surfing

Locked Down

Locked Down

I haven’t written any posts in quite some time now, in fact almost a year. My website has taken a backseat lately. Work as Outer Image had been great this year with many more events. So much so that I left my midweek work at the gallery (it was only 1 or 2 days a week anyway) and had been doing photography full-time. And then…..lockdown.

Halfway through a weekend shooting a couple of races up near Port Macquarie, I was informed that Sydney was going into lockdown for a few days. Since event photography and lockdowns go play well I had to pack up halfway through. My 2 choices were either self-isolate where I was or return home straight away. As much as I enjoy being away, sitting in my van for 2 weeks was not really my idea of fun and excitement so I came back home so I could get organized for the following weekend’s events. It was going to be rather hectic with 3 big events over one weekend.

That was 2 months ago. Sydney is still in lockdown with no signs of improvement. I’m still waiting for the events to restart. Each day, case numbers rise. I hear of more people out in the community while contagious, people protesting their lack of freedom, people going to parties away from Sydney. I am wondering if these people will ever let me get back to work. Having family and friends who live overseas I fully understand the mess this virus plays with people’s livelihoods and lives. We in Australia have been very lucky but Delta has dug its claws in now.

At least…

Thankfully, I live near the beach. We’re allowed to move for exercise within a 10km radius and work, where essential, (not as an event photographer though). Mornings sitting on the beaches watching whales and shooting surfing have kept most of the boredom at bay. I have not shot a lot of mountain biking lately or trail running or adventure racing or been to any great landscapes. I have been shooting a little bit of product for Tyres and Soles and Bicycles Online, plus dabbling with a bit of video and planning world conquest once the lockdown is lifted. Outer Image hasn’t shut shop or such. Gil and I are just looking at it as more of an extended break where we can fine-tune a few details of our business. I’m getting to reorganize my website, shuffling photos, and rebuilding galleries and links where needed. Look, I have even managed a new blog post

Still………I wish I could get back to work.


Check the Sessions gallery here for more surf images of late

Posted by Richard in Surfing, What's going on, 0 comments
Golden Ride Magazine

Golden Ride Magazine

Aline Bock, Golden Ride, Germany

Snowboarder Aline Bock crosses over into the surfing world

I was contacted by a friend of mine, Aline Bock, with the request to do a couple of surfing shots for Golden Ride Magazine while she was down here in Sydney. Aline is a world class snowboarder and Golden Ride were looking to do a story on women who have crossed over and do both surfing and snowboarding. We did the shoot early one morning at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach. The waves were packed even at that early hour in the morning but we managed to find a quiet corner and get a fwe shots done. If you have looked through my blog before you might remember Aline’s name from when I shot with her in Austria and did a profile on her which you can find by clicking here

Aline Bock, Golden Ride, Germany

Snowboarder Aline Bock crosses over into the surfing world

Posted by Richard in Published, Snowboarding, Surfing, 0 comments
Surfing, Dee Why Point

Surfing, Dee Why Point

It’s been a great couple of months for sizeable swells coming to the beaches of Sydney. Again the swell has picked up. Peaking around 10ft yesterday afternoon. This morning I swung by Dee why point for a bit of a look. I have always had trouble shooting at the Point. It’s a spot where a really long lens is needed so you can shoot from further up the beach or of course an underwater housing and to get out there amongst it. If I keep shooting surf shots I am definitely going to have to think about this.

Posted by Richard in Surfing, 0 comments
Surfing Narrabeen

Surfing Narrabeen

The swell came in again to Narrabeen Beach on Sydney’s Northern beaches. Big, hollow waves brought out surfers out again. These shots were taken on Tuesday morning so although there was a few people out the working day kept the crowds away.

Posted by Richard in Surfing, 4 comments
Day 2: Big Swell at Narrabeen

Day 2: Big Swell at Narrabeen

The morning brought with it smooth hollow waves. I spent the first couple of hours shooting again at Marquesas at Narrabeen. It was a beautiful sunrise with only a couple of clouds on the horizon, a nice change after all the rain over the last few days.
Marquesas can be a quite heavy shore break and a couple of people have come out of the water with snapped boards over the last couple of days but for those that pull it off the rewards can be great. In case you missed yesterdays post you can find the shots here

Posted by Richard in Surfing, 0 comments
Surfing at Marquesas, Narrabeen

Surfing at Marquesas, Narrabeen

Recent storms have whipped up a solid swell here in Sydney. I got down to Marqesas at Narrabeen Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and got a few shots done. The light conditions was quite variable. It was grey when I first got there but right at sunset a beautiful golden light shone through for a few minutes. I tried to keep shooting after sunset but it got dark quite quickly I’m hoping to get down there also early tomorrow morning and pick up the sunrise with a nice swell. Hopefully there will be plenty of people out surfing..

Posted by Richard in Surfing, 0 comments