15 Yeahs / March 8, 2023 by craig levers

March 2023 marks the 15 year of PhotoCPL Media lurching into life. Relax, I'm not going to bore you with a blow by blow account of that 15 years. Of course it did set off a bout of navel gazing. 15 years ago, all I wanted to do is perpetuate a surfing life, keep that the core of why and what is done. I have strayed at times, but it remains the core value. So far there have been 11 hardcover book projects and multiple side projects like postcards, weblogs, print sets, clothing, commercial commissions, exhibitions and even stamps.

One of the things I love the most is simple direct client print sales. While they account for 33% of the annual income, my marketing of them is terrible to non existent. So for a while I’m using Instagram to display how some of the PhotoCPL best sellers look big on a wall. Some of the walls are virtual, that is, I’ve just done what every print maker does, download some walls from a photo library and then photoshop in the prints. Have to say, I reckon they look pretty good, it is a good way of visualising how a print does look in a room to scale. There’s also some real ones.

Super grateful to all my past clients, looking forward to meeting the new ones. In the meantime, the tide is filling in nicely, swell is a fun 2-3 foot and sea breezey. I'm out!

FROM THE GALLERY

Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

Go Big Or Go Home... but small is good too / February 8, 2023 by craig levers

Smokehouse Bay, Great Barrier Island; a pano shot for the currently out of press Big Little Beach Book. This installation went in last week, it's on Autex sound dampening tiles- hence the matt look finish below.

There's a champion of my work. I'll be eternally grateful to them. This person has put my images forward for four large projects with Auckland District Health Board, Auckland Hospital. All of the images have gone through vigorous vetting protocols, including opening up the selection to the staff, a whole raft of political correctness and hoop jumping. There are now four huge photo CPL murals in Auckland Hospital.

The goal of the installations is the break up the clinical starkness of the labs. The labs that are often associated with stressful times and quite frankly bad news. A distraction for the patient, a different thing to focus on. It is all, genuinely, noble stuff. It's also an overt attempt to brighten up the workplace for the staff. Invariably these MRI and CT scan labs have to be windowless rooms in the bowels of Auckland Hospital.

Mission Bay, also orginally shot for The Big Little Beach Book

None the photo murals bare a signature or a CPL logo, there's no brash call to view the website. Maybe there should be, but I figure, these are in there to help make a stressful diagnosis, a difficult work zone, just little bit more pleasant. I've been paid my fee, I don't need an advert on them. Sometimes I think we live in a time where everything is claimed, logo'd up, sub-marketed, over branded, over commercialised.

Piha Layers at 2.4 metres high x 11 metres wide

KareKare Point, another large pano that featured in The Big Little Beach Book

Maybe I read too much into it, but to have four large installs like these in Auckland Hospital is a career and personal highlight. Nice to be paid, for sure, but knowing that they might alleviate some stress or soften a stark place gives me the warm fuzzies

AND Deeeennnnn...

Wowsers! Thanks to all you you good bastards that have bought Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows It was a solid push over November and December, shipping was delayed for 6 weeks. Normally that would severely hamper sales, but somehow we've sold through 75% of the entire print. Pre-sales were the best we've ever had for a book, probably in part due to everyone being more comfortable with online purchases. But also because Warren's 3 prior books were so solid. This one, in my opinion, is Warren's best. Dunno what I'm talking about? You can preview the book HERE

Getting ready for the next Cyclone, you stay safe out there homies... I'll see ya on the other side next week.

B4 The Rain / February 1, 2023 by craig levers

Firmly in the 'guess who upgraded their drone and went on a roady' post category; the gorgeous Ange and I went up north. It's an awesome migration, seems like 50% of Piha's surfers flock to the FFN for a stint in January. I fricken love the anomaly. In part because of covering the Nationals [you can read that post HERE] we were late to join the Piha posse. Didn't matter, along with our neighbours Dave and Emma we had an epic week of surfing, 4x4'ing, camping and exploring. I'm going keep this brief this week... hope you like the drone shots.

ooosh, Rarawa beach in fine form...

Kind of actually pumping...Dave maybe regretting paddling for the first one.

Dave and his mate Ray

The wind went east so we went west

January and only one other family camping at the Bluff

Hash tag; Camplyfe!

The drone wasn't the only camera in the kit... this photo is inserted to prove that

Went to Te Paki dunes to shoot sand, got captivated by the clouds instead

so serene

AND Deeeennnnn...

Wowsers! Thanks to all you good bastards that have bought Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows It was a solid push over November and December, shipping was delayed for 6 weeks. Normally that would severely hamper sales, but somehow we've sold through 75% of the entire print. Pre-sales were the best we've ever had for a book, probably in part due to everyone being more comfortable with online purchases. But also because Warren's 3 prior books were so solid. This one, in my opinion, is Warren's best. Dunno what I'm talking about? You can preview the book HERE
Hope you are staying wet from salt water not rain out there.

FROM THE GALLERY

And because this is the drone on about drones post. Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

The 60th New Zealand Surfing Nationals / January 18, 2023 by craig levers

The 60th Edition of the annual NZ Surfing Nationals was a feat not to be scoffed at. It featured the one of the largest entrant numbers, over 400, meaning something like 216 heats. I got to be the official shooter again, which puts me at around 20 Nationals attended. It's a stoke and a privilege not taken lightly.

Piha turned it on. It was pumping at the start, a bit shit in the middle and then verging on epic for the last two days, wait, yes, hold that, it was epic- world class for the finals days.

The 7 days did not go off without a few hitches. I'm embarrassed about my own generation of parents, my friends. We are the helicopter and bulldozer generation. The ones that refuse to accept that their daughter or son could possibly have lost a heat through their own mis management or even - heaven forbid- lack of talent. That somehow it's OK to storm the officials' area, to treat officials like they are imbeciles. That somehow, despite never judging a heat, attending a judges' course or having any qualification, they have osmosified the rule book into their very inner being. It was cringey.

It has knock on effects. It directly affects the heats after, one or two officials are forced to shift attention from their core tasks. It wears the officials down, they are human, having someone standing toe to toe and berating them is not fun. I witnessed more than a couple of these incidents over the week where clearly the offender had got the wrong end of the stick, but refused to take on the information. Sadly, more than one offical stated this would be their last event. As they decompress that may change.

Yeah Adrian and Sam!

Surfing New Zealand will have to adopt and enforce protocols that other sports have had to. To protect their volunteers and officials from abuse. SNZ doesn't have to look too far; both the WSL and ISA have clear protocols on how to query a result.

Moving on, Surfing was the winner on the day. It actually was. The surfing done in every division was incredible. Women, Juniors, Open and the older divisions- they were tough heats, exciting heats, stacked heats. Man, some of the older division heats read like the whos's who of NZ competitive surfing. Lots of former champions, like the OG Benny Hutchings, Darren Kiwi, Pando and Hench.

I used to have to write up a Nationals feature every year....I'm starting to fall back into that role. Don't have to, so I'm not. Here's a gallery of some of my favourite shots from the 8,000 frames taken. Despite the haters and the naysayers, the 60th Edition was one of, if not the best, Nationals ever organised.

Raglan's Kora Cooper was one of the safe bets for the U18 Men, I think Billy Byers may have sorted him out with a hectic nocturnal calendar though :)

Defending Champ Daniel Farr couldn't quite make the last bracket this time, but he was right in the conversation until he wasn't.

You can't go to the top if you don't come off the bottom; surfing 101. And your U16 Womans Champ Alani Morse searing her way to victory.

Dune Kennings surfed the whole event with a fire in his belly- his passion was un-matched.

The flatmate! Billy Stairmand 8x National Open Champ was the on form surfer. It was the others to take off him.

...and holy crap, there's a new threat in town, grommet giant slayer Kalani Louis from the Naki shredded all event making the open final. Watch that name.

As was Billy, former National Champ Elliott Paerata-Reid was very much the on form surfer. The final came down to who got the best waves...now that reads obvious, but what's meant there is that every surfer in THAT final surfed on an elevated level. It came down to the wave selection, and of course the execution.

Another Taranaki Terror. Tom Butland's radicalness and rail surfing was excellent- the junior has become a serious threat.

Yeah the old boys! Darren Kiwi, all style, so much so the judges award him a National Title- pretty good way to mark your 50th Birthday Darren- nice my bro.

Whoa settle down James Washer, you're too old to hack like that!!!

Dune, and the artful combination of critical and precise board placement

Caleb Cutmore's champaign was cut short in the semi's, but man, every wave he got was a combination of well surfed variations. A testament to the depth of surfing NZ has at the moment.

Rick Lasch! Your smiling assassin, he will beat you.

Jrod, aka Jarrod Hancock surfed so many bloody divisions he needed a set of gills!I it worked though, he walked away with his 7th National title. He was ripping.

Keyhole member Liam Joyce was sooo on form in his O40 semi, he came 3rd in that final.

...and Matty Mattucks Scorringe .... finally the bridesmaid no longer! With turns like this, worthy of an Open finals, Matthew clinched his first National Title, the O35's...cos you know, he's OLD now.

...and then you know what happened, Hosting club Keyhole Boardriders had two Open Men finalists, Dune and Elliot, Dune won, his first Open Title to compliment his Junior Title.

Yeah browsers!

Yeah Dune!!!

The Keyhole swarm was insane. I don't think I've ever experienced such an outpouring of support for a winner. Then the haka at the presso lead by Dan Native...well, just wow. This is what NZ Surfing is.

FROM THE GALLERY

I'm stoked to present a new addition to the Waves Gallery on PhotoCPL.co.nz. Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.

The Top 9...but are they??? / December 22, 2022 by craig levers

Around this time every year people start posting their top 9 most liked Instagram posts. The top most liked post doesn't mean they are the best photos, they are the ones that have struck a chord on your hand held device. Up above are the PhotoCPL top 9.

#1

Straight off the bat this one messes with the concept of the best, I mean I fricken love it, Mackenzie Bowden oozes style and panache, but the reason its number 1 is because Mac colabbed it on Insty, so his likes from his profile are pooled in too. Classy turn but aye.

#2

Again a bit of a distort, although I almost don't want to point it out because Al Sander's bottom turn here is everything good, a great Piha surfer on a solid wave, kind of within a line up....BUT it was the leading image in a post that had 4 more images in it... so was Al's THE shot? Did the other four images help push the likes up?

#3

The post only cost 7K to make!!! Of course Ange and I didn't get the Troopy resprayed for an Insty moment. The old girl's paint was failing, it's 25 years old, it was over due. But I have to say very stoked so many people liked this post. The Troopy is pretty mint now.

#4

East coast peelers posted during a swell event, it's kind of a cheap trick, even although the wave is only in the 3-4 ft range, we all love Eastcoast swells. The funny thing is, if I post a couple of 3 foot west coast waves peeling down a bank, meehhh. Maybe because it's less of a rarity?

#5

This sequence of Luke Cederman is mad. Frothed I got to capture the uber talented Raglan surfer going through a nearly daily ritual.

Warren Hawke also used the main image in his book NZ Surf Windows

#6

No hedging on this one; one of the best barrel sequences of my career as a waterphotographer. It's technically near on perfect, sharpness and exposure etc. From a surfing point of view a heaving tube with Napes right in the driver's seat. Here's the whole sequence, I don't know which is the best frame.

#7

Who doesn't love a dreamy 4 wave line up of Wharikiriki. This older line up was posted because it is a full page in NZ Surf Windows as part of a feature about Ahipara and the changes the breaks have and are going through. It was the hardest feature to write for me. But I was able to reach out to locals and local iwi to hopefully convey a balanced perspective on one of our national surfing treasures.

#8

Another sequence, on a small summer's day out west, quite frankly the days I froth to surf, but choose to swim instead.
It paid off, Bill Byers landing more images in NZ Surf Windows

#9

Luke Cederman makes the top 9 twice...wellllll he had a little help; this post was another of those multiple image posts. Love that it's well over head surf.

It's certainly true that I also like these images too. Are they all my favourites of 2022, no. There are images from 2022 that where more commercially successful, like the use of this image in Auckland Hospital, which is the third PhotoCPL image/mural for ADHB, AND there's a fourth going in next year.

This post could go on for days, me splitting hairs over what photos of 2022 were best and what best means. 2022 was another strange year, still Covid affected, lingering injuries hampering shooting and surfing, regardless it was a good year. Warren Hawke created a book that I had the honour of publishing and contributing too...you may have noticed it has been mentioned a few times. Making a surf book is an all consuming project, it's taxing, but if you get it right, its also rewarding, hopefully financially too, but adding just a little more documentation to our Kiwi surfing community. It's not something Warren or I take lightly. Anyways... 2022- you where weird.

And that's it for me, see ya next year.

Courting Media / December 14, 2022 by craig levers

There's no point in crafting a masterpiece if you're going to hang it in a closet. I don't actually believe that, the creative process, the act of making something shouldn't be belittled. But in this case, the creation of a book, one of the most important things to be done is letting people know the title exists. Warren Hawke is very, very good at this. Courting media to garner exposure for NZ Surf Windows

Last Friday Warren was interviewed on Radio New Zealand by the absolute legend Karen Hay. You can listen to that interview HERE

Warren also secured the lead feature [and cover] of the Pegasus Post

Word has it that all the other Canterbury regional papers are picking up the story this week.

There's also a NZ Surf Windows book giveaway we are doing with Surfing NZ on their Insty accoun tHERE

All hands to the pump! Finally the first round of distribution is done, all the leading surf shops in Aotearoa have NZ Surf Windows plus it is in gift stores and book stores, support our retailers.... but if you just wanna get it, c'mon over to PhotoCPL.co.nz we'll sort you out.

We will be packing and posting right up until December 19 for Nationwide deliveries. But honestly, if you are thinking of getting any product, not just NZ SURF Windows, I mean anything from anywhere, don't dilly dally, the supply lines are under strain for sure.

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Surf is good Westside.... see ya out there - CP

Multi Discipline / December 7, 2022 by craig levers

...just wow.. 15 year old Zedyn Fellows

I'm not going to load you up with skate images from last weekend's epic Verticus, but you can view the CPL gallery over on Manual Magazine HERE

...and you should. Also if you have a passing interest in skate then you'll be excited to know David Read the founder of Manual Magazine has just put out a print issue of the magazine- yes PRINT. David reckons that the drive behind going to print is that the kids want it, they want to read and see images on pages not screens- all I can add is amen bro- you're speaking my language!

Gav Bisman and Cale Tolley, the organisers of Verticus at that post event sigh moment; 'we did it, nobody died, no dramas'

Z, Open winner and biggest air winner, happy as.

The division champs, Z, Leigh 'Squeak' McKenzie, Yeva Butler and CJ Hawker.

How sick is Al Ashworth's image and in fact all the images in the Surfline feature Burning Memories Part 1

There's a couple of CPL ones in there too, but to be fair I feel like Al nailed the day. Good on you ol boy!!! F#ck the lefts- look at those dreamy right hand canvases!!!

So excited. It's the start of the ramp up for the 2023 Aotearoa Surf Film Festival. I'm a founding judge, so absolutely I will be watching and I will be judging 2023 in a highly judgemental way. Now I mean this is a positive way; you'd be surprised how few and how lo-fi some of the Kiwi submissions actually are each year. In other words, don't be intimidated, have a go, behind the scenes collectively as judges try to support and nurture everyone who puts in a submission. Tell your surfing story. Check out the submissions page on ASFF HERE

N...

All hands to the pump! Finally the first round of distribution is done, all the leading surf shops in Aotearoa have NZ Surf Windows plus it is in gift stores and book stores, support our retailers.... but if you just wanna get it, c'mon over to PhotoCPL.co.nz we'll sort you out. Below is delivery cut offs from NZ Post.

We will be packing and posting right up until December 19 for Nationwide deliveries. But honestly, if you are thinking of getting any product, not just NZ SURF Windows, I mean anything from anywhere, don't dilly dally, the supply lines are under strain for sure.

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Pin Ups / November 30, 2022 by craig levers

These two pinhole camera images are winging their way to their new owner as you read this.

I wouldn't claim at anytime that I have great insight or overview. There are only a few times ever I can recall thinking, yep this is it. At the tender wee age of 9, surfing was one, I remember standing on my dinged up third/fourth hand Bob Davie at Orewa [yes Orewa!] and being so enthralled by the ride, and realising I was tapping into something bigger. Pure fun, pure stoke [definitely didn't know that word existed at the time]. Photography was more of a slow burner, I'd dabbled for 6th Form Art, loved it, but just didn't have access to a camera. Hindsight is a funny thing, I have in past kicked myself as to why from 16-21 I didn't somehow find a way to get a camera. I need to give young CP a break, I was growing up, leaving school, bailing to Aussie to pursue surfing, SURFING! Living at Kirra, being a teenage surf brat. The best of times.

This one incorporates the same Fuji Instant film negative reclamation technique as the two pin holes above.

I finally stumped up and got a 'proper' camera with 2 lenses when I was 21. The first roll of film was like those first waves on the Bob Davie, this is something I need to do. Probably because of my advanced age, a stately 21 as opposed to 9, there was an awareness I was tapping into something that I was going to do for life. Something that you'd keep on learning and growing within. So when I wrote; a very few times in my life- I meant only twice. I'm pretty shallow like that.

The biggest issue with photography is I can't seem to stay in my own lane. I love learning new/old techniques and just learning. It means the output can be confusing.

Salvation Mountain, California. Fuji Instant film shot with a 1970's Land Camera.

So sorry, not sorry, no surfing images with week. Multi media images made with 3 completely different film cameras- somebody clearly has a camera/ E-bay issue! AND DEEEN...

Promote, sell, process, pack. I like it, it is super satisfying work. There's been a lot of mansplaining about the the knock on effects of the whole shipment being 6 WEEKS... 6 WEEKS late. And here's another knock on. The time for Christmas overseas deliveries has gone! F%%%&&&&CK!

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

ANNND Deeen......Fast becoming one of the firm favourites... who are we kidding it's already a firm fav! This is where I'll be December 3, coping side making images like these ones HERE

Offshores and Going Postal / November 23, 2022 by craig levers

Did it have to end? It probably hasn't anyway. But for the longest spell in a while we have howling on-shores with no sign of let up. A stark contrast to the year and a half we've had of there always being an off-shore puff in the long range forecast. With the new book arriving, the windows I've had to shoot have been very time critical. Sure enough, the times and tides haven't worked out for swimming with the camera of those really epic sessions. Here's the last of the offshores, I suspect the bank won't handle the onshore lashing it is getting now.... but who knows, the storms could gouge the rip channels into perfect bank makers???

Brendon Shadbolt, all style as always..and probably into hour 5

Are you getting the impression there may have been good waves?

You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

.Fast becoming one of the firm favourites... who are we kidding it's already a firm fav! This is where I'll be December 3, coping side making images like these ones HERE

Got It, Get It / November 16, 2022 by craig levers

It Was Marginal At Best....

the ol', Ohhh fricken great, here comes the duck diving practice, moment

It was one of those west coast arvos where everything should have aligned, it could have been just handling, the bank in question certainly had held a swell like this in the weeks prior. The carpark froth was at an all time high. Well that might have just been me, I was determined to swim out with the water camera, amping, but that little annoying niggle of logic kept niggling.

It's the eternal balancing act all surf photographers have to deal with; shoot from the water, reducing your hit rate dramatically, but maybe getting that banger. Or opt for the safety of the big lens and the tripod on the beach. Not as dynamic images, but a far higher hit rate. Can you swim out? Can you stay in position with the rip? Are the sets breaking in a predicable place to even line up? My default is ALWAYS try to swim.

This day logic won out. I doubt I could have made it out into the line up with the camera in tow. And then the ridden wave count was so low, it would have been next to impossible to be in the spot to be lined up with the rider. I opted for my favourite rock perch with the tripod and big lens.

Luke Cederman found a few diamonds in the rough

Post surf debrief, we figured out the swell pulsed that evening. That combined with an incoming tide, meant more energy pushed over the outer banks. Instead of the incoming tide helping the inner bank hold the swell, it maxed it out, making for some dodging, weaving and carnage.

Dune Kennings finding his way through a froth monster

Kye Bedford was on mission, he won the heat for sure

Luke expressing his full stoke and admiration of the conditions

Surfline used a couple of the shots last week, the lads got a run. Worth it!

AND DEEEN...

Leia Millar was pretty stoked with her feature in the new book NZ Surf Windows The Gundy/Millar clan were in fact the very first delivery, the first customers to see the book.

After 6 weeks...6 WEEKS!!! Of shipping delays, the new Warren Hawke book NZ Surf Windows is finally here. The last 5 days have been consumed with packing and shipping all the pre-orders and surf shop orders.

I was going to gloat about the tons of books that have been moved since last Friday. Then I worked out that it was only about 600 kgs, the same 600 kgs handled multiple times, divided, repackaged, collated, shipped, but I dunno, it just doesn't sound like that much aye?

Of course I'm not the only one handling the book sales, the other 2.5 tons of NZ Surf Windows have been shipped to book stores nationwide by our Book Representatives. About half of that 2.5 tons was pre-sold to the bookstores. You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Titles, Orders and Books / November 9, 2022 by craig levers

2022 Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles

I've been fortunate to do some pretty cool stuff. I was so stoked to be asked to cover the Maori Surfing Titles for Surfline. Back in the early 1990's we'd always attend; this was when Dano Waiweri and the Waitara Boardriders founded the event. Dano Invited Chris Berge and I to cover it for NZ Surf Mag. I didn't realise until this year that I'd been at the inaugural one and the subsequent ones hosted by Waitara. We [Chris and I] loved the comp, we are both Pakeha, but the vibe and the unique Kiwi-ness of it made it a must do for the magazine every year. We placed nearly as much importance on it as the Nationals. Of course that was a lifetime ago, as much as things have changed, they haven't. The kotahitanga and manaakitanga have only become stronger. Anyway! Loved covering it, and super super grateful to the Ria whanau, Charles Kauwhata and Manuel Springford [and everyone] for all their behind the scenes help. You can read the Surfline feature HERE

Oh, and I got to rescue 3 different vehicles.... such a bonus- love a good snap!

Keep Your Eye Out

Oooosh!! The big guns have come out the play on this one, with a leather bound limited edition available [still, maybe!] and word from the OG's like Owl Chapman and Wayne Lynch- it's gotta be gold right? I've been told the print run is very small, so if this is something you'd want, best best you get on it.

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Check it out HERE

Order Up

How good! This commission went in a few weeks ago. The client wanted the shot they'd seen in one of the PhotoCPL mailers for this wall in their Air B’n’B studio. No worries, the end result is a 1200mm wide x 600mm deep canvas.

Do you reckon it should be loaded up to the PhotoCPL Waves Gallery?

AND DEEEN...

The shipment of NZ Surf Windows is sitting off Browns Bay, the vessel missed its scheduled berth. In the publishing world this is commonly known as ‘We’re F&cked’. Warren and I had already canned the proposed dates for the book launches. It does mean the Pre Sales deal, which have already exceeded expectations, has been extended. You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

Perfect Days / November 2, 2022 by craig levers

They do happen, of course the claim is highly subjective. Actually a lot went wrong this perfect day, boards were snapped, I had my flippers ripped off getting caught by a set wave. Got cramped up and sent in earlier than I wanted. On the drive home, had the shittest Macca’s ever and then got detoured through South Auckland because of road works in the One. It was still a perfect day.

Napes cajoled me into going, I’d thought about it earlier in the week but had largely let the weight of mundanity eat away my froth… in english… the to-do chore list was at the forefront of my thinking. I felt so stink when Napes rang, I started on the negatives; ‘no, don’t wanna go, can’t surf, shoulder is sore, back is sore, too much to do bro. ‘

wow, imagine if someone was sitting in one like that! Or even a bigger hollower one perhaps?

Summon the PMA Ceeps [that’s my internal voice] I text him back within 5, ‘Fuck yeah bro- let’s do this! And actually I still owe you surf trip, so this one’s on me.’ But I had no idea it would be like this.

Napes had a plan that we stuck to, cruise to the beach for just after high tide, noon, make ready and surf/shoot till dark- drive home, get bad food at the Bombays. The perfect plan.

Good to see grom Manu Roberts charging on the 2nd of three long sessions

A known solder charging, just not known by me, any clue?

Campbell McKegg is there any surfer on the planet with a more appropriate name!

Rungi Ormand on a warm up run… just you wait.

Jeff King’s double spitter

Matt Land whipped Klee Drumond into this bomb…and there is a sequence of him making it.

Sam McCraw on one of his many many waves of the day

Rungi Ormand and the wave that got a standing ovation from the bleachers

Rungi’s nephew Kanaiya came over from Northern NSW for the holidays, clearly worth it!

It wasn’t all barrels… well it was really, Matt Hishon defying the rules

Yes that is Bevan Wiig again … rounding out hour 6 in the water

Tom Carter on the most perfect thick evening nugget

Matt Hansen and the last wave I could shoot in the fading light.

There are so many more images I could post here, the cards were filled with 1645 frames over the day. Some have gone on to Surfline, I’ve tried to mix up the selection a bit from that edit.

And Deeeen……

In not so shock horror news, the shipment of NZ Surf Windows is sitting off Browns Bay, the vessel missed its scheduled berth, can I say Berthday??? I am. This has the expected knock on effect. It now is a casual berth, fit it in when the Ports of Auckwack can. And we did so well making all our deadlines! Anyway, in the publishing world this is commonly known as ‘We’re F&cked’. Warren and I had already canned the proposed dates for the book launches. It does mean the Pre Sales deal, which has already exceeded expectations, has been extended. You can view more of the book and secure your copy HERE

False Starts / October 5, 2022 by craig levers

I swing widely between doctrines of surf photography;
One is to shoot any and every surf... basically if there are surfers surfing and have fun then you could be shooting. I tend to sit more in this camp. But then there's the perfectionists, the surf photographers that ardently believe that every surf shot should be ....perfect. Perfect light, perfect waves, aspirational. Of course their show reels and social media are highly curated and crafted to look amazing...and they do. Over the last week I really flummoxed myself trying to do the latter.

There were moments of goodness for sure, but Spring weather is wily. Changeable and fast in doing so. The wagon was loaded with the cameras all week, quite a few K's were ticked up driving up and down Piha's marine parades.

Stu, Behind you!

Ultimately I fizzled out, zagged instead of zigging, picked the wrong tides, committed to other social engagements and throughly frustrated myself looking for diamonds in the rough. It happens, you just gotta keep on keeping on.

AND Deeeeen...

I don't know about this, as I do most firmly sit in the face for radio and voice for writing category. Despite knowing better, I let me old mate Cale Tolley [that's him above and above] con me into guinea pigging his new Pod Cast Talks With Thomas. It came out pretty good! Check it out HERE

AND DEEEN...

This good thing has been taking up all the time between shoots and false starts. Over on the PhotoCPL Instagram page there have been big, long posts about some of the favourite images that appear in the book.

If you want a bit more info about the book and a bit of the behind the scenes stuff check the posts on Insty HERE

Did you know Warren Hawke and I have published a new book? I know, it's a shock aye, never would have guessed. We are at the 'holy shit, we've just paid out thousands for printing and graphic art, are we gonna recoupe'- stage, you'd think after eleven books this wouldn't be a factor. We will, Warren has made a banger of a surf book. But since we are here, how would you like to ease that stress a little and take advantage of the pre sale offer. Commit now and you get free P&P nationwide. Offer is open until 20 October. Check it out HERE

Wet Rubber / September 30, 2022 by craig levers

..and yes that most firmly is a reference to the Head Like A Hole anthem…

This is the first winter I've ever had off surfing. It wasn't by choice, and believe me, everyone within vocal range knows it. I've had a frozen shoulder for 6 months. While I was determined it wouldn't slow me down swimming with the camera - it did. I just kind of opted to stay dry.

This week was a great week out here, so finally I rejoined the pack, albeit as an observer with a camera. The rubber finally got wet again.

Jamie Piggins lapping up the west coast serenity

Jamie reckons he doesn't like this off the middle shot, but I'm over riding him, I like the speed and that he's eyeing up what's next

and just to keep all the J's in a line, here's James McAlpine...as ever waiting for the outside peak and obtaining

The absolute local, Michael Dunstan, if Michael's not out in his front yard, then you're in the wrong place

Michael very literally in his front yard ...his house is one of those blurry things on the hill by his left shoulder

and then the swell jacked and the Gland came to Pihamea [sorry that's a real in-house Piha ironic call]

Powelly aka Christopher Barron powered up

Resident Foil master James... oh shit I got another J!... James Roberston carving

And lets call this guy John Doe, just for continuity... hell slash to tail slide under the lip

AND DEEEN...

This good thing has been taking up all the time between shoots. Over on the PhotoCPL Instagram page there have been big, long posts about some of the favourite images that appear in the book.

If you want a bit more info about the book and a bit of the behind the scenes stuff check the posts on Insty HERE

From The Book Store

Absolute C%ck Up / September 21, 2022 by craig levers

Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows is about to drop. I was raving about its goodness and crispness last week. The idea was that we were now open to Pre Sales. Traditionally the Pre Sales of Warren's books have been unreal. But last week after announcing it; crickets...nothing, nada, zilch. Then the dreaded email; 'Hey bro, I just bought two books, can I get them signed' wait a minute - there's no payment notification. Very very long story short, the payment button on the webpage wasn't working- looked like it was working, if you bought a book it said it worked. It didn't. The good news is, for those that thought they bought a book or two last week, no funds have been taken from your account. If you didn't receive a PayPal email of receipt, the transaction didn't go through. The kicker is I have no way of knowing who thinks they have secured a book from last week.

On Monday arvo it was finally sorted. The payment button now works and Pre Sale orders are coming in. If you thought you bought one and you didn't receive a confirmation of payment email, please check your bank balance, and/or email me and I can tell you whether a payment has come through. It's a monumental cock up.

Anyway, Its done. So YES, Pre Sales are definitely open, they are working and we are offering free postage and packaging New Zealand wide for Pre sales before 20 October 2022.

And with NZ Surf Windows as with the past NZ Surf books the print run is limited to what we know we can sell. A reprint is not planned.

On a higher note [yep there's the dad joke] I got the shoot the Verticus Session presented by Skull Candy. Hyper Ride and Vans also assisted. The Idea being that organisers Cale Tolley [up above- and another dad joke] and Gav Bisman wanted to tap on a preview event to the main Verticus event scheduled for December 3rd at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui.

Mount legend and perennial Ants McCloud

Skull Candy Sessions invitee/winner 12 year old gurl Yeva rips!

Palmy legend Griff warming up

Griff's son Flea showing the ol boy how it's done

Stephen Nichols fakie

Nick Clegg, stylish as ever

Groms on the sticker scramble

A quiet moment in the chaos

NZ Surf Windows / September 14, 2022 by craig levers

Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows is about to drop. It's the fourth book we have collaborated on, along with the very talented graphic artist and fine artist Josh O'Rourke. The fourth in Warren's sell through book series NZ Surf. I've been tremendously proud to be a part of the process from day one. Warren has always been a photographic inspiration for me since I was 13. To work with the legend ...well, who gets to do that right!? I sort've get to sit back for the first half as the Was traipses country wide creating images and stories doing the long miles and hard mahi. The second half is where I waltz on into the role of publisher, distributor, purse string holder and seller.

That said this time round Was did push me harder to contribute more of the content. It's a strange role nowadays, for the last year or so I've been under instruction from the author not to share the A grade for social platforms. Save it for the book, at peril of it being passed over for the book- no premature show'n'tells.

Case in point; Luke Grubb; kept off the socials, wasn't allowed to even share with Luke! That Was, he's a taskmaster.

NZ Surf Windows is distillation of the formula Was used in NZ Surf The Collection Vol 1 and 2. Both those books sold out. But Was evolved the formula, NZ Surf Windows, while still based on the same concept of being highly inclusive of the wider NZ Surf community, the design of the book is a lot cleaner. It's a tough role for an author/photographer/photo editor; cull the good shots, the images that supplement the story, let the great shots breathe. Was has always wanted his books to be as encompassing as possible, so this distillation of an already proven formula was challenging. But you can see on the pages of NZ Surf Windows there is a more refined approach.

Was plays with the concept of Windows. Windows to the past, swell windows and the windows of opportunity surfers crave and seek. The theme ties in all the chapters of the 200 page book well.

I probably should use this opportunity to hard sell the book, guised as an impartial review. But dude, I fricken published the thing. While neither Was or I will be resting on the laurels of past successes, nor will we be relaxing already knowing 33% of the 1600 print run is already pre sold into book stores nation-wide [hold on that means we got another 66% to off-load, that went from half full to half empty real fast!]

Pre sales of NZ Surf Windows are now open, as with the past NZ Surf books the print run is limited to what we know we can sell. A reprint is not planned.

Photo Dump / September 6, 2022 by craig levers

Last web log it was proclaimed, and intended, to get these things back on track. But then the surf got good, unseasonably good. I got committed to shooting, the combination of that and house guests, as lame as that reads even as it’s written I missed another due date.

So this week is a bonus content web log, here are my top 30-ish images out of the 2,500 I shot last week.

Piha grub Maceo Thompson attacking the shorey

and their ol boy Beej is no slouch in the briny either

Probably my fav image from last week, Al Sanders absolutely searing around the base of a Bar screamer

Anyone know this soldier? Pretty sure he’s on a Ray Findlay twin with a green haul

Another local grub Seb has really hit his straps

Bourne Buirski harnessing his inner Sealtooth

12 year old Mountie Indi Corcoran hung for the week of offies

His old boy Matty came along for the ride too

The three Mountie musketeers; Lennox, Indi and Tai pre paddle out

Another grom that’s been hanging around and getting a fair bit of celebrity

Zeke Pragert is another Piha grom that’s really starting to be noticed in the line up

Former Piha resident and National Champion Andrew Robinson was on a tear this evening session - so good to see the 1997 champ hasn’t lost any of his flare

Speaking of flaring… Christian Fougere fins in the aforementioned position

Looks like we are in for more offshores for the rest of the week. See ya at the beach!

…And Over on Recreational Society…

C’mon over and meeting one inspiring and can do woman, Tania Graham-Brown and her epic red Toyota Coaster bus. Tania has lived full time on the road for the last 3 years, in this feature she explains why and how.

Check it HERE

Back After Covid / August 18, 2022 by craig levers

Two Months! It begs belief. There hasn't been a Photo CPL web log for 8 weeks. I even surprise myself with my slackness.

She's so preeetttty

So, Covid. No big deal right, well, I feel like I was lucky. The only reason a RAT test was done was because I felt a bit off and I was about to visit mum in her Care Home. It was a huge shock to see the test go straight to a firm positive. It wasn't too bad, a few days of feeling a bit crap and body aches. No cough or vomiting like other people have experienced.

7 days after testing positive I tested negative- sweet right! No. That post viral fatigue thingy happened. It messed me up for the following weeks. Wanting to get on, but unable to concentrate and then motivate to do ANYTHING. A constant state of frustration. So, the reason I'm sharing is simply this, if you get sick, be kind to yourself, if your partner or family is sick be kind to them. Most everyone I've talked to that has had Covid, its the ongoing fatigue that's the lingering thing.

It's not to say that I've had 8 weeks of watching Netflix. Or hibernating for the New Zealand winter. There just hasn't been an attempt at getting the web log happening. Here's a slice of happenings;

Whanga Surf Shop

This install went in fast O&E NZ needed an image of Ella Williams for their banner on Whanga Surf Shop and Ella suggested they use this one from one of our 2021 Piha Sessions. Chur Ella and Braedon. And stoked Ben and Ritchie from O&E

Billy And Liam's

I love scoring commercial commissions, private ones always seem more special. I was super stoked to get this one from Piha locals Billie and Liam.The Piha Gap at 1200mm wide on Canvas.

Surfline Sessions

Screen Shot 2022-07-18 at 8.40.49 AM.jpg

Always a stoke when a photo from a forgotten session gets used. This one of Rungi Ormand was shot as part of a Whanga Surf Academy story, which is on the back burner. Rungi's the Academy's surf coach, pretty cool to be a student paddling out and your coach does this in your face huh!

Got a wee feature of Otago surfer Luke Grubb up on Surfline too... soooo fatigued shooting this sesh... think there was an arvo nanna nap involved later.

The obligatory and welcomed dune board meeting

Yeah Lozza and Cork! Thanks for sharing your Covid stories- made me feel better about not being able to get going

James Jnr - Occy-esque

James still stoked even if the waves weren't quite the plan

Good from far, but far from good

The infilling tide was a different tale though

And I don't know what Napes is trying to convey in this interpretive dance... but its good!

NZ Surf: Windows

The no photo part... This is what has been the over arching theme of the last 2 months, and the year. Warren Hawke's new surf book is getting printed right now. Photo CPL Media is the publisher and I've been the senior contributor. It's the 4th book we've done together. It is not quite the time to share teasers, so this is a pre teaser, tease that there is going to be a tease soon. The hard cover 200 page book is a banger and on schedule for October release.

The Recreational Society

The Recreational Society website has been ticking along nicely too. Christie Prior did a great wrap up of her and Is Dickie's Northland vay-cay in a fancy motorhome. You can read about that HERE

Then this week there is a mouth watering feature on Sam Minnell's epic green Troopy. He's done such a good fit out of the old girl, you have to see it. It's HERE

Skate and Surf

Jason Parkes in his own 9 foot pool

Morri, Smithing over the death box

Billie Morrison, not even her best shot... you'll have to wait for that one. But how rad is this, Billie grinding the deep end

I value these all too rare sessions so highly. To be invited along a be a part of a backyard session even as an observer/photog/mate. This session didn't go to plan, although to be fair there was no plan. Both Parksey and Morri were fielding injuries [lads... we're mid aged, when are we not!] anyway it quickly and naturally became Billie's session. Morrie on dad/coach duties gently prompting his daughter into going a bit higher, getting her weight over the coping. Parksey on the lighting duties, me leaning over the coping with the camera just suggesting maybe one more, and then another.

Mini Monkey.... even better than it looks

Johnny Edgell, the Chezzel, the Yam Jam, the legend, carving the bank to shreds on Monday

Bourney Buirski working on his flow and edge work nicely

If you've stayed around until now, thank you for putting up with the work dump, there's been other photo sessions, false starts and commissions, these are the ones that sort of hit the mood.

See ya next week aye!

From The Galleries

Piha Storm Pano. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE

Loggers 9 Scores / June 29, 2022 by craig levers

Taylor's Mistake surfer Jack Tyro won both the Open and the Juniors division this year. He also placed 2nd in the Old Mal division... that is some serious amount of heats surfed. He also happens to be the National Junior shortboard champ and National Longboard champ.... watch this 15 year old.

The 9th annual Logger Heads long-board competition was held last Friday and Saturday. As was the case in 2021, founder and contest director Tony Baker opted to use both the west and east coast. Friday was at Bayly's Beach just north of Dargaville for a full day of heats. Then we reconvened on Saturday back at the home of the Logger Heads, Mangawhai Heads main beach.

Logging legend and scholar Daryn Mcbride westside

Once again I was very happily drafted in as the official photo taking guy. The gig is awesome, it feels good doing it to help TB, and witness the gathering grow over the years. Love being immersed in the Logger community.

Also the Troopy is used in one of the ways always planned. A big mobile camera bag, an office, lounge, cafeteria and motel. There's very few downsides to the Logger Heads aye!

Moti Proctor opened both days with awesome karakia, especially significant this year of course because it was Matariki

This years Logger Heads was the biggest so far with all the divisions filled to the brim. It meant expanding from a one day event with 9 hours of heats to two days needed with 14 hours of heats. In winter it's a big ask to get 9 hours of heats done anyway, last year the presso on the beach was in pitch black. Spreading over the two days was far more civilised... as a long-boarding gathering should be.

Defending champion Dan Proctor came ohhhh sooooo close. Dan came second to Jack by the slimiest of margins. He'll get ya next year grom!

MC Proccy... and a welcome return to political incorrectness beaming over the PA

Gathering is being used here very intentionally. There is most definitely serious competing going on, no one enters a division to lose. It is the catch ups and the korero that stoke me out... oh and of course making some good images.

Moonbob and Brownie, two of the nicest gentlemen you'll ever have the honour of meeting

TB was stoked this year. The first 8 Logger Heads all had elements of being a bit grindy. Not great waves, not the ideal venue. 9 was the ticket, no one minded the mobile call to the west, by the finals Main Beach was really quite pumping.

and predicable dad joke... TB talking the walk

Former Logger champ Matt Newdick pipped Jack in the old mal division and gave him a good run in the open finals too

Rhys Fitt and Matt Fergusson; two OG's of the Logger Heads since the first one

Three of the best in the business; Jack, Dan and Van Groobey All I see is Dan's water ballon ankle...bloody hate a wettie that does that

Kegg and Rhys... always watching, always judging ... Dan in this case

Matt and Ollie whet Jack...and look at responsible Dan there, guarding Jack's prize pack from the flow, top bloke.

Bring on number 10.

Open Logger

1st Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

2nd Daniel Procter (Gisborne)

3rd Matt Newdick (AKL)

4th Ollie LeNoel (AKL)

Wahine Logger

1st Wini Paul (Whangarei)

2nd Jay Ryan (Gisborne)

3rd Dharlia Lynch (Muriwai)

4th Jess Costello (Mangawhai)

Junior Logger

1st Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

2nd Sol Taylor (Ohope)

3rd= Taj Robinson (Mangawhai)

3rd= Scott DeBruyn (Whangarei)

Old Mal Division

1st Matt Newdick (AKL)

2nd Jack Tyro (Christchurch)

3rd Kevin Hiha (AKL)

4th Paul Culpan (AKL)

5th Matt Ferguson (AKL)

6th Rhys Fitt (AKL)

At Logger Heads With Matariki / June 23, 2022 by craig levers

I'm excited. It's Matariki which is now officially observed as a holiday, and about bloody time. I'm going to the Logger Heads, again in the offical capacity as the event photographer, so I'll be stressing, making sure there's diversity in the images, giving Tony Baker- the founder and director all the deliverables he'll need- fun stress, can there be fun stress? This year, once again Tony has flowed with the weather patterns and we're going westside to Baylys Beach for Friday and then returning to Mangawhai for Saturday. The draws are full in every division. There is about 9 hours of surf spread across the two days...and coasts for that matter. You should totally come and check out the action. The Facebook Page is HERE

Wini Paul, defending champ and poster child

Defending champ Dan Proctor will be there, and will me ol maaaate Daryn McBride

Bayly's, last year's Logger Heads and Te Troopy .... see how this is about to segue ...

One of the key reasons there is extra froth for the long weekend is that it'll be the first mission in the flash as improved Troopy! We haven't had the old girl for 6 weeks, seems longer. But the wait was worth it.

New paint, front and back bars straightened, new stainless exhaust and new nitro rear shocks...and of course Ange's finishing touch- the retro Landcruiser stripes. The old girl is pretty mint now. Gonna be rotating when the first stone chip or bush bash graze happens.

And Deeeeeen...

Piha Residents Billie and Liam [pictured holding the canvas] have just taken possession of The Gap at 1200mm wide x 875mm high on stretched canvas. Thanks guys!!!

Doesn't matter how often it happens, I'm always stoked out on big canvases and the fine detail in the images. It's easy to forget when you're looking at everything on a phone screen that all the graft of using high resolution cameras is about this... big prints.

Ok... like to stay and chat, but I've got a Troopy to pack!

From The Galleries

Piha Storm Pano; and quite appropriately, literally around the next bend from The Gap image; Piha Storm. Wanna see it bigger, or maybe even look at print options? Well you can HERE