All three men aboard the Atlantic Traveler fishing boat have been rescued by the Coast Guard. The fishing boat was upside down at the end of the Point Pleasant jetty in the Manasquan Inlet. Reports of diesel fuel leaking into the water is not a good sign for those looking to get wet. Full details here.
A few more fun looks from last week in New Jersey. The line up and backside whack were from early morning in Monmouth County and the throwaway water photos were shot on a Canon 7D at sunset.
So many things are all about being at the right place at the right time. Cliché but so true. Last May 2010 I was in Puerto Escondido Mexico with Tom Petriken in hopes of scoring some of the Southern Points that are supposed to magically light up (oh they do!) when Puerto is ginormous. While I was in town I got to witness some of the craziest surf I’ve ever seen. Now I’m not the most well traveled (yet to see Hawaii, Oz, France, etc) and seeing Playa Zicatela in video and mags is one thing, but when you are there in person it is jaw dropping.
I woke up early, Tom and I got down on the beach to have a look see. It was bombing. I quickly set up my camera on my old shaky tripod and sat far back from the action, just looking for a different angle on the day. Photographer Rich McMullin and Jersey’s 2010 Grudge Champ Zack Humphreys were staying down the road and also came down to check it out. We stood around watching it for awhile and I remember pointing out someone racing into a mountain of a wave. Like way down the beach, left field, out of nowhere. My face was instantly glued to the back of the eye cup on my Canon 7D and I held the trigger down not letting go.
Admittedly, I’m still relatively new to surf photography and I was even more green then. I wish it had dawned on me to enter Keala Kennelly‘s Puerto Escondido sequence in the Billabong XXL Big Wave Contest, but se la vi. I was very indecisive as to what I should do with the photos. Send them in to a mag, send it in to Surfline? I tried a magazine, waited a day and then sent it over to Surfline. I was pretty excited about these photos, but I don’t think I quite understood what the sequence represented; how monumental that ride was. It ran on Surfline with the headline “Best Ever Tube By A Woman” and wound up with about 87,000 views (which can be seen here). It also ran as a double page spread in Carve Magazine and in SurfGirl magazine as well. My first double page runs ever, both international magazines. Thinking back patience might have won out for it to run in one of the big three in the USA. However, I am happy with my decision to send it to Surfline. I do have a better idea how to handle such events in the future though (I think?!) if it ever unfolds in font of me again somewhere. Edwin Morales had it run in Surfer’s big photo issue in 2010 displaying the gaping hole Nogales whipped Kennelly into. An awesome angle that gives the viewer a good perspective of just how massive the wave was.
I’m some random guy, with no affiliation to anyone surfing, photographing their talent. It doesn’t attest to my photographic skills, it just means I’m lucky to have been there. I broke the sequence first. I am pretty sure that often counts more than other variables (“If yer not first yer last!”). I may be biased, but when I think of Kealla Kennelly and her Puerto Escondido wave I think of the Surfline sequence. I am thankful the photos are running again online, especially as a visual reference to such a prestigious annual event and her well deserved award. And an even more historical wave. Sometimes all you have to do is show up.
Nice work Keala.
As emergency responders continue to tally the dead from this past week’s violent tornados that ripped through the South, New Jersey surfers were reaping the beautiful side to such a tragic event. Here on the East Coast we are always hoping for a storm to grace our coast, always praying it does not make landfall. Please cause as little damage possible, just bring us waves. This particular event is forcing perspective into our lives.
Hurricanes or healthy dumpings of snow are what we often think of when looking towards Mother Nature to bear fruit for the mighty Atlantic. In this case, it happened to be a weather outbreak of epic proportions. My heart can’t help but feel for those in time of need now. The Ying is nothing without Yang and visa versa. Traditionally, Ying and Yang do not specifically mean Good and Evil. In this case, it may be most appropriate to use them in such a way when describing the dramatic effects of this particular storm. More than 300 people dead. Earth scarring so bad it can be seen with satellite imaging. All of which equated to fun head high waves in New Jersey. Evil vs Good, Good Vs Evil. It is a struggle to last into eternity.
Here’s to the good. The stars were aligned in our favor this past week and it turned out to be one of the better Fridays I’ve known. Beach, work and beach again. The surf wasn’t gigantic, or classic, but it doesn’t have to be to have a good time. Just like this blog doesn’t need all the A+ images to survive. B’s are passing right 😉 I did happen to capture a few drainers and watched a few from the shoulder without shoving a camera in someone’s face. Boogies and stand ups, everyone was getting barreled. The skies were clear, passing clouds moseyed their way out to sea and friends had fun playing in the water.
Aerial photography can produce some of the most stunning views and arresting scenic landscapes. Photographing surf photography while high above the waves provides the viewer with the ultimate pulled back angle.
The current issue, May 2011, of Australia’s Surfing Life magazine is sporting a few images you may have seen here. The featured article written by Andrew Lewis discusses the Quicksilver Pro New York as the East Coast readies for it’s arrival in the midst of Hurricane Season. Lewis goes on to make comparisons in early surf exploration to that of New York’s concrete jungle. Is NYC surfing’s new frontier?
I barged in on Josh of Saturdays to shoot a few photos of the shop for the article and he was more than accommodating. I grabbed a cup of coffee on the way out too, yum! Jersey born Luke Ditella appears in boards shorts enjoying the effects of Earl and his Hurricane holes. Recent wave affiliated residents of the Big Apple included American freesurfer Warren Smith and Aussie freesurfer Dion Agius. See their blog PROXY NOISE for some weirdness. Also if you would like to locate a copy of Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, or buy a digital version, you can do that here: current issue. Of course, it wouldn’t be a New York feature without Balaram Stack. He’s got a mention and sick tube shot from New York sharpshooter Mike Nelson. The entire issue is great, but I don’t want to give it all away!
You won’t want to miss this one, especially if you reside in New York or the East Coast for that matter. The contest is slated to run from September 1 – 15th 2011, wave dependent. It’s about time The City That Never Sleeps is introduced to surfing.
…in awhile. April 17, 2011 was a day that held some of New Jersey’s biggest surf all season. When was the last time you saw NJ waves this big on the beach? Contrary to the last post’s video, not all of these beasts were going to pound you. As you’ll see in the clip below, some of them just ate you. Wetsuit and all.
To check out a few more photos please see the ESPN Photo Feature (photos 1 and 12) and EasternSurf.com (photo 1)
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Please excuse my shaky video hand 🙂 Now watch this cannonball!
Ryan Struck Photography 