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Posts Tagged ‘Gaviota Coast’
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
 Gaviota Muse Robb Havassy is up visiting right now. Yesterday, I got to introduce the publisher of the culturally iconic book Surf Story, to Joe Cardella, who among a long list of artistic accomplishments, was also the creator and publisher of Art Life, a leading collectible monthly publication. Joe’s stint at the helm was twenty five years long.
I smiled on the inside, as both of these amazing men, were people that Mary Osborne insisted that I meet. Mary rarely does that: insists. So, when she calls me, and then follows up, I know I had better pay attention. For over twenty two years, Mary has been my muse. We have co- conspirited each other’s careers and colored each other’s life and creative vision. Now here sat Robb, Joe and I.
 Mary Carmel Osborne Robb was in town to speak with a few people about contributing to Surf Story Volume 2. Curiously enough, most of the artists cum surfers have connections to the Gaviota Coast and of course the Ocean. Joe, by virtue of his next large project after retiring as Art Life publisher was the first conversation, of what may be three days, awash in the influence of the people who live lives connected to the ocean here.
So it did not surprise me that Robb, Joe and I sat in one of the amazing rooms in Joe’s home and that the subject turned to that of the muse and their role in our lives. Plans were made. They involved muses. As we chatted about some of ours, and how they influenced us, my thoughts went from Mary, to the many people who have driven and continue to push my work.
Today I have a show that opens in Santa Barbara at Couch, with fellow artist Glenn Gravett. Here is the invitation. It will be my first show in my home town in twelve years. Curiously enough that last show was with both Glenn and Rob Heeley in their gallery workspace on Canon Perdido.
Below is the description for the installation, which will be in place for a month. Curiously enough, this show is all about one of my most significant muses, the Gaviota Coast. Two of the center pieces in the show are large nude illustrative compositions of both Mary Osborne, and Jeanette Ortiz, which were shot in two very significant locations on the Gaviota Coast, and carry deep resonance with the history of the Chumash tribes native to that coastline, and my own rich experiences under what I have been cognizant of experiencing in their footprints, and under their gaze.
The show was custom designed by Glenn and I, in collaboration with the artists at Pi Studio Printing. It was a huge group effort, and tonight’s opening should prove a great opportunity to experience quite a cross section of amazing artists on First Thursday in Santa Barbara.
 Coastal Blossom Gaviota Nude
The modern day boundaries of the Gaviota Coast extend from Coal Oil Point in Goleta at the South, to the Northernmost location of Point Conception, which is the Westernmost tip of the Continental United States, and is also known as the Western Gate to the original occupants of this land. That was the spot where native legend has it, their souls would leave earth at life’s end.
The Gaviota Coast was originally populated by multiple tribes of Chumash natives.
As a part of the California Missions land acquisitions, which took that coast from the Chumash, was the largest Spanish Land Grant in the Continental United States: the land which became known as Rancho Dos Pueblos. Today a shrinking Rancho Dos Pueblos is still owned by the Schulte family, who for decades, in the tradition of the Californian ranch and land operator, have been faithful stewards.
 In Memoriam. Rudi Schult
It was my good fortune to grow up along this coast. I have walked, swum, surfed, fished, dove and sailed every inch of it, in a massive triangle, which ranges from Goleta, out to the Channel Islands and up to Point Conception, and every point in between. I have photographed quite a bit of it over the years.
This show is a very limited look at, and homage to, the amazing spirit of this stretch of coastline. If you take anything away from this collection, may it be the understanding that the spirit of the Chumash people still occupies this place, and it should forever be treated with reverence and respect.
David Pu’u
 Gaviota Campfire
Tags: Art Life, chumash culture, Coastal Community, Coastal Preservation, Corbis Images, Couch gallery, First Thursday, Gaviota, Gaviota Coast, Jeanette Ortiz, Joe Cardella, Mary Osborne, Pi Studio Printing, Rancho Dos Pueblos, Robb Havassy, Rudi Schulte, Santa Barbara Artists, Santa Barbara Photographer, Surf Story
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
 Dark as Night When growth really isn’t.
This was inspired by a conversation with my oldest son Joshua, as he and I were looking at what defines our paths forward.
“I think a life for music is a well-spent one.”
-Luciano Pavoratti
 Light Dance What I have learned, is that the things which I embrace and implement into my life, act as filters. They color my perceptions and growth, or lack thereof.
 Peace Did you know that sometimes growth is not such a great thing?
I have found that often the most remarkable creative moments are happened upon by walking in place, or even backwards so that your perception is in step with a reality that growth would have taken you away from.
This is why, within the context of an artist’s life you will see periods of work, that history will later describe as being great, definitive of that person’s ability to do whatever it is, he or she does.
Warhol would not have become Warhol, or Monet become synonymous with such a definition of a style, were it not for this.
Seth Godin had this to say about taste and fashion today.
 Sapphire Surreality This week I had multiple big projects to assess. Work with civic action groups endeavoring to fix some things in my town, designing a shoot and campaign for a prestigious ocean lifestyle marque, looking at how growth should go for a very promising Corporation, and designing an Art show on the “Gaviota Coast”, which is under assault by developers due to it’s pristine nature.
 Gaviota Local I saw something being repeated to me in each project. Sometimes the way forward, is really found in walking backwards a bit.
You are never really sure how the variables will be forward. But looking back, you will know. Because it happened.
Want a good future?
Watch where you step. It will determine the view.
 Change
Tags: Art, Change, Gaviota Coast, life planning, Monet, progress, Santa Barbara Photographer, Seth Godin, ventura, Warhol
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Monday, June 21st, 2010
 Process Fear, anger, hope.
These three things are very inter-related and part of the process of progress.
I find myself falling into fear, that entities which we have entrusted, like Government, Industry, and aspects of modern culture, such as certain Environmental PACS, have totally failed the Earth, as evidenced in the recent potential Global killer, that is the Platform Horizon Wellhead Blowout.
The fear generated by this realization leads to an intense burning anger.
That anger causes a hell of a lot of introspection of myself, what I stand for, and a VERY close look at the things I am able to affect in this world, that could contribute to a course change.
In my life, I have always been about social contribution through enlightenment, and understanding of Man’s role in this world via a relationship with God and Nature. In my experience, Science has always proved God, and vice versa. The entire world gives testimony to the glory and power which created it.
So out of all of this examination, there arises amidst the dark swirling clouds of a prior Eon’s birth and death throes, (which MADE the oil which may kill off a substantial portion of our planet) a glimmer of hope within a very serious message of impending doom.
Here is a very close look at the Gulf Disaster . Make sure to watch the News report at it’s end. Yes, you should be scared, as well as angry. That is a righteous response.
But………..
Below are two links. They will make you sad, they will cause you to fear, you will get angry, feel sorrow, and at the end of it all, a small light will begin to flicker inside. Grab that. The other stuff, it just needs to be experienced, for you to find that little glimmer. We need informed hope.
Story One A beautifully done grand perspective on our struggle to exist.
Story Two is a piece that I shot while working under Cinematographer Greg Huglin. Edited by my friend and colleague Rob Dafoe. I WANT you to ponder the Gulf Sea. Consider also, that this was shot in the waters that I grew up in off of Santa Barbara and the Gaviota Coast. These pods have existed there for ages.
In 1969 I lived in Goleta. I saw the affects of the well head blowout that affected my beach, and gave rise to the modern day environmental movement. I swam, sailed, dove, fished and surfed in an oil soaked ocean, much as the Chumash who inhabited my home, generations before had done. But I am convinced what I experienced, was far worse in terms of oil contact. It went on for decades. (Think about that.)
The tale of the 1969 Union platform blowout is here.
A couple weeks ago, I was up working on the Gaviota Coast. Beaches once soaked in oil were now clean. For the first time in my 50 year long life, and possibly ever, they were pristine in appearance. I suspect that the Environmental movement had nothing to do with this, nor did the EPA. The steady pumping of the reserve simply lowered the pressure, and both the issues from the old wellhead blowout, and natural seeps, slowed to their lowest point.
I shot a few images to illustrate Man’s relationship with the coastline that has been my home. When I get angry, part of my process is to create something positive. Jeanette Ortiz, who is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and connected human beings that I know, collaborated with me. Donna Von Hoesslin helped style the work. The four images in this post, are part of a 24 image collection we created as an homage to the Gaviota Coastline.
 Organic Relationship Now ponder this. We have drilled a hole into the past, and unleashed a geologically based poison into the Gulf waters. All of what we know and have done in the past may now be ineffective. We could be wrong about everything. Our Govt. agencies are wrong, our environmental groups are wrong, we were wrong. Wrong about what?
Our choice to disconnect our culture from God and subvert our role in creation. We placed commerce and money in the position of being our God. We cut ourselves off from Wisdom and Truth. Wrong choice.
 Timeframe Reconnect. It is where the hope lies.
Here is a beautiful invitation to do that.
 Better Here is a piece on Jacques Yves Cousteau , that is probably one of the more succinct and pertinent instructionals which I have read, with regard to Politics and the Earth.
Broken Bells. Good name. Sobering social commentary, exquisitely produced.
Steady on.
Hope.
Tags: anger, Broken Bells, chumash Indians, Climate Change, cultural commentary, David Pu'u, Death, Donna Von Hoesslin, eco lifestyle, Environmental groups, environmental imagery, Environmental politics, Failure, fear, Gaviota Coast, globalism, Goleta, Gulf Coast Disaster, hope, Jacques Yves Cousteau, Jeanette Ortiz, life, Man versus God, natural order, nature, ocean art, oil industry, Pollution, popular culture, rebirth, Salvation, Science, The Ghost Inside
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Friday, April 30th, 2010
 Voyage Some of us may have thought that it was an oxymoron to call our locally produced little magazine, Deep. I mean as paper publishing began to spiral, here were a bunch of us doing a locally based magazine called Deep. It had seemed a little bit ironic. The publication was based on one begun in Goleta originally and called Wetsand Magazine. It was soon absorbed by the News Press and was called Blue Edge. As the News Press version tailspun in response to business issues, Deep sprung up, and many if not all of the contributors began to throw in behind Publisher Mike Van Stry, editor Chuck Graham, director Andres Nunez as Deep was born out of RMG Ventures, a Carpinteria based publishing concern.
Here is the letter Shannon Menzel and I received today. The ad in reference, is one that Ventura based Wetsand, originally an online only concern, which began in a meeting at Dos Pueblos Ranch many years prior, with me handing off 40 images to Henry Schulte. Wetsand now also has both retail and wholesale offices on Main St in Ventura and is run by Chuck Menzel and family.
Letter:
I wanted to congratulate you guys. We were at an awards conference last week and DEEP won 7 national awards at our annual AFCP conference. Over 2,000 entries were submitted from over 130 companies nationwide.
Your ad with Mary lying on her back that ran in our January/February 2009 issue won second place for original photography used in an ad!
Thats bad ass!
Thanks for all of your help with the mag and for the support!
Andres Nuño
Director
DEEP Surf Magazine
www.deepzine.com
(805)684-4428
Facebook: DEEP Surf Magazine
Twitter@DEEPocho
As larger publications lose touch with their contributors, go advertising based for their content sources, and destroy the editorial integrity (and market value) of their publications, thinking that no one will notice, Deep magazine stayed entrenched in the sport and community. My continual rant to set our bar higher has been tolerated with good humor, and patience by my editors. I am really lucky that they tolerate me, and give me article space and a cover every once in awhile.
Seth Godin writes a very timely blog on this subject.
Though I have gotten a lot of advertising and photography awards, this one was especially sweet, due to the integrity of the publication and looking for the deep, rather than shallow end. Nice work!
 Dos Pueblos Ranch, Gaviota Coast
Tags: Advertising image award, Blue Edge, california beach culture, Chuck Menzel, David Pu'u, Deep Magazine, Dos Pueblos Ranch, Downtown Ventura, Gaviota Coast, Henry Schulte, Mary Osborne, RMG Ventures, SB News Press, Shannon Menzel, Ventura Photographer, Wetsand
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Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
 Adam Gray-Hayward Remember what it was like as a child, where in your grassy yard on a Summer’s day, you held arms outstretched, tilted head back and whirled around in circles? The scenery would whiz by in an increasing blur. A fun thing to do, as you examined play options.
The whirling activity sort of is my life this beautiful spring day, with birds singing outside as the morning expands.
I am looking at a lot of things right now. One interesting piece was just sent to us by Elmar Von Hoesslin (Donna’s ex husband)Â and is a creative look at his Berlin based company. I liked Elmar from the moment I met him, as he and Donna had traveled through California and stopped in to visit. This video says a lot about why. Curiously, the subjects AND the length are similar to the film that Donna and I are creating for Intuit which is titled Passages.
In addition to working on my girlfriend’s film, I have been deep in study for a project. I use books for reference. I love books and own a LOT. There is no substitute for them in the digital realm. Books require an investment in time, money and physical space. They have weight. They require a commitment that digital content examined on the computer does not. You cannot press enter or delete. They have an analog form. Sort of in the same manner as our physical bodies do. Probably why I like em.
In front of me is a book entitled Toni Frissell, Photographs 1933-1967. Toni’s work was so very diverse that I believe she would be thrown out of most Art and Photography schools today, which encourage an aspiring professional to focus on one thing. Fashion, Journalism, Portraiture, Art and yes WATER! Toni shot it all, and did it so well that she will live forever in her imagery.
As I flipped the pages, my eyes fell upon a paragraph with yellow highlighted words (a study tool I learned in school) which I had applied maybe 12 years ago on the page. The paragraph reads:
1. Catch the subject at an instant of pleasure or emotion.
2. Know your subject’s interests beforehand (highlighted)…this so you can get him or her talking, even to the point of saying something provocative to the extent of outrageousness.
3. Click your camera at typewriter speed. Film is a cheap commodity.
4. Luck-the commodity that puts one at a crucial event and the chance is given a vital instant. (highlighted)
Below in my own hand I had written these words:
Preparation breeds foresight, foresight gives birth to opportunity.
In doing my research I found the seed which gave rise to the tree bearing the fruit of my own career and in looking through her imagery once more, I found my own self. It was shocking to me, and caused a slowing down. The whirling scenery stilled and pulled into focus. God I love books. You cannot press delete!
The project I am designing will invite a select group of subjects on to a friend’s estate where we will spend some time on a one of a kind property which has locations that are the photographic equivalent of gems in a crown. I will have an assistant or two, a small crew, wardrobe and the new Canon 5DM2 and new RebelT1i. We will also be shooting some motion picture. It could possibly be one of the more ambitious projects that I have endeavored to do. Time will tell as the process unfolds.
These sort of loosely scripted shoots have generally been looked at askance by some of my colleagues with the possible exception of Shawn Frederick whose challenge: “You think that you can do something better than anyone else? So do it!” always rings in my psyche. So I just do, and the images without fail end up being something that rewards both myself, subject and crew in multiple ways. It is sexy, exhilarating, adventurous, artistic, wearing, emotional, fun and well, REAL. But there is zero fiscal motivation for me. It costs in that way. It can be terrifying as you are banking the recovery of the time and money of all involved in long term return. I don’t think the IRS likes em(my shoots) either.
The imagery below is a sampling of a few in the “Because I can” genre. Friends, colleagues, special people and moments. Some have passed on but they live in the imagery. From Academy Award winners and famous covers, to simple snapshots. Click on any of the images for the back story and a full view. There are fifty one here. I have a lot more.
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- Adam Gray-Hayward
From Zdesert
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- Ray Kunze: the Enforcer. Check the belt buckle!
Now passed but not gone.
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- Woody Brown, Maui.
No passed but not gone.
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- Gidget sitting in the now removed Malibu shack on her first day back surfing!
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- Rennie Yater
My colleague friend and mentor.
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- LOVES surfing
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- Tiger Woods at Westlake
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- Peter Trow: Stupid gravity defying human tricks.
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- Rod Piazza
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- James Coburn
The week after his Academy Award for Affliction. Passed but not gone.
Gaviota Coast, California. I stalked this Life magazine style portrait with the assistance of Andy Gottleib, Penny Hadfield and Bob Green, who tolerated me being around for a week after my job on the film was complete. We were chatting about the ocean cliffside as the sun dropped. A gracious man. I had 2 cameras. One with RVP and one with a unique tone BW film. I unloaded em both in 15 minutes.
Famous set stills shooter Bob Green and I had a good laugh about this later.
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- Bo Derek
I had gotten the opportunity to shoot Bo a couple weeks after Herb Ritts. Fun shoot on the Gaviota Coast, a place she knows well. Though not my favorite image from the shoot, it works. Turns out we had much in common in our circle of friends.
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- Angel
A cross process shot of a series entitled "Angel" that went on to be widely published. Model: Kathe DeFiori, Ventura Ca.
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- Bruce and Steve
Film maker Bruce Brown and TSJ publisher Steve Pezman at the SB film festival. Bruce both honored and embarressed the hell out of me during the Q&A when in response to the question: Who is the most promising young film maker you know? Answered: "My son, and that guy holding the lens in the shadows over there: David Pu'u." I coulda died as the entire theater turned to look at me as this shot was taken! Bruce has an amazing sense of humor. Love the man.
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- Bruce and the Mini
Bruce Brown eyeing his Mini Cooper rally car at his home in Gaviota, California
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- Director Tim Disney and DP Claudio Roche on the Arriis
Talk about the evil eye. Shot as I worked production stills for Tim's film. A remarkable man who assembled an incredible crew and cast for a film shot in Santa Barbara County.
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- Actor Naveen Andrews in character
A set still from the Disney directed film
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- Gabriel
A set still from the Disney directed film
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- James Coburn, Gaviota Coast
Classic: actor, setting, car. Created by Jonathan our greensman and Penny Hadfield the production designer. Award winning Gaffer, Dickie Deets: lighting. Frame built by DP, Karl Herrmann. I just show up. Great crews create great moments.
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- Kelly Osborne at Surfer Poll Awards show in Anaheim, Ca
Kelly Osborne in Anaheim, Ca being interviewed
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- Michael Tomson
Surf industry pioneer and sort of all around legend and nice guy, Michael Tomson at Sunset Beach Oahu. I was shooting cross process for a project when Michael walked up and said hi. One of life's little pleasures, running across an old friend.
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- Tina Friedman: Hula series
One image from a series I had gone to Hawaii in search of. My editor at Surfing magazine Larry Moore, gave me kudos for the shoot and published some of it. This image was curated and selected to hang in a museum. The back story is downright spooky.
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- Adam Virs and Tory Barron, US Contest Morning
Day breaking. Nervous anticipation. Tory lost, Adam went on to win becoming the surfer to win the most amateur titles in a single year in US competitive history I believe. Oh yes, and I was coaching him and building his boards. I almost forgot that part. His teammate and my surrogate son at the time, Bobby Martinez who I coached and shaped for also, set the record that year for the surfer with the most National Titles to his name.
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- Hot Curl
A cover image from a series on surfboard history. Nicole De Leon.
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- Parsons at Jaws
Sports Ilustrated cover, Billabong Odyssey poster image, Surfer Magazine spread. I went and stayed on Maui in pursuit of a shot no one wanted. I was the only water shooter. This image launched the sport of tow surfing into mainstream. My colleagues and friends Greg Huglin and Peter Fuszard wound up there as well and shot what is arguably the single best motion picture shot in the history
of surfing as Mike dropped in, piloted by driver Brad Gerlach.
The really funny thing to me besides the obvious is that I had competed with both Parsons and Brad on tour and Mike reularly kicked my ass. He was relentless and NEVER made a mistake. The traits which have kept him alive in this current career incarnation.
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- Tiare Friedman and Mary Osborne
These two on a rare day with no one around. The shot is a high speed synch strobe shot balancing fill to ambient. Ignored for a long time as being too much like the Roxy images I sort of abhor, it was eventually published on the cover of the BIG Issue of Surfer magazine as part of a collage, and went on to grace the covers of books and magazines globally. Two incredibly talented athletes just having fun. I shot it in motion and stills and the Cinematographers demo reel I produced has won awards at a couple prestigious film festivals. (That is both hilarious and VERY unusual)
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- Millennium
Originally lost on Scott Hulet's desk, sent back to me then called in for a content spread. TSJ publisher Debbee Pezman chose it for a cover in a short phone conversation with me. It went on to be published globally as my statement on the sea and universe. It became a sold out limited edition print and I was deeply honored when I had heard that Australian Cinematographer Alby Falzon had called it the greatest image in the history of the sport. I was just lucky. The back story is quite funny.
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- Jeff Clark, Cortes Bank
Greg Huglin and I had actually intended to take our crew out to the Channel islands this day. But at about midnight I suggested Cortes as the swell had changed. (I am a VERY good surf and weather forecaster). We left the Santa Barbara Harbor at around 1AM and dawn found us at Cortes on a beautifully clean day. No one else who was out there was happy to see our 3000 HP jet catamaran with its three seven seas rated captains putting us in positions they could not go.
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- DR5 Dolphins
A wonderful B&W film process called DR5 shot in the SB Channel capturing these common dolphins cavorting.
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- Matt George
My life long friend and colleague the inimitable, irrepressible Matt George. We all love Matt, even when we want to kill him. Ask his brother Sam about that! :0)
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- Last Sunset
Shot cross process on Oahu, Cowboy and his fiance play a warrior and his lost love. Cowboy like to kill pigs by knife. Funniest thing I ever saw was as Mary Osborne and I were asleep on Bobby Friedmans lanai, cowboy slipping into bed with Mary who he had never met, spooning her. When she turned and saw this giant of man looking down at her, he said: "Good morning sweetheart". Not one to miss a beat, Mary remarked "Good morning darling". I think I fell off the couch that I had been sleeping on, I was laughing so hard.
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- Dino
A fabulous image of the late waterman and beachboy Chadwick "Dino" Ching. The back story on this image and this mans life is breathtaking in it's emotional content. Soon to be told yet again in an upcoming book by famous artist Rob Havassey.
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- LAYNE!
Layne Beachley. I love her! Surfer Poll commentary onstage. Do NOT look too closely.
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- Hailey
"Excuse me David. Could you please tell me why I need to be topless in this shot?" Umm Hailey, I just need you to be okay? Relax it will be all right. You will see.
She did. Hailey Partridge who often passes as a prettier Cameron Diaz, looking like a young Bo Derek.
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- Road Romance
John Butler. Mary Osborne. 1950's period shoot.
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- Jamie
My friend Jamie in a fun period shoot we did in her home. Fantastic eyes.
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- On The Road to Somewhere
John Butler. 1950's period shoot.
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- Nichole
Warehouse shoot
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- Brunette Dreams
Niki Cole, Guy Q., Mary Osborne, warehouse shoot
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- Star Room
An extreme wide angle film take in San Francisco
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- Santa Barbara Fourth
I had forgone the holiday with my sons to stalk and capture this wonderful image of the Santa Barbara Waterfront on the fourth of July
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- Dafoe
Quicksilvers first pro snowboarder. Veteran film maker, friend and former shop teamrider for my old surfboard company, Robert Dafoe. One of the most talented SOBs I have ever met. Shot post premier of his documentary From Ground To Glass at La Purisima Mission. The event was a whose who of wine making as that was the subject of the award winning documentary.
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- Glory in Contrast
My pal Al Grizwold is a civilian contractor with the military. We were on my cel that day as he tipped me off from the flight control tower.
Al is one of those amazing people whose talent in diverse areas one would never expect. He just comes across as just another pretty face. :0)
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- Iceman
First Recon Sgt Brad Colbert. Shot for AWA and Kawasaki.
Brad's back story in deep. I have a respect for him and gratitude that matches his story. He was the main subject and inspiration for Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright's book and HBO series, Generation Kill.
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- Shawn Alladio
Waterwoman, racer, rescue technician, artist, author, and my dear friend, supporter and collaborator. Gaviota Coast shoot for AWA and Kawasaki
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- Shin
Shanniah Alladio. This little girl is a constant reminder to me of what is true and important in life. Gaviota Coast.
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- Ultimate Boarder
My friend and one of my fellow Goletans Tom Hoover, innovated an amazing contest called Ultimate Boarder and let me come out to play with his athletes.
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- Chuck Patterson
My pal and amazing action sport artist when asked, hey think ya can jump over the Hobie Cat? He did it about 6 times. Hobie shoot in Oz. Brainchild of Hobie marketing director Dan Mangus who is piloting the cat! Australia shoot. Yes I shot it in motion with a camera on Chuck's head. Got to love working with people who have more talent, personality and willingness to try things then anyone else!
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- Sex
Mary Osborne did this image at a time when we cleared everything with her Mom, Tina. As we stood both sorta holding our breath, Tina pointed at this slide and said "Hey you guys, I like this one. This is really neat!" Mary and I looked at each other and tried to stifle ourselves. The shot was later selected as a spread in Surfer for an article entitled Sex in Surfing. Got to LOVE a good editor. :0)
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- Magic
Surfer Big Issue cover and 2003 Canon Image of the year. Dan Malloy.
My friend and editor Sam George stunned me when he picked this out of a stack of slides and quietly said: "David is is quite possibly the greatest surf image that I have ever seen." Photo editor Jason Murray had stood stifeling a smile behind him.My editor and mentor Jeff Divine told me later when my colleagues voted on the award that he was impressed because he knew that I had thought about it and done it. the shot was the first of it;s kind to balance fill flash to ambient using Canon's high speed synch technology. I tink this was the first shot on the role. I had brought the strobe housing and a non strobe that day. Just emptied the non strobe the first hour, then swam in and got the strobe. It was a productive and wonderfully beautiful morning for Dan and I. My colleagues continually drive encourage and yes, even pull me along.
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- Little Lynn
I was walking by as I was chasing an image for my collection for the Art Department on a motion picture called "My Sister's Keeper" starring Elizabeth Perkins, Lynn Redgrave, Kathy Bates, and Kathleen Wilhoite . Have some great ports and stories that were built as I shot the images to be used as on camera art. But somehow this image tells the story best. The film won an Emmy.
Tags: Adam Gray-Hayward, art imagery, AWA, Bo Derek, Bobby Friedman, Books, Brad Colbert, Brad Gerlach, Bruce Brown, Canon 5D Mark2, Canon high speed synch technology, Canon Rebel T1i, Chuck Patterson, Claudio Roche, Cortes Bank, Dan Malloy, David Pu'u, Debbee Pezman, digital, Dino Ching, dolphins, Donna Von Hoesslin, Elizabeth Perkins, Elmar Von Hoesslin, entertainement industry imagery, Gaviota Coast, Greg Huglin, iconic photography, Image of the Year, James Coburn, Jason Murray, jaws, Jeff Clark, Jeff Divine, journalism imagery, Kathe DeFiori, Kathleen Wilhoite, Kathy Bates, Kawasaki, Kelly Osbourne, Larry Moore, Layne Beachley, lifestyle photographer, Lynn Redgrave, Mary Osborne, Matt George, Mike Parsons, Naveen Andrews, Passages, Paul Tomson, Penny Hadfield, Pete Fuszard, photography, photography caeer, Sam George, Santa Barbara, Santa barbara Film Festival, Santa Barbara Photographer, Scott Hulet, Shawn Alladio, Shawn Frederick, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Cover, Steve Pezman, surf photographer, Surfer Cover, Surfer magazine, Surfers Journal, surfing, Tiare Friedman, Tim Disney, Tina Friedman, Toni Frissell, TSJ, TSJ Cover, ventura, Ventura Photographer
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Fear Anger Hope
Monday, June 21st, 2010Process
Fear, anger, hope.
These three things are very inter-related and part of the process of progress.
I find myself falling into fear, that entities which we have entrusted, like Government, Industry, and aspects of modern culture, such as certain Environmental PACS, have totally failed the Earth, as evidenced in the recent potential Global killer, that is the Platform Horizon Wellhead Blowout.
The fear generated by this realization leads to an intense burning anger.
That anger causes a hell of a lot of introspection of myself, what I stand for, and a VERY close look at the things I am able to affect in this world, that could contribute to a course change.
In my life, I have always been about social contribution through enlightenment, and understanding of Man’s role in this world via a relationship with God and Nature. In my experience, Science has always proved God, and vice versa. The entire world gives testimony to the glory and power which created it.
So out of all of this examination, there arises amidst the dark swirling clouds of a prior Eon’s birth and death throes, (which MADE the oil which may kill off a substantial portion of our planet) a glimmer of hope within a very serious message of impending doom.
Here is a very close look at the Gulf Disaster . Make sure to watch the News report at it’s end. Yes, you should be scared, as well as angry. That is a righteous response.
But………..
Below are two links. They will make you sad, they will cause you to fear, you will get angry, feel sorrow, and at the end of it all, a small light will begin to flicker inside. Grab that. The other stuff, it just needs to be experienced, for you to find that little glimmer. We need informed hope.
Story One A beautifully done grand perspective on our struggle to exist.
Story Two is a piece that I shot while working under Cinematographer Greg Huglin. Edited by my friend and colleague Rob Dafoe. I WANT you to ponder the Gulf Sea. Consider also, that this was shot in the waters that I grew up in off of Santa Barbara and the Gaviota Coast. These pods have existed there for ages.
In 1969 I lived in Goleta. I saw the affects of the well head blowout that affected my beach, and gave rise to the modern day environmental movement. I swam, sailed, dove, fished and surfed in an oil soaked ocean, much as the Chumash who inhabited my home, generations before had done. But I am convinced what I experienced, was far worse in terms of oil contact. It went on for decades. (Think about that.)
The tale of the 1969 Union platform blowout is here.
A couple weeks ago, I was up working on the Gaviota Coast. Beaches once soaked in oil were now clean. For the first time in my 50 year long life, and possibly ever, they were pristine in appearance. I suspect that the Environmental movement had nothing to do with this, nor did the EPA. The steady pumping of the reserve simply lowered the pressure, and both the issues from the old wellhead blowout, and natural seeps, slowed to their lowest point.
I shot a few images to illustrate Man’s relationship with the coastline that has been my home. When I get angry, part of my process is to create something positive. Jeanette Ortiz, who is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and connected human beings that I know, collaborated with me. Donna Von Hoesslin helped style the work. The four images in this post, are part of a 24 image collection we created as an homage to the Gaviota Coastline.
Organic Relationship
Now ponder this. We have drilled a hole into the past, and unleashed a geologically based poison into the Gulf waters. All of what we know and have done in the past may now be ineffective. We could be wrong about everything. Our Govt. agencies are wrong, our environmental groups are wrong, we were wrong. Wrong about what?
Our choice to disconnect our culture from God and subvert our role in creation. We placed commerce and money in the position of being our God. We cut ourselves off from Wisdom and Truth. Wrong choice.
Timeframe
Reconnect. It is where the hope lies.
Here is a beautiful invitation to do that.
Better
Here is a piece on Jacques Yves Cousteau , that is probably one of the more succinct and pertinent instructionals which I have read, with regard to Politics and the Earth.
Broken Bells. Good name. Sobering social commentary, exquisitely produced.
Steady on.
Hope.
Tags: anger, Broken Bells, chumash Indians, Climate Change, cultural commentary, David Pu'u, Death, Donna Von Hoesslin, eco lifestyle, Environmental groups, environmental imagery, Environmental politics, Failure, fear, Gaviota Coast, globalism, Goleta, Gulf Coast Disaster, hope, Jacques Yves Cousteau, Jeanette Ortiz, life, Man versus God, natural order, nature, ocean art, oil industry, Pollution, popular culture, rebirth, Salvation, Science, The Ghost Inside
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