paint, front and back bars straightened, new stainless exhaust and new nitro rear shocks...and of course Ange's finishing touch- the retro Landcruiser stripes. The old girl is pretty mint now. Gonna be rotating when the first stone chip or bush bash graze happens.

And Deeeeeen...

Piha Residents Billie and Liam [pictured holding the canvas] have just taken possession of The Gap at 1200mm wide x 875mm high on stretched canvas. Thanks guys!!!

Doesn't matter how often it happens, I'm always stoked out on big canvases and the fine detail in the images. It's easy to forget when you're looking at everything on a phone screen that all the graft of using high resolution cameras is about this... big prints.

Ok... like to stay and chat, but I've got a Troopy to pack!

From The Galleries

Piha Storm Pano; and quite appropriately, literally around the next bend from The Gap image; Piha Storm. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE

Mckenzie Bowden's Decade / June 15, 2022 by craig levers

In 2012, both Mckenzie and his younger brother Tane Bowden were fast becoming the grubs to beat on the New Zealand circuit. Their dad Drew hauled them around the nation to all the comps. The family relocated from Whangamata to Victoria. Both Mckenzie and Tane started doing really well on the grom circuits there too. It would appear their pathway was set, become WQS surfers, attract lucrative sponsorships deals. You know it, the old carrot and stick. Well, a decade on, that's not quite been the path. Mckenzie’s overt sense of humour, and quite frankly epic dance moves are entertaining his 36K+ Insty followers.

Manu Scott-Arrieta, Mackenzie and Tane at the Piha Billabong Grom comp 2012

Mckenzie 2013 on his way to a credible 4th in the Nationals U16 Juniors

Mckenzie, Corban Hutchings, Elliot Paerata-Reid and Dune Kennings on the podium 2013

With the border open Mckenzie seized the chance to skip home over the ditch. He and old grom comp sparring partner Elliot Paerata-Reid kidnapped Piha grub Bill Byers for an epic southern roadie. The clips the trio have made are hilarious.

Mckenzie stoking on being back in the homeland

"We are working on a webclip, Elliot just got all this new camera gear and he's super frothing on getting creative with it, we get along really well and decided to go on a trip together and get creative capturing some footage... we saw a south swell hitting NZ so we boosted to the South Island... It felt amazing to be back in the homeland after not being back for a proper surf trip for about 8 years. "

Hard to believe this was just a week ago. Sure ain't today out west!

On Leaving The Homeland:

After spending our grom years in NZ learning to surf, as a family our parents were looking to expand a future for us all. We moved to Bells because we have family there and job opportunities for the parents were more expansive. Obviously there is a big industry with surfing in Australia so it just felt right. After a few years in Bells think we just got over the cold and decided to go to the warm Gold Coast and mix it up with the thousands of best friends in the line up out Snapper... so far so good!

Full style bandit in and out of the briny

Contesting;
I realised as I competed in a few comps in Australia that competing just wasn't for me, I didn't have the drive or the funds to support myself getting to contests. And I honestly, just could't surf in a heat to save my life so that kinda took the fun out of surfing for me. There was a window where I fell out of love with the the reason I surfed so I had to collect myself and remember why I did it in the first place. I realised I can just surf because i love the feeling of chasing waves going to new places meeting people and experiencing different cultures. So I would work any job and save for little surf trips.

Say What You do;
I’d say you got a few hrs, so I can chew ya ear off! Haha I'd say I’m just a salty dirty little hippi surf bum that loves the ocean and riding waves so I spend most of my time working towards assessing where I want to go to catch waves, proximately rights! Haha sounds so cheesy when I’m writing this...

Genetics;
Yeah Dad is an amazing musician, my brother Tane and I grew up watching Dad play late night in pubs playing gigs while on the road then we would shoot off to the coast the next day. I reckon it definitely has helped me to feel comfortable in front of the camera even though I’m not haha! think it has helped me get out of my comfort zone for sure

Employment;
I was helping the old fella with Landscaping there for a bit so he was pretty good with certain days I asked to have off if the surf was good. But now I'm on the road living like a bum assessing trips to get good wave and places I want to go to keep creating footage surfing and dancing around hahaha pretty loose schedule really so I’lll have to get back to you on that one.

Is Bill Byers about to get a haircut, dive deep grom!

Being home;
Yeahh! Just being back in the homeland after not being back for years felt so god damn good! Beautiful scenery and nature everywhere... when I saw you the other day we had a fun session out at Piha. The waves were nice and I was just looking back at the mountains pinching myself feeling grateful, so you caught me in a good state!

Check out Mckenzie’s Instagram account for some of the funniest clips HERE

From The Galleries

Piha Storm Pano; seems very appropriate for the weather we are having, love a good wild west storm and swell event. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE

Another Bite At The Cake / June 8, 2022 by craig levers

How did 'You can't have your cake and eat it too' even become a saying? Surely the reason you 'HAVE' the cake is to a least get a couple of cheeky slices yourself. It's mean spirited, while the concept could be valid ie you can't retain/have it, because by eating it then it is all gone. . It's a dumb saying, 'cos if you save it then it's going stale. You've enjoyed it, you've HAD it. We got served up some more tasty slices of dessert this week, and those that were there relished in its sweetness.

oooosh, there it is

Not a one off

Michael Dunstan...literally in his front yard

In the happy place

Laurie Flint on his 5'10 twin

Haaaaaapy

Matty Bedford, no happy portrait needed with that tubular expression

Bourne Buirski, laying down an Occy turn

The welcome return of Mackenzie Bowden, while he's resided on the Goldy for a fair while now, and unable to get back to NZ until now because of lockdowns he's stoking on the Kiwi vibe. He's just done an epic South Island roady with Elliot Paerata-Reid and Bill Byers

Fair to say that asymmetric goes very well

Mack loving his time back home

Bill Byers, the host [Mack's Piha host] with the most

Yeah Bill with his dirty lil sanchez

Connor Pere looks on at what is going to be the end of this west window. Onshores and a big ass 5 metre swell filling in later this week.

From The Galleries

Piha Layers love the timelessness of this pano, the symmetry of the west coast headlands the autumn warmth. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE

Threading Needles In Haystacks / June 2, 2022 by craig levers

It's THAT time of the year, winter is really showing up. After the epic summer we've had, I for one, am struggling with the concept of grown up pants [trousers] and extra layers. The windows of surf are narrowing out west. It felt like Nor-east had been the new trade-wind for summer. We are back to Sou-west soup du jour. But that's not say its all bad.... no wait... yeah it's all bad, stuff it, I'm not gonna silver line this; not a fan of winter. NZ Summers rule.

Over the last week there have been some quality west windows. You had to be on it, pick your tides, flag previous engagements. Relish in the randomness.

perfect little sand bar...for a day or two last week

Shay Rainger back from compressing his already smashed C5 /C6 and his second spinal fuse. Yeah bossy

Gap water spikes

How to surf a twin fin

Peter Harding aka Greedy, too soon for a hood Greedy...c'mon bro, you're making me feel cold

And then at the other end of spectrum. A 2 hour window of wind, tide and rare swell angle. The happy place.

Dune Kennings found some of the better ones

And some of the better ones weren't found

Dune and one of the frames featuring on Surfline HERE

Tim Bailey got his fair share and made the Surfline cut too

Foam cave

The one that sent me in for dinner

From The Galleries

Piha Layers love the timelessness of this pano, the symmetry of the west coast headlands the autumn warmth. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE

Navy Seals / May 25, 2022 by craig levers

One of the latest big canvases commissioned

It's weird that I can recall just about every detail from a good shoot aye? Like this one, it's Haratoanga, Great Barrier Island. I was on a family boat trip and was scouting possible images for The Big Little Beach Book [it's sold out and out of print now]. The evening before this end of the beach was scoped, looked good. My brother Kent and I got up before dawn and took the tender in. I'd like to think it looked like a Navy Seals Opp, me with my Pelican case and us both beanied up and in our wetties, just in case the inflatable took a tumble in the shorey. We wouldn't have had looked like Navy Seals. The morning was perfect, not a breath of wind. I set up in the middle of the stream's shallows, if you look closely you can see the sandy bottom. Framed up the Pohutukawa and its reflection. Then waited for the ripples to dissipate. Shot the pano, felt good. Turned around, ushered Kent out of the frame and shot this. Back to the boat for coffee and bacon and eggs. A perfect morning.

Both these panos were used in The Big Little Beach Book. And if that's all that happened with them, that's more than enough. However, for the last decade the PhotoCPL website has been building. Signature images added for clients to buy. It's been a good income stream to be frank. Probably not as busy as wanted, but the prints and canvases are a significant part of what I do. I'd love for it to be all I do, like trip around the country in the camper, making panoramics knowing that you're making something people may want. Fair to say there's a lot of photogs out there dreaming and trying to do that too.

Here's a terrible phone pic of Pohutukawa Reflection on canvas at 1600mm wide. Which is a custom size. The real print is bewty, took me back to the morning's mini Navy Seal adventure.

Surf Posting! / May 12, 2022 by craig levers

No web logs for a few weeks, and not 'cos I've been out of action. Quite the opposite. Shoots for the next Warren Hawke book, and some freelance work for Surfline.com has made for busy times.

Worldwide surf forecasting/reporting site Surfline bought NZ's very own Surf2Surf last year. The transition has been pretty fast. Jerry Aubertin, co-founder of Damaged Goods Magazine, has taken on the role of editor for Surfline. Surfline.com seems committed to curating and commissioning Kiwi content. That's meant I've held off until Surfline posts.

Here are the two Surfline posts I've been involved with so far.

https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/autumn-days-beaches-turned/151239

https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/grass-roots-2022-boardriders-club-showdown/151308

It has meant a bunch of images and sessions have fallen through the gaps. And that's the beauty of having your own website aye! Here's the goodness from the last bout of offshores....

Liam Joyce with his trademark backhand pocket grind

Tom Emmerson, out quoting a job, or sorting out some invoicing, or having a site meeting… but definitely not surfing aye Tom

Unicorns last week, it looked good from far but was far from good

Mike Stephenson between zoom calls with clients… working smarter

Local Surfer/Shaper Steve Walker knifing a lip

Nat Barron and one of the shots that ran on Surfline

Jayden Cooper getting a few in before his nightshift…or maybe after?

Nat Barron turning a 3 footer into a 1 footer one gouge at a time

Tim Mauger wheeling his middy around very nicely

NZ’s very own ragging bull, Jason Falconridge

Steve putting his quad through its paces

After shooting with the lads in the morning I boosted straight to Whanga, got there just in time to see this. I was there to support Keyhole in its defence of the Hurley Boardriders Champs and cover it for Surfline

Raglan’s Caleb Cutmore was blazing the whole event ending in a second in the Open to his Point Boardriders team member Taylor Hutchinson

Keyhole’s senior division surfer Dan Caley

Keyhole’s Open defending champ Dune Kennings dipped in the quarters by a .3 ….tough!

The Mount’s Levi Stewart fresh back from a great WQS champaign in Oz

Local lad Rangi Ormand was looking unstoppable in the Open

As was this guy… Taylor Hutchinson built momentum every heat, and ended up with a well earned victory

New Lens, New Me? / April 28, 2022 by craig levers

If you know, you know. My happiest of places firing last week.

Most photographers only need the slightest sniff of an excuse to buy a new lens or camera, and I firmly belong in this camp. I have a problem, but at least I know it right? After years of contemplation and being lucky enough the trial a few, I have finally bought a 150- 600mm zoom lens. It's lighter than my 500mm prime lens that I use for shooting from the beach. The idea is that instead of getting stuck behind the tripod, I'll move around more, and have the option of panning out. The big deal is, as a general rule, zooms are never as sharp as prime lenses. And often that trade off isn't worth it.

Jason Falconridge, true school vert attack

After standing on the sand for 5 hours last Thursday shooting far, far too many frames in the interests of breaking in the new lens. Figuring out its sweet spots and nuances, I'm cautiously happy to report I think I have a winner. The 150- 600mm is sharp, a bit slower to focus, an absolute battery drainer. But sharp...and that's really all I care about, the rest is just management. But don't take my word for it... you be the judge. All these images are from the new 150-600mm.

Steve Walker, this shot is cropped in about 30% of the original file

Nat Barron, waiting for Nat's rights to come on

Didn't get this guy's name, but he was ripping on his Ray Findlay twinnie

Me ol' mate Steve Robinson sneaking a couple between coats of paint... he's a house painter, if that's not clear

Jethro Rae on his old school Stewart mini

Mathias Thompson trying to get the water ballon off his right ankle... bloody hate short arm steamers!

Yeah after that man turn sequence of Luke, kind of feel like this lens is going to work out ok aye

The Recreationalists

In these weird ol' times of traffic lights and resistance to physical shopping, it has been challenging getting the book in front of buyers. Sales went nuts with pre orders...like seriously nuts. Then retail was effectively shut down in February. Anyway... still feeling covid store adverseness??? Check out the book HERE

But Which One? / April 13, 2022 by craig levers

But Which One

So, part of the overhaul of PhotoCPL.co.nz is the cull. It is kind of gnarly, there's emotional investment in every image, retiring an image to the pits of a hard drive is like a little death. Maybe that's a tad dramatic, but you get the idea. There's a change in style, a change in aesthetic. It got me thinking, why operate in a bubble? I got you guys, why not ask YOU what you'd put on your wall... no obligation.

Yesterday's swim zone. So a panned back line-up; not maybe this one, but a Line Up shot from the land. Do you prefer line up shots over single wave water shots?

The photographers' choice; arty back'n'white study of the lip line, the ribs and texture of a pitch perfect wave. And maybe this is kind of an ego shot, where the photographer is showing off, showing calm in the critical. Would you dig that on the wall beside the telly?

The panned back water shot, showing a great wave, but in context, showing the beach and headland that the image is taken at. Do you think these types of images could be more popular because the client has a connection to that break?

Not quite so panned back, more about the wave but you can identify the location [different wave by the way] Does this appeal more?

Soooo, a hint to the far right of the location with Te Waha headland, and a perrrrrfect silvery pitch, is this style more a print you'd want on your wall?

Maybe a photographers' image, The cool flares in the brokeh, the bowl, but no context, could be a host of breaks. But that lip line..... is this a style you like? Email cpl@photocpl.co.nz

So please, let me know, what style, what aesthetic do you like.

The Recreationalists

Logging On And Navigating / April 6, 2022 by craig levers

The Logger Heads 2022 is confirmed. I for one am very excited. Stoked that Tony Baker, the organiser, director and founder of the now 9th [iwa] edition has taken on the navigation of traffic lights and viruses. It's not easy matter, its a bloody worry. TB has rescheduled the event for the Maori New Year, Matariki on the last weekend of June. This year's art work has been done again by Kyle from Threadbox Design, it's based on one of my images of 2x Logger Champ Wini Paul. I'm chuffed. Here's the original, shot at the Loggers 2020, Waipu.

Kind of think Kyle's nailed the execution on this one! Poster looks way better.

To keep updated with what is going on with the Logger Heads like the Facebook Page HERE

POSTPONEMENT Rolling

...and in a similar vein, remaining at Red Light level means the 10th Annual Surf Film Fest is still on hold. The nation needs to drop to orange for the screenings to successfully run. As a new inclusion, there is now a surf photography competition. Entrants were asked to compile a slide show of their best work for submission. As one of the founding judges of the ASFF I was happily tasked to be one of the judges of this too. There's some talent out there, that is for sure. I can't give anything away, but you are in for a visual overload of treats.

The dates for the nationwide roving festival are HERE

Navigation

Did you know that PhotoCPL.co.nz has been going for 14 years? Of course there's been multiple overhauls and refreshes. This week we've been working on getting the navigation better, making it easier and more intuitive for the user to have a drive around. At one stage we were going to toss the whole design template and start completely from the ground up. It was daunting, it also meant 296 web logs would be lost, that freaked me out. Not that all [any] of them are literary masterpieces, but they do create a timeline. Turns out we could refine the existing template to make navigation easy. Now all you have to do is click on Galleries on the home page. That will take you to the page above. Then click on whichever gallery you want to have a gander at.

Here's what the Waves Gallery looks like now. Find an image you want to see bigger and simply click on that. It'll take you to that image's page.

Each image page gives you all the buying options, like, media type Photo print of canvas and the sizes from 450mm wide to 1200mm wide. Then at the bottom of every page is option to click on the other images in that gallery.

It's easier and faster... but hey, don't take my word for it, have a look, give me your critique. There's plans to cull the galleries quite a bit, and adding a best sellers gallery.

AND Deeeeeeennn.....

Over on Recreational Society things have been ticking over very nicely. Thank you for asking. The week's Feature is a really good one on Fili's wagon The Black Bull.

Check it out HERE

Last week's Feature was a great one too

Check out Richard Cripps's VW conversion HERE

The Recreationalists

Gave A Lot / March 30, 2022 by craig levers

Last Saturday Jamie Civil died while surfing solid waves at Aramoana Spit. He'd been surfing in the South Coast Boardriders 35th annual Herb and Parro Memorial comp. After his heat he paddled out and joined other free surfers on the next peak over, it was 6 to 8 foot. About 50 people were on the sand for the event, including Jamie's wife Courtney and their 6 month old daughter Lenni. I'm not going to speak out of turn and pretend I knew Jamie. I know a lot of people that know Jamie and Courtney. Including my cohort Warren Hawke, who shot this cover shot of Jamie for the most recent book we have done together. It was Warren that told me on Saturday afternoon what had happened.

The word tragedy doesn't even cover the loss of a loved partner and father. I cannot image the turmoil and pain Courtney is in. What speaks to Jamie's mana is the rallying of our New Zealand surfing community around his family. Photographers like Warren have quickly, freely given their images of Jamie to help with media and the Give- A- Little pages. The Give A Little pages; well, in a time like this of such loss here's a heartening moment. There are two Give A Little pages set up for Courtney and Lenni, one by South Coast Boardriders and another by relatives of Courtney's. I believe both hoped to reach $30,000 to help Courtney with funeral costs and the future. At the time of this post going out over $130,000 has been donated. I just think you guys are amazing.

The South Coast Give A Little page is HERE

A Fond Farewell / March 23, 2022 by craig levers

From left to right Jeanie Shanks, Carol Cranch and Wayne Arthur all legends of NZ Surfing

I didn't know Carol Cranch very well. When I was getting immersed into the surf industry and community, she was exiting to Gizzy. Carol, an early childhood teacher, was hugely influential on the New Zealand surfing scene, particularly junior surfing. She was instrumental in the formation of the national scholastics in 1989. She was a two-time national women's champion and was made a life member of Surfing New Zealand in 2000. Although Carol had left Piha decades ago, we still often refer to the Cranch Ranch and Carol's Peak. Carol lost her battle with cancer on 6 February, aged 71.

The main paddle out for Carol was done in Gizzy 14 February at Northern Maccas, near her home. Last Sunday the Piha old guard [sorry guys....but well, you are!] celebrated and remembered a life well lived with a small paddle at at Carol's Peak and then a catch up at the Bowlo.

On ya's Steve Davis and Mike Jolly for organising such a lovely send off.

Carol's Obituary in The Gizzy Herald is HERE

New Gallery Addition

There's always the search for the most perfect waves to add to the print gallery. But what's perfection, for some it's a left, others it's a right, some it's a nice 2 foot peeler others it's a lurching 30ft beast. This one may be my version of perfection, hollow, flaring, a volume of water. The light, subtle sun verse a cloudy sky. All those things and more I guess ehh. Anyway I love it and hopefully it resonates with others too; it's now available for print in the Wave Gallery HERE

More Surf-Please don't stop / March 16, 2022 by craig levers

James McAlpine revelling in the treats

It has been so, so good. There's a very real struggle to balance the photo edit that is here out of the 2000 images sitting in the raw folder from the last 7 days. Can't over load the post with too many images but which ones are the bangers??? So here's an emotional, non rational somewhat random showing of the week that was.

See what happened there... James paddling out, Bill Byers paddling in

Bill's kick stall to barrel

Shane Kraus stayed out for hours on Saturday

And then when the tide filled in the beaches turned into fun parks

Matt Zeigler rail game, as ever, on form

OH yes the judging is done...wait till you see Randy...so f@cken good!!! It's the 10 year of the Aotearoa Surf Film Fest. I'm a founding judge, man I've watched some crap so you don't have to. But I've also seen some gems, some diamonds in the rough. Nick Stevenson, the driver of the ASFF is passionate about helping new Kiwi film-makers, kudos to Nick for his 10 years of graft. Well done mate.

The dates for the nationwide roving festival are HERE

New Gallery Addition

There's always a search on for the most perfect waves to add to the print gallery But what's perfection, for some it's a left, others it's a right, some it's a nice 2 foot peeler others it's a lurching 30ft beast. This one from last week may be my version of perfection, hollow, flaring, a volume of water. The light, subtle sun verse a cloudy sky. All those things and more I guess ehh. Anyway I love it and hopefully it resonates with others too; it's now available for print in the Wave Gallery HERE

Better Days / March 10, 2022 by craig levers

Taking photos, or more pompously; making images, in the water is what I love. Been doing it since 1994. I get frustrated when it hasn't happened enough. Surfing [that's the best reason], work, responsibilities get in the way. Residing on the West Coast of the Auckland region is not the best place for a water orientated shooter. The swims are long, the currents and rips strong. Then again, out west, we wouldn't have banks if we didn't have rips. In a way it makes the images more hard earned, more satisfying.

The last few days have been big swims. Not 8-10 foot, but a very respectable 4-6. Big enough, and round enough to be a work out. These are the better days, the days we froth on getting barrelled, that doing a turn means you got the wrong wave. Ironically these aren't the best images from the sessions this week. I'm under firm instruction from Warren Hawke not to post my A's to social platforms, save them for the next book. You're killing me Was!!! But fair call.

Ex Surfing NZ Prez Chris Fougere ....so, so close to triumph!

How perfect is that wave!

Cheeky little 5 foot foamy

Speaking of foamies; Jayden Cooper on his MR twin fin Foamy...I think it's like a 6'0?

The after work posse

Maaate! Email me back

got a couple of bombs of ya

Shane Kraus got the howlers of the session and fall into the aforementioned Warren Hawke issue...ie this is a B roll one of Shaneo

He paid though!

Connor Pere threaded past me on this nuggie

insert yourself here

...Or there...

Good to see ya westside Jordo! Jordon Barley made the cover of NZSM a mere 20 years ago at the age of 16. One the most chargingest, nicest surfers you'll ever share a line up with.

....AND Deeeeen....

From The Book Shop

Oh yes you good thing! Over 2/3 of the print run are sold. To be really honest that's about right for a book project; sell that 66% in the first 1/4 and then the remaining 33% will go over the next 12 months. So its a proven seller I guess right??? Anyway, wanna pick it up and not pay for P&P...well you can HERE

The Groms Are Alright / March 3, 2022 by craig levers

There was an era, not that long ago, when grommets from around the nation dreaded competing at Piha. It happened to work out that every competition was scheduled on a weekend of big gnarly west coast storm surf for years. Bad luck, that's all it was, probably a bit of El Nino thrown into the mix too.

Over the last few summers it could not be more different. Piha has turned it on for the gremmies. For the Billabong Grom Series, Piha has been the venue that has pumped, neither the Mount nor Whanga...actually Whanga was pretty ok, 2021, but Piha has been really good. I reckon there's a new gen of grubs that think Piha is sick, they aren't scared of the west coast [yet]. I had the honour once again of being the official shooter for the event this weekend gone. I went loose, over delivered, over worked.... but the surf was good and the kids were ripping; it's so hard to walk off the sand when good surfing is going down. You can view the Surfing New Zealand Facebook Galleries HERE the brief is to deliver 20-30 decent images per day. This gallery has 132 in it....oppps!

Check out the official contest wrap ups on Surfing NZ HERE

There was some great free surfing doing down too, here's some more images to spice up your day...

Not sure if this is the same grub on a different Primal or his older bro???

Speaking of rail game, local Leia Millar warming up to win the U16 Girls

Mountie Anna Brock finding the lefts between heats

same grom, different mornings, Taranaki’s Spencer Rowson

....AND Deeeeen....

COVER-age.... / February 23, 2022 by craig levers

There's been a lot of PhotoCPL covers, in a way that's kind of a dubious honour. There sure have been some bad ones. If you didn't know, for a photographer, getting page one of a magazine, a newspaper or a book is a big deal. It's a goal of every aspiring photog. It's vindication that you've made it, you're running with the big dogs.

But here's the twist; IF you are employed by a publisher as a ...lets say... Senior Surf Photographer for around 15 years. [You may know someone that fits this bill]. The criticism is levelled at you, and the publication, that the cover shot decisions reek of nepotism.

One of best PhotoCPL covershots, Maz Quinn a millennium ago at/in Upper Thunders, Metawaii Islands, made the cover of NZSM, the contents page of Tracks, Town and Country made it into an A0 poster and it was ...is... the cover of the first ***PhotoCPL book***.

Of course contributing photogs think their shot should be the cover-shot. That the only possible reason it wasn't was because the editor wanted to hook the staff photogs up. That the publication was trying the save money. All sorts of conspiracies used to raise their heads.

Here's the real deal. An editor's job is to appeal to the readers, to create an issue that is popular and sells well. An editor's JOB is to select the best possible cover shot, that will sell copies. It's not to hook buddies up and do favours. This is most certainly a popularity contest that's proven on the book stands. And yes, your publisher holds you to account.

A staff photographer does have some huge advantages over a free-lancer though.

A] You're probably shooting more than anyone else -it's your job.

B] You're probably shooting the feature stories, so your images will tie into the rest of that issue. Editors love to have a cover story- a lead in.

Sometimes editors get it wrong, they choose the wrong covershot, their reasoning at the time was a bit off. I definitely made a lot of bad cover choices when I was the editor NZ Surf Mag. There's some that still look pretty good too.

Rant aside, the point is, a cover shot is bit of a holy grail for photographers, one for the CV, the portfolio.

Here's the latest two PhotoCPL covers...

Whanga grom Ash Rogers gracing the cover of the Whanga News this week...yeah its a freebie broadsheet, but heck it's still a cover- I am chuffed as.

And just released this month Aaron Topp's 4th book Nor-East Swell, got the cover wrap! This was a really special project for me, I shot the cover of Aaron's first book Single Fin.

Simon Deken and his cousin Jeremy Evans feature on the cover of Single Fin. The image was made on our first trip to G-land in 2001. The new cover was shot with Single Fin in mind, ie two surfers heading out. But with the context of story, stormy, a young couple. I shot both 'land' shots and then re shot most with the drone. The drone shot won out.

I got to be one of the people that get quoted on the cover of the book! I was stoked that Aaron asked me to have a go at getting the cover shot for the new book, doubly so when he asked if I would be availed to review the digital copy prior to publication. I loved the tale, Aaron's crafted a bloody good Kiwi story here. I would have bowed out if I wasn't enjoying the read, but in fact, I actually ended up binging it out, a digital page turner. You totally should check it out HERE

Always watching/ Always judging!!!! ...wait till you see Randy...so f@cken good. It's the 10 year of the Aotearoa Surf Film Fest. I'm a founding judge, man I've watched some crap so you don't have to. But over the decade there’s been some gems, some diamonds in the rough. Nick Stevenson, the driver of the ASFF is passionate about helping new Kiwi film-makers, kudos to Nick for his 10 years of graft. Well done mate.

The dates for the nationwide roving festival are HERE