Surfphoto

Official Surfing Handshake Etiquette For 2013...

The bigwigs at at the Surfer's Handshake International Treaty Symposium (SHITS) have come to a majority decision on the handshake that surfers must use to greet each other for the 2013 season.

Calls for simplicity were made by all countries involved leading into this year's conference as the past few years combination of hand clasps, fist bumps, shoulder nudging and overly long and complex hand slaps have grown wearisome.

So it's with much pleasure we can announce the official inter-surfer hand greeting for this year is the humble, proper, old-school British hand shake.

No slapping, no forearm grips, no cuddles, no kissing, just a simple, solid handshake. They're bringing it back to the source so to speak.

To perform the PBH (Proper British Handshake) simply:

• Ensure your hand is not sweaty or damp; especially if you have just exited a bathroom.
• Extend your hand horizontally at elbow height, ensuring the forearm and hand is kept on an even vertical keel. Avoid tilting the thumb over inwards to go palm down as this implies an unwanted degree of superiority.
• Grip your fellows palm, not fingers, no lily-wristed feeble soft grips, that gives the wrong impression and no 'look I am Thor' hand crushers either, just a good solid grip. 
• Give it one firm pump.
• One shake is all you need, you ain't at the urinals now chaps! 
• Handshakes are brief, should preferably be accompanied with direct eye contact and not to be complicated by other forms of touching. 
• And that's your lot. 
• If you want to add a little flourish then a discreet nod is always a welcome sign of respect for a peer and fellow waterman. 
• If you are greeting a lady then the etiquette becomes terrifying. Wait for the ladies cue. If they proffer a hand you are in for a shaking. If they don't then lean in for the kiss, on the cheek cheeky! Go left, always seems to avoid that unwelcome headbutt scenario.

 So that's it get out and get shaking. Toodle pip!

A Pictorial Guide To Lakey Peak?

 I felt the need to share this. Don't say you never learn anything here ;)

The Apprentice...

Back in the summer I got on the wrong side of the lens for a change doing a piece for Photo Plus magazine, a Canon heads mag full of good tips, reviews and gear. Forgot I had the pdf of the article so now the mags been off the shelves for a few months here it is...

ps: the camera always adds a few lbs eh? ;)

Want To Surf The Lofoten Islands? Here's How...

Background: Surfing in Norway, like the rest of the cold Arctic regions wasn't really considered until the late 90s when wetsuit technology got to a point where any temp was doable, even when you were sharing the line up with icebergs. SURFER mag pioneered the cold realm with late 90s/early noughties trips to the Aleutians, Iceland and Jeff Divine was the first (to our knowledge) to hit the Norwegian Lofoten Islands way up there in the Arctic Circle. Flea, Barney and Jeff got waves but nothing bonkers. That was left to Aussie photog Ted Grambeau along with Sam Lam and Spenny who scored the Lofoten right off its tits good at the beginning of the millennium. It's been 'rediscovered' many times since.

SURFER JOBS: Surf Shop Monkey

Surf shops were once hallowed places, home as they were to a gnarly local legend, a man who was a god in his local surf community (think PJ at the ‘Gennith).

These shrines to surf consumerism as they were used to be replete with the essentials: boards, leashes, suits, wax and the fundamental item for stoked youth- the surf video.

They were also gathering places, where you could hang out, sit on a ratty sofa, watch vids and shoot the shit. You might have even got a coffee and biscuits. They were hubs in the local area. Working in one was a badge of honour.

Sadly these days they are generally clothes shops with some boards out the back and working in one isn’t as cool as it was. Still, old school shops with community spirit do exist and if you like missing the surf to rent boards to newbie’s here’s some handy info!

Surf Water Housing Buyers Guide...

It's a simple fact the humble water-housing is one of the most important investments a surf photographer can make. The fancy epoxy and Perspex lunchbox, that costs as much as your camera, is so expensive it's not a decision to be taken lightly.

There used to be two options: use a heavy (and not really suitable) diving housing or make your own. Everyone should make at least one housing, it's kind of an initiation rite into the Guild Of Surf Photographers. Even if you have the DIY skill of a man with boxing gloves super glued to his hands it is worth doing. But that's a post for another time. Here I'm going to look at the current market for housings, this is my personal take on what's available, I've used, owned or handled pretty much everything around so its not armchair punditry.

Aquatech:

Arguably the biggest, most successful housing manufacturer Aquatech was started as a 'one man in his garage' operation by Alan Love and now supplies distributors worldwide. The housings are unique in using the locking clip system to attach the back plate to the rig. Some photog's diss it but I've been using Aqua's for over ten years with no problems. In the days of film it was a godsend to be able to change a roll without dropping screws in the sand and carrying a screwdriver to the beach. These days Aqua's are state of the art epoxy composite, with full control access, including full use of the video on 7/5Ds. So you can turn Live View on/off and turn REC on with ease.

Aquatech manufacture a complete family of accessories, ports for all lenses, pistols, pole grips, flash housings etc. All of which are easy to swap in and out. Adaptable, light, compact the only con with Aqua's is the price. They ain't cheap. But you get what you pay for and the resale value is high. Used by Mickey Smith, Tim Jones, Me and a host of others. They are also making an economy range sans clips and less controls but perfect for those on a tight budget.

A Tongue In Cheek Guide To Thurso...

Background: Thurso is in Caithness County and occupies the North East chunk of Northern Scotland. Unlike the rest of the region it’s not a mountainous wilderness, low peat lands make up the bulk of the county and these remote areas are one of the few untouched examples of this kind of environment in the world. Caithness is all about the spectacular really- ancient castles haunt the cliffs, Neolithic remains are dotted around, there’s a pervading sense of wilderness and the surf can be sublime. Historically the Vikings have had more influence in the area than the Scottish clans hence the Scandy names- Thurso is Thors river, Brims Ness is Surf Point.