Still Wallowing in the Afterglow of Last Week's Swell
Afterthoughts of an Extraordinary Experience
It never fails to amaze me how much the experience of a tremendous swell can impact my life. Recently I heard somebody describe what it was like...phenomenologically speaking...to be in the presence of such incredible energy as last week's swell, akin to a "religious experience", as if the stage of Rincon Point was a sort of "outdoor church". I couldn't agree more. In the days since the swell I've found myself looking over the images of many photographers, captivated by the pixels as if in some sort of trance state. The same thing has probably been happening to you. Only one question remains: "When are we going to get another swell like that one"?
Over the past week I have been contacted by surfers who have found that I have captured images of them during the swell. It turns out that one surfer in particular is newsworthy (besides Slater), a female who is one of the few NorCal chargers who call themselves Maverick's locals. Unbeknownst to me, Sarah Gerhardt paddled out while I was shooting out at Indicator on Big Wednesday. Arguably, she was the best surfer in the water out there at that time, nailing set wave after set wave. If you are so inclined, be sure to check out Sarah's website: www.sarahgerhardt.com. Pictured below is Sarah flying across the face. She commented in an email that the waves "felt much bigger than they looked"... Well, Sarah: they looked plenty big to me... 8^) Check out Sarah's documentary, One Winter Story here: www.frankfilms.net. And a YouTube video: click here.
Reader Photo Submission
Warren Barrett was out covering a lot of ground during the swell, and managed to snap a few pics in between sessions. Here's a shot of the C St. area that helps give a new level of perspective. Just look at those lines stacking up. Absolutely corduroy...
Sandspit Gallery
Following my session shooting at Rincon on Wednesday I hustled up to the Santa Barbara harbor to check out what was happening at Sandspit. The reports from Tuesday were that the bowls were epic, which became pretty obvious as soon as I arrived at Stearn's Wharf. There was actually a crowd of surfers surfing the South side of the pier as well as in the interior "Y" portion. The real action was across the channel over at the sand bar. Chris Brown, Curren, Slater and others were having a field day in the heaving barrels...
The only bummer was that my 4 GIG memory card was pretty much full by the time I walked out to the end of the breakwater. Immediately following my final shutter actuation Kelly Slater pulled into a monster barrel. I could only watch in awe and then delete a couple of pics quickly so that I could snap a personal shot of him as he walked back up before paddling out again. Judging by the expression on his face, and the unconscious "thumbs-up" hand gesture, you could say that Mr. Slater was enjoying his visit to our area...
If you'd like to see some more images that I shot of Sandspit on Wednesday afternoon, click here: www.rinconsurfpics.com/galleries/sandspitbigweds.
Blue Edge Magazine Lives On
Despite some turmoil at the home office of our local surf mag last Summer, Blue Edge Magazine is alive and well, just releasing their newest issue that features the Winter Preview for the 2007/2008 season. The magazine is chock full of great pictures, and there is even a cool little column entitled "Brain Waves" that talks about "The Neurochemistry of Stoke". You just might recognize the name of the author... Look for it at your local newsrack. As always, the cost is free.
For you web surfers, the latest issue will be available online at www.blueedgenews.com shortly.
Lastly, don't forget to check out the new online local surf forums at www.santabarbarasurfer.com. The site is growing quickly (over 200 members in the first 2 weeks), and is loaded with killer surfer-driven content. Several local photographers have been posting their pics from the recent swells, and there is thread in "The Shaper's Bay" forum by Ryan Lovelace of www.PointConceptSurf.com where he is building boards right before your eyes, from shaping through glassing. Click here to check it out: The Shaper's Bay.
See you in the water!
It never fails to amaze me how much the experience of a tremendous swell can impact my life. Recently I heard somebody describe what it was like...phenomenologically speaking...to be in the presence of such incredible energy as last week's swell, akin to a "religious experience", as if the stage of Rincon Point was a sort of "outdoor church". I couldn't agree more. In the days since the swell I've found myself looking over the images of many photographers, captivated by the pixels as if in some sort of trance state. The same thing has probably been happening to you. Only one question remains: "When are we going to get another swell like that one"?
Over the past week I have been contacted by surfers who have found that I have captured images of them during the swell. It turns out that one surfer in particular is newsworthy (besides Slater), a female who is one of the few NorCal chargers who call themselves Maverick's locals. Unbeknownst to me, Sarah Gerhardt paddled out while I was shooting out at Indicator on Big Wednesday. Arguably, she was the best surfer in the water out there at that time, nailing set wave after set wave. If you are so inclined, be sure to check out Sarah's website: www.sarahgerhardt.com. Pictured below is Sarah flying across the face. She commented in an email that the waves "felt much bigger than they looked"... Well, Sarah: they looked plenty big to me... 8^) Check out Sarah's documentary, One Winter Story here: www.frankfilms.net. And a YouTube video: click here.
Reader Photo Submission
Warren Barrett was out covering a lot of ground during the swell, and managed to snap a few pics in between sessions. Here's a shot of the C St. area that helps give a new level of perspective. Just look at those lines stacking up. Absolutely corduroy...
Sandspit Gallery
Following my session shooting at Rincon on Wednesday I hustled up to the Santa Barbara harbor to check out what was happening at Sandspit. The reports from Tuesday were that the bowls were epic, which became pretty obvious as soon as I arrived at Stearn's Wharf. There was actually a crowd of surfers surfing the South side of the pier as well as in the interior "Y" portion. The real action was across the channel over at the sand bar. Chris Brown, Curren, Slater and others were having a field day in the heaving barrels...
The only bummer was that my 4 GIG memory card was pretty much full by the time I walked out to the end of the breakwater. Immediately following my final shutter actuation Kelly Slater pulled into a monster barrel. I could only watch in awe and then delete a couple of pics quickly so that I could snap a personal shot of him as he walked back up before paddling out again. Judging by the expression on his face, and the unconscious "thumbs-up" hand gesture, you could say that Mr. Slater was enjoying his visit to our area...
If you'd like to see some more images that I shot of Sandspit on Wednesday afternoon, click here: www.rinconsurfpics.com/galleries/sandspitbigweds.
Blue Edge Magazine Lives On
Despite some turmoil at the home office of our local surf mag last Summer, Blue Edge Magazine is alive and well, just releasing their newest issue that features the Winter Preview for the 2007/2008 season. The magazine is chock full of great pictures, and there is even a cool little column entitled "Brain Waves" that talks about "The Neurochemistry of Stoke". You just might recognize the name of the author... Look for it at your local newsrack. As always, the cost is free.
For you web surfers, the latest issue will be available online at www.blueedgenews.com shortly.
Lastly, don't forget to check out the new online local surf forums at www.santabarbarasurfer.com. The site is growing quickly (over 200 members in the first 2 weeks), and is loaded with killer surfer-driven content. Several local photographers have been posting their pics from the recent swells, and there is thread in "The Shaper's Bay" forum by Ryan Lovelace of www.PointConceptSurf.com where he is building boards right before your eyes, from shaping through glassing. Click here to check it out: The Shaper's Bay.
See you in the water!
That pulled back shot of C street says it all. Great perspective.