Llandudno Light Box

22/01/10

Here\'s a nice pulled back shot of Royden Bryson coming off the bottom. I like how the lip line has a little wobble going thru it which is the result of the wedge bouncing off the rocks at the Gat.

I took this shot right after sunset. It\'s starting to get dark so I had to dial down the shutter speed to allow more light onto the sensor which gave this eerie speed blur. Always a bit hit n miss with speed blurs but when you get it right they look pretty cool.

Another pulled back one but this time looking across the bay towards Little Lions Head and the Kabonkelburg with a perfect left spinning down the bank.

Shooting someone pig dogging a barrel can be tricky. They tend to kick up spray off their trailing hand or butt, which result in water droplets in front of the lens. Royden\'s got the backhand hookup with the photographer pretty wired and knows the drill.

Royden again. This is my attempt at the skilled ‘Scott Aichner / under the rail bottom turn shot’ - haha. As you can see there\'s plenty room for improvement. Technically this is a hard shot to pull of perfect, as you not only have to be right under the surfer but you have to avoid the spray kicking up from the rail. Plus you most definitely get the lip axing you on your pip!

Jenna Macgillivray is becoming a standout at Llandudno. She charges and is out there most evenings which is starting to pay dividends.

Galen\'s Hossack has been outa the limelight for many years, but that does not detract from the fact that he is a natural surfing talent and still rips. You can also expect him to snag the bombs. Here\'s one of Galen about to pull in to a set. Unfortunately, the lip chandeliered after this frame and I could not follow it up.

Roy on one a left in the late afternoon. I really like the blue and white contrast on this one. At this time of the year the sun sets so far in the south that it usually bleaches out the lip when you shoot the lefts. In winter the sun sets further in the north when you can get the same ‘effect’ on the rights.

I am ashamed to say that I never got this guys name. But he definitely got some smoking waves this session. If anybody recognises this guy please drop the Zag boys a mail and they\'ll gladly give him the props.
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Hi I see you are looking for the name of the guy in photo 10 of \"Llandudno Light Box, by Richard Johnson. His name is Jacque Smit, from Cape Town. He is an awe inspiring surfer, unfortunately he now has no board due to an accident at cooking dunes. Have a look at the left overs at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=371233&id=733960569&l=16cf12b897

I Really like how the fisheye lens ‘bends’ the wave so that you can see a bit of the right. Andre Holland setting up.

The fisheye lens really warps and distorts things and you have to super close to the subject to fill the frame. Even though Matthew Kramer looks a safe distance away he\'s probably only a foot or two from the housing in this shot.

Here\'s another ‘after sunset ‘ speed blur. The trick is trying to get the surfer sharp while the background spins out from my natural movement. It is very hit and miss but this one came out quite nice. It is a small thing, but I dig the water dripping off Royden\'s fingers.

Who said the Yetti is a myth? Here we got Liam ‘Yetti’ Wood pulling into a decent size barrel. The problem I have with this shot, and the rest of the sequence, is that the water droplets lodged nicely in the middle of the frame. Sigh! Although It was not too noticeable in this shot the rest it was. And unfortunately when it comes to publishing you might as well throw those away.

Last shot here is of Wayne Stewart doing a late evening whack. I remember having to do a last second duck through the back to avoid getting Wayne\'s board in the head. Touch wood I haven\'t connected badly with a board yet, but I guess it\'s only a matter of time eh? An occupational hazard I guess.