So you'll have to wait a few days. Big deal. It's not very often that I can get
away, but I think I have earned a week in the tropics. Clearly my wife has earned it. Besides, I'll be working as much as I'll be surfing. My cameras go wherever I go. Not expecting any big swells, but you never know. Last time I was there it was the biggest swell they had in like 20 years. It was crazy big.
I shot the biggest waves I personally have ever seen, outside of the
North Shore of Oahu.

Here's a link to the pics and the video I shot. Just click on this pic.



This is Tres Palmas. It was 3-4 times overhead. Suffice it to say, I did not paddle out here. Homey don't play that game anymore. No sir.

Good times await us, as we will be with close friends. It's like little Hampton down there. So I'm sure we'll see everyone. Looking forward to it.

The use and quality of video frame grabs has often come up in discussion in my home. Max thinks that by just shooting video, I will be able to grab a few frame grabs. While I can certainly grab a few frame grabs, they are no way the quality of a decent still camera. Unless I'm shooting with a RED camera, I'm not going to get what I can get on my NIKON. Just won't happen.

I edited this clip this week, and the video is embedded in the video section.



The images below, and the gallery of Frame grabs will back my opinion up.



This image is pretty small, so you really can't tell how good the quality is.



But this one is a good example of what I'm talking about.

Yeah you can tell what you're looking at, but the quality is just not the same as the stills I get. Oh, and speaking of being able to tell what you're looking at, if you look closely, you will see the beginning of a "snake move". How's that? Well, Perry Reynolds (in front) was paddling for this wave, when the guy behind him, paddled around Perry to put himself into position. Perry ended up kicking out. And the snake? Well, he fell off his board. So the wave got wasted.

There's a lesson here, and it's pretty clear. Don't Snake someone with the paddle move, it will only come back and bite you in the ass.

It's all quite visible in the video.

So for the sake of arguing, can we all agree to stills, being superior to the video frame grab? People? Are you with me on this? Look, I will always use video frame grabs, but I will also stand by my stills, or the stills of others (Nevins, Carden, Synder, LaVecchia, and a whole bunch more).

I say this knowing that in the future, they will all being using video frame grabs because of the quality of the video. Until that day arrives, I'll shoot both.

Please excuse my shameless use of this blog to promote my music.




"Surfing and Music Heals All Wounds"

Another great shot from Ed. He knew when to pull the trigger. This time it's Ryan Jackson back dooring a NH wave. I'm thinking he made this. With enough speed and a penchant for getting in the barrel, I'm saying he made it. But to be sure, you'll have to jog Ryan's memory.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own gallery.

Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances

I'm getting more and more concerned with each passing week. The race to the White House has reached new levels of insanity. I can't believe that it may come down to HILLARY or TRUMP. Just crazy times in our lives. Crazy.



The saving grace in all of this, is we get memes like this.



If it came down to these two, I will vote for the candidate that has the best hair. Seems logical.



TRUMP gets another endorsement. The "Sleepy Surgeon"
Ben Carson opens his eyes for TRUMP.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
Here's a pic of KSM getting hassled at the Chicago protest. I had a feeling Ole KSM had something to do with that.



As always... take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians KSM (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed).

*Note to self must pick up a Video of the 1968
Democratic Chicago Riots at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY March 17th, 2016!
REST IN PEACE Nancy Reagan, age 94.

Please Pray for two NH Icons from the Seacoast. North Beach Matriarch Jane McCarthy is needing some love and prayers. Jane is the mother of Duffy McCarthy and the whole McCarthy clan. She's been a fixture on the Wall forever. You all have seen her, you might not know her, but trust me, she has seen you all. Another local Icon could use some prayers and positive thoughts. Dorothy Bocko mother of local surfer Stan Bocko has suffered a major stroke, She is 96 years young. A WWII Vet Dorothy served in the British Naval Intelligence in London, Washington DC, and Norfolk VA. Please keep them both in your prayers. And please continue to pray for local Hampton surfers Terry Morrison and Rick Fiorentini and their families. Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten. A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer. PLEASE say a prayer for him.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 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

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CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC ABOVE TO SEE EVERY
SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 11 YEARS!

(Above) Speeding through the crowd MVF finds one of the only semi
hollow spots this day. March 5th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) There was Jon Kiskinis pulling off those backside moves that he
spent two years trying to hone down. He's got em down now.
March 5th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Perry Reynolds had to bull dog his way through this section to get
to the sweet spot. March 5th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery