Watch it in HD!

This is a short documentary on five guys that go to surf in the Arctic Circle. I think it’s really well done, and is a good example of more art-driven imagery being integrated with surfing. I always get really excited when I see a photograph or film that is done by someone who isn’t just trying to get a decent shot and leave it at that. I’m really hoping more of this can push its way into the mainstream surf world. Definitely shows you another side to the sport!

29GPS, the company that is using my surf images for their new digital sport magazine (read this post for more info on that), just informed me that I will probably be the “feature storyteller” on the cover of their upcoming issue. The image above is the mock-up cover they sent me and I’m super excited to see how all this comes together! The issue is set to be available sometime in May and will be available for download through Apple. I’ll keep any updates posted!

Check out the 29GPS website for more info on what they do.

Last year I watched the PBS American Masters Documentary on Andy Warhol in one of my art history classes.  It’s a great documentary, but there was one quote that really stuck with me.  I was thinking about it recently and  cut this clip out of the film so I could share it.  This is definitely an idea that I try to live by.  The world is a beautiful place, and there is so much happiness to be found.  So many problems that we let bother us are actually so insignificant that it’s almost laughable.  Hopefully some of you can take this quote to heart like I did!

My spring break in Costa Rica was such a good time.  I spent nine days there with the intent of looking at several properties to possibly purchase with my friend, Matt, in hopes of starting up a surf/dive camp in the near future, but I was having such an amazing time that it was hard to get down to business!  Here are a few shots I’ve edited through so far out of many.  Some of these will for sure go on my main site, in addition to several others that I haven’t gotten to yet so definitely keep a watch for some new ones within the next week!

I’m back in the country after an INSANE amount of time spent trying to get home.  My flight was supposed to depart San Jose, Costa Rica at 6:55 a.m. on Sunday but when I arrived at the airport that morning I discovered it had been delayed.  Turned out it wasn’t leaving till 4:30 p.m. which meant I was going to miss my connection in Panama City.  The new ticket they printed me had me on a flight from Panama City to Miami around 9 p.m.  The airport got me into a hotel with a few coupons to eat at Denny’s, so I had no choice but to go and wait it out.  I stayed optimistic and didn’t really let the situation bother me, although I was slightly nervous because I knew I still had an 8 hour drive to Savannah once I arrived in Miami.  “Oh well” was my sentiment.  I got back to the airport at 3 and it wasn’t until I got to my gate and was about ready to board the plane that they announced the flight was canceled!  Again, I kept my cool.  Many passengers were getting pretty angry but I didn’t really see the point; I mean, what are they going to do about it?  So they printed me out a new ticket and said “Go to gate 19…now!”  So I ran upstairs to another gate that was boarding to fly to Panama City where I would still be able to make my new connecting flight to Miami.

I got into Miami at 12:45 a.m.  where I had a rental car reserved for me and took a shuttle to the Budget rental car building not far from the airport.  I finally got into the car around 1:30 a.m.  I really wanted to try and make it back to Savannah in time for my 11:00 a.m. class so I started driving despite my fatigue.  Two hours later I was practically falling asleep at the wheel, so I took an exit, parked in a hotel parking lot, and slept in the car.  I woke up around 8 a.m. and continued the drive to Savannah, kind of bummed to have missed my class but stoked to be able to lay down on my couch!

Even though the entire ordeal was a total headache and really not very fun at all, I kind of love it when stuff like that happens.  I’m grateful for unique situations and they’re always something to learn from, even if it’s just mental stability!

So, I’m leaving for Costa Rica for spring break tomorrow!  I’ll fly out of Miami with a layover in Panama and I should arrive in San Jose around 9PM.  Then I’ll be driving to Puntarenas, overnighting, and catching a ferry across the gulf at 5:30AM to meet my friend Michele in Santa Teresa.  I’m hoping to get some really nice new travel shots for my travel page and hopefully some video too.  Check back in about a week for some new pictures!

A fellow photographer and good friend of mine, Chris New, asked me to film and edit a behind the scenes video of one of his shoots for his website.

You can see Chris’ work on his website.

And watch the video in HD on Vimeo.

Song – Keep The Car Running by Arcade Fire

This is actually pretty old news, but I didn’t have a blog when it happened so I’m posting it now!  My S-Turns Barrel Fest ’09 surf video got featured on Surfline last summer which was pretty cool, but I just checked it out for the first time in a while and it has almost 19,000 views!  Check it out on the Surfline website:

Surfline

WOW!  This has got to be the most impressive music video I’ve ever seen  (I recommend watching in HD full screened).  Not only is the contraption itself incredible, but I’m equally as impressed with the photography!  I need to watch this a few more times to figure out how they moved the camera throughout the space provided so smoothly.  There are a few “making-of” videos that I’ve yet to watch, so maybe I’ll check those out and learn something.  They’re on You Tube also, if you’re interested.  This is definitely a must watch!

Several months ago, I was contacted by 29GPS, a company who creates electronic books for the iPhone.  They asked if they could make a book based off of my surf images and I agreed to look into it.  Now, after much exchange, I have accepted their offer and am waiting for the final contract to get the project underway, and I couldn’t be more stoked.

It turns out it will be an electronic magazine about sporting life available on both the iPhone and iPad, which is really exciting because this will be one of the first of its kind.  Apparently, the iPad is going to completely change the way we consume media like newspaper and magazines, and is a total ray of hope for photographers in a world where technology seems to be overtaking many publications.  The iPad and similar devices are going to keep the magazine industry alive; it is simply transforming it’s form!   I am really excited to be a part of this new media revolution!  Not only will the book consist of images, but it will also have audio commentary provided by me!  When it’s ready, both the iPhone and iPad versions will be available on the apple website.  I’ll keep any updates posted!