May 14, 2012
Are All Fish This Big? Watching Andrew Mooney at one of his local breaks today pulling into eight foot mutant waves, I couldn’t help but feel that there is an injustice being served by an industry on the brink of extinction. His raw talent was awarded sponsorship a few years back when he was picked up by Quiksilver. Kurt Jacobs, the then team manager, and I were having a meeting in his Sydney office and he showed me Moon’s reel. It was packed with crazy aerials, big and heavy tube riding, and peppered throughout with a bunch of skateboarding. You could tell from the tape that he was an all-round freak and had the makings of a free surfing super star. I agreed that not signing him would be a massive loss and we were shooting for Quik on the south coast of NSW within a few months. Moon Dog flourished under his new backers and his diversity was rewarded. Over the course of the next few years he graced many pages and covers of major surfing publications the world over. His talent in all elements shining through. Then seemingly for no reason, he was gone. The backing from his major sponsor came to a halt, and his career, based on free surfing not contest results started to dwindle. Not because of a lack of talent, but for the lack of whatever was going on with the powers that be at his major sponsor. Although Mooney is not alone in this scenario, it is disappointing to see that someone of Andrew’s talent and commitment can be overlooked by sponsors. He is working hard and and surfing great, and who knows, a couple of lucky breaks here and there he could be back on the bandwagon in no time.

terrorgallearning to drive

Are All Fish This Big?

Watching Andrew Mooney at one of his local breaks today pulling into eight foot mutant waves, I couldn’t help but feel that there is an injustice being served by an industry on the brink of extinction. His raw talent was awarded sponsorship a few years back when he was picked up by Quiksilver. Kurt Jacobs, the then team manager, and I were having a meeting in his Sydney office and he showed me Moon’s reel. It was packed with crazy aerials, big and heavy tube riding, and peppered throughout with a bunch of skateboarding. You could tell from the tape that he was an all-round freak and had the makings of a free surfing super star. I agreed that not signing him would be a massive loss and we were shooting for Quik on the south coast of NSW within a few months.

Moon Dog flourished under his new backers and his diversity was rewarded. Over the course of the next few years he graced many pages and covers of major surfing publications the world over. His talent in all elements shining through. Then seemingly for no reason, he was gone. The backing from his major sponsor came to a halt, and his career, based on free surfing not contest results started to dwindle. Not because of a lack of talent, but for the lack of whatever was going on with the powers that be at his major sponsor.

Although Mooney is not alone in this scenario, it is disappointing to see that someone of Andrew’s talent and commitment can be overlooked by sponsors. He is working hard and and surfing great, and who knows, a couple of lucky breaks here and there he could be back on the bandwagon in no time.

8:33pm
Filed under: Andrew Mooney Damian Will's Woody Sponsorship Shortyphotos surfing 
May 12, 2012
Clouds in my head. After a long night in the west and a very drowsy sleep on the flying tin can back home, my daughter and I braved the local shopping mall in an attempt to get something special for Mother’s day. It’s not the easiest thing buying gift’s. Especially when your that washed out and tired from a lack of sleep that you forget your wallet. We ended up getting it all sorted and heading home for another amazing sunset off the deck. Home made cards and breakfast in bed is in the books for the early hours of mothers day, followed by a family outing somewhere the kids can enjoy. Home, the greatest place on earth.

Shopping malls are disturbingthe sun sets in the west i guess

Clouds in my head.

After a long night in the west and a very drowsy sleep on the flying tin can back home, my daughter and I braved the local shopping mall in an attempt to get something special for Mother’s day. It’s not the easiest thing buying gift’s. Especially when your that washed out and tired from a lack of sleep that you forget your wallet. We ended up getting it all sorted and heading home for another amazing sunset off the deck. Home made cards and breakfast in bed is in the books for the early hours of mothers day, followed by a family outing somewhere the kids can enjoy.

Home, the greatest place on earth.

7:58pm
Filed under: Home Shortyphotos Western Australia Mother's Day Avalon 
May 11, 2012
Here for the Hooker. Steve Hooker jumped a qualifying height today at his private facility in suburban Perth. I was fortunate enough to be shooting high speed footage on the Phantom Flex at the event and got to watch as he cleared the 5.72 metre height and hopefully qualify for this years London Olympics. It was quite a show really. A hand picked crowd, 6 competitors, and Red Bull’s awesome production value adding to the drama that was possibly Steve Hookers 2012 Olympic dreams realised. It was an awesome day to be involved in. All aspects of it were carefully planned as far as production goes, and my hat goes off to the team at Milk Money Films for sorting everything out and running a truly professional gig. I also got a chance to catch up with a few legends in my field that are based over here in the glorious western state, as well as one notorious still’s photographer that will remain nameless…. You know who you are Watto… It was an amazing day indeed. All that is left to do now is finish all the work we need to do and stay up watching Rage’s tribute show to MCA until a super early flight back home. Kinda like the old days, except I didn’t have to sneak out of my mums house to watch Rage, and I have kids of my own. Wow, how life roll’s on. Thanks Milk Money, thanks Red Bull, thanks Rage, today was awesome.

what you talking bout willis?faster fitter healthier

Here for the Hooker.

Steve Hooker jumped a qualifying height today at his private facility in suburban Perth. I was fortunate enough to be shooting high speed footage on the Phantom Flex at the event and got to watch as he cleared the 5.72 metre height and hopefully qualify for this years London Olympics. It was quite a show really. A hand picked crowd, 6 competitors, and Red Bull’s awesome production value adding to the drama that was possibly Steve Hookers 2012 Olympic dreams realised.

It was an awesome day to be involved in. All aspects of it were carefully planned as far as production goes, and my hat goes off to the team at Milk Money Films for sorting everything out and running a truly professional gig. I also got a chance to catch up with a few legends in my field that are based over here in the glorious western state, as well as one notorious still’s photographer that will remain nameless…. You know who you are Watto… It was an amazing day indeed.

All that is left to do now is finish all the work we need to do and stay up watching Rage’s tribute show to MCA until a super early flight back home. Kinda like the old days, except I didn’t have to sneak out of my mums house to watch Rage, and I have kids of my own. Wow, how life roll’s on. Thanks Milk Money, thanks Red Bull, thanks Rage, today was awesome.

11:59pm
Filed under: Steve Hooker 2012 Olympic Games Western Australia Red Bull Re-Vault Milk Money Films Phantom Flex Shorty Shortyphotos 
May 10, 2012
Time traveling virgins. Traveling on planes can be stressful. It can also be strangely relaxing. Sometimes life seems so hectic that flights that are longer than 4 hours offer a chance to completely unwind. Sure there may be delays, issues checking in, uncomfortable seats and a plethora of other equally testing elements to air travel, but when it comes down to it, once you are in the air you can literally switch off if you want. I guess having spent a fair bit of time on planes over the years, the novelty of it all has long ago worn off. The longer the flight, the deeper I sleep these days. The anxiety I used to experience being in the air a thing of the past. On this flight I am headed to Perth to shoot super slow motion footage on a Phantom Flex with Steve Hooker. I don’t know a great deal about Steve. From the things that I have heard he has had his trying times with his chosen sport after the ultimate success of a Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has been training at a purpose built compound in Perth, and quite possibly he will make an attempt at qualification whilst we are there. I am uncertain of all details, although that is what I am hearing. I am at the airport with Kara and Josh who are working for the production company that are overseeing the film project, and amidst all the holiday makers, life relocaters, business travellers, cheap flight junkies and whoever else will be on this time traveling virgin, we have over 4 hours to take the opportunity to leave any work issues behind and shut down for a bit.

waitingkara working at the airport

Time traveling virgins.

Traveling on planes can be stressful. It can also be strangely relaxing. Sometimes life seems so hectic that flights that are longer than 4 hours offer a chance to completely unwind. Sure there may be delays, issues checking in, uncomfortable seats and a plethora of other equally testing elements to air travel, but when it comes down to it, once you are in the air you can literally switch off if you want. I guess having spent a fair bit of time on planes over the years, the novelty of it all has long ago worn off. The longer the flight, the deeper I sleep these days. The anxiety I used to experience being in the air a thing of the past.

On this flight I am headed to Perth to shoot super slow motion footage on a Phantom Flex with Steve Hooker. I don’t know a great deal about Steve. From the things that I have heard he has had his trying times with his chosen sport after the ultimate success of a Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has been training at a purpose built compound in Perth, and quite possibly he will make an attempt at qualification whilst we are there. I am uncertain of all details, although that is what I am hearing.

I am at the airport with Kara and Josh who are working for the production company that are overseeing the film project, and amidst all the holiday makers, life relocaters, business travellers, cheap flight junkies and whoever else will be on this time traveling virgin, we have over 4 hours to take the opportunity to leave any work issues behind and shut down for a bit.

11:30pm
Filed under: Virgin Perth Shorty Steve Hooker Red Bull Olympics Flying Shortyphotos Phantom Flex 
May 9, 2012
Wigs don’t wear wigs… Andy Wigan works in the same offices where my dingy little studio is situated. He is Managing Editor of what is to become Australia’s premier motocross magazine, Transmoto. We have been working together a little lately as my new film company was involved in a project that Transmoto had collaborated on with JDR Motorsports. The project spanned a few different mediums and has just recently run it’s course with the latest instalment of the magazine. I met Andy whilst he was working at Emap or Mason Stewart Publishing, one of the two, some 18 years ago. I had always wanted to get involved in shooting more bike action as it seemed like a very dynamic sport with endless lighting situations and set ups. I never really got around to any of it until recently and it’s been great. Working with Andy has been great, he’s always enthusiastic to get things happening, and he even ran one of my shots in the mag from a first attempt a few months back. He spends a fair bit of time dedicated to making Transmoto what it is and it shows in the quality that he and his team (his dog included) are releasing every month. Hopefully I get more opportunities in the future to contribute to what he has created. Time will tell.

wassupdogwhysoworried

Wigs don’t wear wigs…

Andy Wigan works in the same offices where my dingy little studio is situated. He is Managing Editor of what is to become Australia’s premier motocross magazine, Transmoto. We have been working together a little lately as my new film company was involved in a project that Transmoto had collaborated on with JDR Motorsports. The project spanned a few different mediums and has just recently run it’s course with the latest instalment of the magazine.

I met Andy whilst he was working at Emap or Mason Stewart Publishing, one of the two, some 18 years ago. I had always wanted to get involved in shooting more bike action as it seemed like a very dynamic sport with endless lighting situations and set ups. I never really got around to any of it until recently and it’s been great. Working with Andy has been great, he’s always enthusiastic to get things happening, and he even ran one of my shots in the mag from a first attempt a few months back.

He spends a fair bit of time dedicated to making Transmoto what it is and it shows in the quality that he and his team (his dog included) are releasing every month. Hopefully I get more opportunities in the future to contribute to what he has created. Time will tell.

4:46pm
Filed under: Andy Wigan Transmoto Shorty Shortyphotos Delinquent Digital Cinema Leica M9P Avalon