Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Life in Bundy

I got a call to head up North for a few days to spend some time with Lyndon Wake and Jayce Robinson.
Cameras, Laptops and not enough clothes and I was off on a trip to Bundoran.

What started as a 3-4day trip got extended and extended and is now at 11 and counting. Pretty Exciting stuff. It has been great to get in the water with the new housing and learn more and more.
Living with the boys has been good fun too. I haven't been kicked out yet either which is great. We've had a few different people pop in including Oli Adams, Tom Butler and filmier Luke Pilbeam has been doing an edit for the boys too.
Its been a week filled with lots of waves, cold water missions, PingPong championships, nights out, early mornings and lots of healthy eating that i'm not used to.. :)
Happy days in the house of Lords.

Heres two of many shots from the last 10 days.


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

First Cover!!!

When I started shooting surfing properly about 2years ago getting the cover of a magazine was the pinnacle. Its was a big long time goal. I guess two years of being freezing at the top of cliffs and on Jetski's have paid off. This is it, I cant believe it. I really cant. I still have to pick the mag up and see it in person, maybe il faint? Big shout out to the rider Hugh Galloway and the crew at Wavelength.

Absolutely Delighted!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Go Trev Go!!!!!!

Its funny when your out in the water and a few people start shouting "go go go!!!" Your mentality of deciding what you can handle and whats a stupid wave to go on seems to go out the window and all you can think of is going for it. In this case we have one of Emerald Surfwears masterminds Trevor Whelan (who has avoided making an appearance on this Blog until now) making the wrong decision. Damien Conway, Clem McInerney and myself are guilty for shouting go.

I also screwed up the setting on the camera as i was just swimming out at the time and was getting a pounding on the inside but still a funny picture.

Good man Trevor! The bruised ribs and vertebrate where way better than the embarrassment of not going for it!!

Thats Clem above doing.. something.

Here we have Aaron Reid, another day in the office.








Damien Conway getting ready for the piggy pig.

I messed up on this one too.

I have an exciting new project started up at the moment too. More info on that in the next post!
Have a nice week everyone!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Water time #2

Second session with the water housing.
Rileys




Im happy out with my first day of shooting in the water. I also got an amazing sequence of Fergal which i'm going to keep off the internet till Im sure mags don't want it.
Heres 2 shots of me shooting that sequence that the great Andrew Kilfeather took from land.

Im that little dot floating in the middle of the two bodyboarders. :)

Also got around to shooting some seascape stuff this week. I don't try these enough at all.


Another thing I tried for the first time ever this week was night star trails. I haven't seen anyone do them in Ireland. This was my first attempt. Looks pretty nice I thought.
For all you fellow camera geeks the shutter was open for roughly 17 minuets at F/8.
Im going to try a much better version of this soon once the weather permits. 

Last shot on the blog today is a nicely lit shot of the reefs in Spanish Point. Loving winter!
Hope everyone is getting waves and enjoying it!!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Water time

Blog blog bloggy blog.

I seem to be getting better at this whole writing thing eh? Im keeping it regular and interesting or at least I think I am. I'd like to thank you all again for reading my Blog. I don't get a lot of comments but the views are pretty high so I guess you peeps are liking some of my ramblings.
Im beginning to get the hang of stringing a story or at least a decent paragraph together which is cool.

Yesterday was my first day shooting with my new housing. For anyone who isn't sure what that is heres a shot from the website. It covers my camera and allows me to get into the lovely liquid world we call the sea.

I am blown away. It was like starting photography all over again. A whole new challenge.
My brain is overloading with possibilities.

However, It was one of the scariest experiences I have had in a long time putting my beloved camera into a Aquatech Polyurethane case and trusting it to keep everything dry and safe. Heres how all that happened.
I met bodyboarder Tom Gillespie who had some experience around water housings and there set up. He helped rig it all up and once he convinced me it was going to be water tight we went for a session at Posties in Spanish Point.
Still freaking out a bit at the fact that my 7D which was less than a year old was been put into the sea I spent a few minuets in rock pools testing for bubbles etc. It seemed all good.
I had borrowed swim fins off Tom and the great french man Yann had gave me a leash for my camera.

Heres some shots from my first session.

First up is Andrew Kilfeather who I stole a memory card off. Im sorry Andy but this shot is a nice forgiveness gift. This was the second wave I shot. I was hoping to get one good shot all session. Even a shot of some seaweed would have made my day. I was so happy when this happened.



Nice moody one of Tommy G. Even on a grey day you can get some cool stuff.

 The great Yannbert. A funny funny french man who is on a trip over here. Il be sorry to see this man go, great character.


Tommy G with an aul roley poley :)













Couldn't of be a better start off session for me. Not too big not too small and easy swimming conditions.
After this small session we went straight to Rileys were it was a bit heavier conditions and a lot more fun to shoot. But them shots are for tomorrows post.

I have to give a big shout out to Evan and all the crew at Aquatech. The housing is amazing. Cant wait to get in the water again. Thanks guys!!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Adventures Lately..

So its been a mad month of adventures.
Got to explore some of the Bundoran coastline which was good. I have a feeling there is going to be a good lot of this winter spent on the road.
Here are some pics from recent.


Heres little Dylan Noonan. The first of a lot of photos I can see myself taking of this young ripper. He has been spending more time out in the water than the fishes this lad.
Give him a year or two..

 Less little but still in the little category - Donough Cronin
He has been killing it lately and surfed some of his biggest waves ever in Bundoran.
Got tow'd for the first time into some amazing waves.

Ah I couldn't do this months Blog without a mention of poor Lukey boy. He was saving a kitten from a burning building when this happened. Na he wishes. He got a smack while playing a football match.
10 stitches later and this was the result. Chicks dig scars!!


This is one of the first shots I took on the trip up to Bundoran. G-Spot going bananaz. They have a pretty sweet set up around there. 


Big shout out to RooPoo and Easky 5!! We had the pleasure of staying in their great new house right beside the waves. Such a great spot, thanks guys!!



Leaving the best for last.. Here it is the first copy of Ben Selway's "Whomp" magazine. 
Go buy a copy on the website!!!! Full of amazing photography.

My water housing has just arrived and I will be putting it to the test over the next few weeks.
Will keep ye all up to speed. 
Cant wait!