There truly is something special about being on the beach and with a strong swell running and watching the sun rise up out of the East. That scenario is something I've seen hundreds if not thousands of times in my life. And I will tell you all right now without the slightest bit of hesitation, it is one of life's most beautiful experiences. I mean, you don't have to take my word for it. You can look at the photos and know exactly what I'm talking about.
I have been planning this for the last few swells that hit. And for a number of different reasons and or excuses, it never came together until Tuesday January 15th, 2019. All the elements came together on that morning. The swell had filled in overnight, the tide was perfect, and the wind was a slight off shore. But most importantly, the sunrise was all time.
And as most of you can clearly see, I got the goods.
Shooting directly into the sun is not recommended by most photographers. But I'm not like most photographers. I march to a beat all of my own. And as I have said many many times, it's not just the surfers and the waves that draw me down to the ocean week after week. It's everything. I mean it.
Like this image below. I was standing there shooting these beautiful empty waves when something caught my eye in the sky. This sun flare on this cloud looked so freaking cool, that I just had to shoot it. The cool thing about this is that it was on both sides of the sun. The other images are in the gallery below. If you are not on an iphone you should check it out. I have a 180 pics in that gallery alone. Like I said, it's not just the surf and the surfers.
You're probably wondering if I was cold standing on the beach at that early hour taking photos. The answer is YES! Oh HELL YES! But it's January it's supposed to be cold. I shot from 7:00AM to 11:00AM. And I shot only stills that morning. I'm kicking myself for not shooting any video because some of those waves were so damn pretty. And capturing pretty sunrise waves is one of my favorite things to do in life.
Like this pic here. These back lit waves are so incredibly beautiful that at times I find myself just staring at them like I'm in some kind of a trance. I love seeing what Mother Nature has put together for me and anyone else who just so happens to witness this. I call it proof of God. Or something bigger and more powerful than anything or anyone we know. But for all intents and purposes, it is one of life's biggest displays of color and light.
And I always enjoy both witnessing it, and capturing it.
And though I say it's not always about the surf and the surfers, I'd be lying if I didn't say that those two elements are my main reason for being there on the beach in the dead of winter at sunrise. IT IS the surf that gets me out of bed at an ungodly hour. And it is the Surfers that get me all pumped up to get some actions shots and video. But it never fails. Once I am down there I see everything. I take it all in and I try to capture these images so I can share them with you every Sunday and Monday.
I told my wife yesterday that I want to have this wave or one of the other two from this same sequence printed and hung on the wall, In our surf gallery.
I love the greens and yellows in this wave face. It looks so much like New England, while it could pass for New Zealand or California.
That morning
back lit color is some of my favorite images to capture.
And I know you've heard me mention many times in the past that this angle (below) is my favorite angle/view on North Beach.
I always try to time it just right, as one of those beautiful peaks folds in the distance. That wave is pouring over that sandbar and creating the perfect beach break barrel. Can you see it? Of course you can. And as I have often said, use your imagination and try to imagine where you would be on that wave. Me? I'd be in that barrel of course.
Speaking of barrels. i have to say (with a certain degree of pride) that my son Max has taken after his father when it comes to getting barreled. I was never known for my radical surfing. Hardly. I was more conventional in that I always wanted to be smooth and stylish. But if I had to pick what I thought was my best move during my peak? I'd say it was my barrel riding. I could get barreled as good as the top local guys out here. I may not have been as radical as most of the hot surfers, but I could give them all a run for their money when it came to barrel riding. And my son Max is better that I was during my peak surfing. And that makes me so happy. This pic above is Max dropping in and setting up for yet another barrel. You can see it in the gallery.
Now about that snow. I'm writing this Blog on Saturday and posting on Saturday
just in case we lose power. You see how I'm always thinking about you guys. I figure I get this up prior to the heavy snow and gusty gale force winds. As you can see by the charts below, they are expecting a "Whopper!"
Hampton is sitting in the 12 to 24" section. Ugh. I guess I better gas up the snow blower and make sure she starts and runs. Double ugh.
People have asked me my entire adult life why I live in New England if I love surfing so much? My answer was, and is to this day, "Because I love surfing in New England."
BRING IT ON MRS MOTHER NATURE!!
"Surfing and Skiing/Boarding in the Snow Heals All Wounds."
|
I'm posting another familiar view of this special place. This was Ed's spot. I mean the angle. He loved to shoot from here. Let's face it, it's a pretty dramatic view when the surf is going off.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local, National and International News
That was one hell of a game last week. Nobody (myself included saw that one coming). Some people prefer a close game. Not me. I love Blow-Outs. However, I only like them when it favors our guys. And last week's Divisional game was just that. This was the score at halftime. The game was all but over.
We were all hurting from high fiving each other after each touchdown. What a great show of force.
Phil Rivers is is now 0-8 against the GOAT. And man what a freaking little crybaby he was. Bitching to the refs about the hits he was absorbing. And there were quite a few. In the end, it TB 12 and company moving towards today's match up.
Brady is 41 and Mahomes is 23. Just writing that seems crazy. But this little phenomenon has earned his way to this game today. Just stop and think about the fact that the Top Four seeds are in these Championship games today. The winner of each advances to the SUPER BOWL. So yes my friends. There is a lot at stake today. Either way, history will be made today.
The DVD's ARE IN! We are taking orders via email. The much awaited All Women Surf Movie of the ladies and girls of the Northeast are available at all the local surf shops.
To order yours just send me an email. ralph@adlantic.com or send a check for $20.00
made out to ADLANTIC and send it here:
ADLANTIC
c/o OC Studio Suites
703 Ocean Blvd Suite C-4
Hampton, NH 03842
Or RENT or BUY it Online. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends.
GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.
NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND.
|
(Above) As I mentioned in the Blog. Max is a barrel hound. He's got a nose
for the barrel.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) The waves up the coast had a whole other look of perfection.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) This is Brian Avantes (spelling?) on one of a million waves he caught.
I like his style of surfing. He's one of the smoother surfers I have photographed in the last few years.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) My buddy Skip Brunette paddled out and got some really pretty rights. Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) This shot is a good example of the quality of the surf that morning.
Brian Avantes out the back.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) My longtime friend and officemate Johnny "Jim" Meehan got some of the longest rights I have ever seen at this spot. Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) As always, there were more empty waves then there were waves being ridden.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Johnny and Brian splitting the peak. Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) The rights were lined up and almost surreal as Johnny grabbed one after the other.
Tuesday January 15th, 2019. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
|
|
