OK so I'm assuming you've seen the two videos above the fold.
Not that you've watched them already, but you can clearly see that they're there for your viewing pleasure. I started to embed a few videos at the top of the Blog a few times in the recent past. Why am I doing this? Well, I guess because I want you to see them. I spend a lot of time shooting and editing these surf edits for you and your friends. And typically I embed them down in the video section.
But I know how some of you are. I'm the same way.
And look I'm not offended if you don't scroll down that far to check out if there are in fact any new videos. So rather than hope that you do, I've eliminated that extra step for you by embedding the new videos above the actual Blog, in hopes that you'll look here first and see them in a bigger screen format too. You see what I'm doing here for you peeps? Of course you do. I'm going the extra mile for you.
I'm banking on you guys noticing the change. Just know that it's temporary.
The videos will continue to be down in the video section. But when they are fresh out of the oven, they'll be front and center here on the Blog.
So this image above is Perry Reynolds busting an air over water photographer Brayden Rudert. It's a VFG (video frame grab) from the new movie. Did he land this? I'm not gonna tell you. You'll just have to watch the video to find out. I used a bunch of songs from the 70's and 80's and a few newer ones too. The Surf video is 35 minutes long. But it's all in sequence as it happened (after the first song that is).
Day by day. Ride by ride. Wave by wave.
Like I said, I put a lot of work into my surf movies and get pretty excited once I finish one. Being a guitar player, I tend to use more guitar heavy soundtracks, keep in mind, I come from the old school of music as well as my film making tendencies. The guitar and surf just seem to go together well. I suppose you can always turn the sound down, but why would you do that? Rock and Roll and fast surf action go hand in hand. Techno and rap, while contemporary don't really fit into my MO. I've used both in the past. But I tend to go with what I like. Because at the end of the day, if I'm not pleased, then I really can't expect you guys to be into it.
With close to 25 full feature DVD's, and just as many reel to reel movies. Not to mention close to 300 web edits on my Vimeo page, I've got quite a collection of moving pictures. And now that I have the new hardware to transfer the old reel to reels as well as the old antiquated tapes, you can expect to see footage from the 70's to the 90's, that not many surfers outside of my close circle of friends have ever seen. I'm really looking forward to sharing them all with you going forward.
As long as I have my health and passion, I should be producing new/old movies going forward that will blow your minds.
The images below are from Frank Grondin's Funeral on 12-30-20.
US ARMY saluting a true war hero.
He earned this flag draped coffin.
Me, Kevin, and Kody. Kevin wrote and read a beautiful eulogy.
I'm sure Frank would have been so proud of him. I know I was.
The other movie embedded at the top of the page is The Frank Grondin Story. Frank was laid to rest on December 30th, 2020. I did the video above 8 years ago when he was a young 90yr old. I can tell you all kinds of things about Frank, or you can watch the video and let Frank tell you himself. It's all Frank telling his story. And what a remarkable story it has been. I've known Frank as long as I've known Kevin, and that my friends is a very long time.
One of my most fondest memories was making these posters for Frank and then driving him around in my JEEP Rubicon during the 2019 Memorial Day parade here in Hampton. We had the posters taped to the side of my JEEP.
Frank was loving it all. Ironically the woman sitting behind Frank is Ann Donahue, she also passed away this year. She was an Air Force Korean
war Veteran.
I'm going to miss you Frank. You were someone special.
The Grondin men. Kevin, Frank, and Kody. Frank was not a surfer, and truth be told, he wasn't the biggest fan of surfing. He was more into working hard than anything else. And you know surfers, when the surf comes up, work is the last thing on our minds. Another truth is, both Kevin and Kody are hard workers. And they got that work ethic from Frank.
Frank's granddaughter Leah with her two daughters Lily and Isabelle.
Leah is another great surfer and a hard worker. Frank's legacy goes
deep in the Grondin family.
Kim loved Frank so much and she worked so hard as a care taker these last 10 years. Nobody did more than Kim. She is a true saint. And anyone who knows her and knows the whole Grondin story will readily agree.
Kim had the incredible foresight to take Frank to Washington DC to see the WWII Memorial. I thought that was the sweetest thing for her to do. Frank was a US ARMY Veteran of WWII who fought in the European campaign against Nazi Germany and was severely wounded in action. You should watch the video at the top of this Blog to hear Frank tell the story.
This pic? this is the Frank that most of us know. The farmer. The gardener.
Frank loved farming and gardens. In fact, I wouldn't have a garden if it wasn't for Frank and Kevin. Yes my father had gardens. But not like the gardens that Frank and Kevin had/have.
And Frank was all about weeding. Make no mistake, Frank knew weeding.
I used to cringe when Frank would show up at my garden and inspect it when I wasn't there. Because he's such a stickler about weeding. If I knew he was coming I'd make sure my garden was freshly weeded. But he would show up when I wasn't around. But he always had nice things to say about my garden. I did have impressive corn every year. And he would tell me so.
If there are gardens in heaven, I guarantee Frank is on his hands and knees weeding them right now. Rest easy Frank you've earned it.
"REMEMBERING OUR WWII VETERANS, WEEDING OUR GARDENS, AND SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS!"
|
This week's Ed's corner is from the summer of 1972. The surfer is "SURFER CROW" and it's from one of Ed's old super 8mm movies. I recently contacted Ed's widow in hoping that I would get access to his old movie reels, but she informed me that she doesn't know where they ended up. She said something about a woman from Maine taking them. It's too bad because Ed and I had always discussed the possibility of combining both of our old movies to make one long story about Maine and New Hampshire. If anyone reading this knows who she might be please contact me. Thank you in advance. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local and National News
Last week I posted about Sam George and his new venture.
If you like great writing with wit, humor, and an incredible legitimate insight to everything that is surfing, you will LOVE
Sam George's new venture.
He sent me an email (see below) and I instantly signed up.
*CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE START READING TODAY*
*I urge you all to sign up to get these important and entertaining stories of our world. Besides, it's FREE. Trust me it's worth it.
Cam Newton leaves the 2020 season on a good note and a good foot. He ran for a huge first down (50 yards), threw a pass for a TD, and caught a ball for a TD! Is this too little too late? After all they were playing the lowly JETS. Still, it was nice to see the team happy on the field after losing so many games as of late. No Post season for our New England Patriots. We are in unfamiliar territory here. We can't blame it all on Cam. We can maybe blame it on the COVID. I mean why not? Everything else that's happened this year is COVID related. No...we can't do that either. Let's face it, Cam had some rather big shoes to fill.
How do you follow the GOAT?
You don't.
Tom Brady is a freak. Nobody is going to do what he could do and STILL does. Still I wonder, will they bring him back? Will they start the kid Stidman? Who the hell knows?
He was not only throwing the ball really well today but he was also catching
them and running them in for TD's! Had the season gone like this last game against the JETS? We'd all be singing "Who the hell is Tom Brady?" But it didn't. It went like comedian Bob Marley would say "It sucked hard!"
Speaking of which. My wife and I watched the Bob Marley Special on New Years Day and we both laughed so damn hard I thought we both split a gut.
I have a whole new appreciation for my comic friends like Jimmy Dunn and Dave Rattigan. You guys are amazing to be able to get up in front of an audience, and to memorize all these jokes and routines, without skipping a beat.
I really hope the Jimmy Dunn Comedy Festival returns to Hampton Beach next Summer. We both felt great after laughing so hard. That's what we all need. A good hearty laugh.
But don't laugh too hard just yet...here's more bad news.
One of my favorite Bruins Zdeno Chara has left the building after 14 years. I don't know how or why. No that's not true, I do know why. Chara was 43 years old (sound familiar?), and just like Tom Brady, Chara has gone south. This time to the Washington Capitals. Another Boston ICON has left New England.
This last year 2020 was nothing but bad news all around.
Such and ominous figure on the ice. A Big scary Defenseman who literally topped 7' with skates on his feet. Chara was also a Team captain. A leader of men. Now gone to the Caps?
I'm not sure I'm buying what the owners are saying. Nope.
RALPH'S
PIC OF THE WEEK is selling 2021 CALENDARS
It's all local surf and surfers. If you're interested in getting one send me an email to: ralph@adlantic.com
I'm asking $20 per Calendar.
Who doesn't want a local New England Surf Calendar? I shot all the photos. Yes they are from The BLOG.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
I wanted to share this classic image from a few years ago. When Mr and Mrs 45 stepped out during the solar eclipse and genius looked straight up and into the eclipse after being warned repeatedly about NOT doing that. Maybe the writing was on the wall here. Perhaps this was a warning of what would come under his watch. COVID-19? I guess I had forgotten that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was with the first couple on that fateful day. But look even KSM didn't look into the sun like 45. Too bad.
And so my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).
*Note to self -must pick up a case of Good Sunglasses at Home
Depot this week.
REST IN PEACE Dawn Wells from Gilligan's Island fame.
REST IN PEACE Leslie West of Mountain.
REST IN PEACE Frank Grondin 98, of Hampton, NH
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
PLEASE Keep 90 yr old Chuck Dreyer (Kim Grondin's dad)
in your thoughts and prayers.
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
PLEASE Keep local Surfer/Musician Pete Kowalski in your thoughts and prayers this Holiday season.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 16 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo
from any of the weeks on RPOTW.
Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
|
(Above) Welcome to the New Year. How sweet is this?.
Saturday January 2nd, 2021 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Well, it wasn't big. But it was sure fun enough.
Saturday January 2nd, 2021 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) How fun? Gee I don't know, but when I asked these two why they were jumping into that freezing water they both said "For fun!"
Saturday January 2nd, 2021 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Mikel Evans is a true waterman. Why else would he ride on his knees? Because he loves it all. Longboard, shortboard, knee board, and NO board.
Saturday January 2nd, 2021 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
|
|
