Dot-Com Surf Photography (article)

[neosponge]

"Most surfers are stoked to get photos of themselves surfing. However, because it requires such a specialized form of photography, most have very few if any images to show for their years of dedication. Enter dot-com surf photography..."

Dot-Com Surf Photography

Check out the story, including some incredible photos, leave some "Visitor Feedback" if you like, or let's just talk story about it here. Aloha!

[maleko]

nice!

i bought one before, it was me surfing in a contest hanging 10.......good memory. i got 4th place and it was my 1st contest ever

[Guest]

good read!!!1


cdn surfer james

[Kelly7873]

Nice article Neal. I especially liked the Photogs answers to your question on crowds and aggression in the lineups. Some of them are delusional if they think they don't effect the size and nature of the crowds. It's impossible to tell how much the .com photographers effects the crowds overall but it easy the see the immediate impact when JB paddles from Chuns to Jockos and a half dozen LB's come with him. JB's quote "But what does happen is guys will cut out others. I tell them when it happens, and I won't take their pictures." is preposterous. Some of his best customers wouldn't even know to paddle for a wave unless someone is already on it. His galleries are choke full of guys stuffing others then hamming it up for the camera. It would be great if he refused to post or to sell photos of guys who drop in. You also say "Interestingly, none of them announce ahead of time where they are going to shoot." They may not know for sure where they're going to shoot but JB often writes where he's most likely to be.
I'm not totally against the .com photographers. I like getting a nice photo of myself as much as the next guy but I think they should recognize the negative side of their craft too. Personally I think photographers should tread very lightly when they move from the traditional photo spots.

[soloman]

i think what's happening sucks bigtime shit.

the www, and digital photography have KILLED surfing for me.

there are a lot of "superstars" (in their own minds) out there nowadays simply because of the www/digital photog. jamie ballenger, for example. who the hell is he? just because he can afford to do nothing all day but hang at the beach and take pictures, he's an instant somebody.

not to me. all these peeps with websites that promote themselves??? thanks for taking away the mysticism from surfing. it used to be an esoteric lifestyle, surfing.

now it's just fucking mainstream, like disco, las vegas, rap, bald heads and tattoos, not to mention body piercings.

"daddy, i wanna go surfing so i can be a rebel like everyone else, okay?"

[nobody]

like i said, the first comic strip nailed it for me.

any surf session w/o a camera in site is the best for me... regardless of wave size or conditions...

i've surfed since 1969. www and digital cams came on strongonly w/in this millenium... hmmmmm.

my ideology regarding surfing is that it is a personal thing, like sex, or like a relationship with god (religion/spirituality).

first, let's compare it to a relationship with God. when one prays or worships, ideally it should be in private. i got that from the new testament , myself. i do believe Jesus himself said to pray in private, not like the pharisees and saducees who made public display of their personal "feelings". look at those tv evangelists. look how they set their own stage, and pour their "soul" out for the multitudes. THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND ASK YOU FOR MONEY. it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't being driven around in limo's. oh, and they take lot's of pictures of themselves. and pass them out, too.

relationship with god, in the limelight... i dunno.

okay, let's take pictures of another personal relationship, sex. this one is easy, it's called pornography, and i won't go further, nor judge.

i'm merely illustrating what happens when innocently one takes pictures of seemingly harmless consequence. i say the impact of these real-time reports, and easy access to more information than was ever available in history, is destroying us. Dr. Martin Luther King said it, and i paraphrase,"our technology has exceded our humanity". qwe've developed in leaps and bounds technologically. we can blow this planet to hell at least 150 times. we're waging war all over the planet. we travel wherever we like, and believe it is our RIGHT.

we are some vain son-of-a-bitches, we human beings. vain...

it's always all about US...

i think we're all in for a rude awakening... no fo'get take pictures...

[solonobody]

by the way, lemme say that none of this is personal, and it's only an exchange of ideas. i feel pretty bitter and old, nowadays, as many of youse have taken notice.

but i got this way for a reason. first, old cause i'm still alive after surfing in 5 decades. if you seen what i seen, you'ld be the same way, bitter and sad. reaaallly sad.

you guys neva will know how good it was. turtles? we used to spend the whole day at that abandoned, overgrown, empty lot. used to have CHOKE ogo on the reef.

nah, nuthing personal to those who're in love with themselves. go for it, there ain't no stopping progress. just consider me the phrophet of doom. the voice of one crying out for reason. but alas, we live in the time of self-idolaters. so be it, and snap another picture...

[LGREANZ]

great article neal. north shore power portfolios is the best.
that guy is a genuis, but look what he started.
since these guys are making profits from their "so-called" hobby, do you think they are paying taxes like a legitamate business ?
or is art under the table ?

[neosponge]

Everyone, appreciate your comments, kind words and criticisms. We are here to talk story--no need agree all the time.

Kelly, I was *seriously* considering interviewing you for this article. However, I didn't want to exacerbate the situation. After I started interviewing the photographers, the story definitely started turning in a different direction. Didn't want to complicate things. Still, greatly thanks for your take on the issue.

Solo, we all hear you and empathize, because most of us has seen the changes too. Appreciate your take on the matter, as always.

[HMARK]

As always, many faceted views from very many viewers.

For me I dont know which fence to park my ass, or my LB, for that matter. I dont own a single pix of myself surfing. ( I always have said on Buds BB - that if I did I would prollly quit for looking like such a doooofus) - But weather or not they impact crowds - I really dont know - I go outta my way to surf the DP, at the spots where no one cares - or it is a marginal yet great in my psychosis -day. I have yet to face the on slaught of photog's or various flotsam around any spot that I may frequent - so in that sense I am blessed.

Everyone has a say - thank a VET for that - I guess - we all will last out this phase like neon colors in da 80's and funk-i-fied hairdo's in the 70's. Pierceings, Tattoos - they will pass -

Just like last nights Tacos...



Sorry neo = I figger I no need tell you - great article BTW - - - - ----

[freebie]

great article.

i dont mind them cuz i download the pictures for free, they got some great shots! i never had to pay 25 bucks for a shot and never will.

[Bud]

great article.

i dont mind them cuz i download the pictures for free, they got some great shots! i never had to pay 25 bucks for a shot and never will.

you may be able to snag the low res, non-printable copies (probably watermarked too) that the photogs provided on their websites ... but not the full pixel originals. They purposely put up low qual images,

[Puerto_Rico_Surfer]

We dont have the photog problem in Puerto Rico, so I cant really weigh in pro or con. Though since I have never had a picture taken of me cept for the one Neal took of me where I looked like a total dweeb , I guess I would think it would be pretty cool, if just for the fact that I could look at it years later when I am 90 and cant even pick up a board anymore.

freebie wrote:

great article.

i dont mind them cuz i download the pictures for free, they got some great shots! i never had to pay 25 bucks for a shot and never will.

As for this anonymous asswipe "freebie" I hate people that try to scam others. Especially since you seem quite proud that you "never had to pay 25 bucks for a shot and never will". Your a thief plain and simple.

[freebie]

the low res pics on the site arent that bad and watermarks are fairly easy to remove if have spare time. its just not worth the 25 bucks i think unless its an insane shot.

PRS- im not scaming anyone, or maybe i am, but i aint selling the pics i get and i dont print them out and put them on my wall. i just stoked to see them

[maleko]

i've been saving this............................i love to swim on out to my favorite spot with my digi and h2o housing case. the surfer's, bodyboarders, etc, go into contest mode. if only they new i was taking pictures of the reef and fish.........................dumb f!@#$%!!