A sign on the 130-year-old pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea warns people not to jump off it. On a big surf day surfers make their way to the end of the sturdy 206 metre structure and jump like lemmings into the cold, murky North Sea. Words: Simon Palmer Photos: Ian Forsyth

"I'm not interested in formulae when it comes to surfing and art." Ryan Lovelace talks to Chris Preston about trusting your eyes, hands, and feet, and adding another leaf to the weird-hull-alternative-vibe-tree. Photos: Morgan Maasen, Brandon DiPierri & Ryan Lovelace

When the ‘Apocalypse Now’ film crew packed up and left the Philippine coastal town of Baler, they left one important item behind – a surfboard. More than 30 years on and this quiet backwater is home to a stoked crew of welcoming locals. Words: Mark Sankey Photos: Alexa Poppe

Jimmy Newitt pays homage to one of South Devon's treasures - not a break but a surfer who stands tall in the crowd. Words: Jimmy Newitt Photos: Ollie Howe

The annual Fish Fry on Australia's Gold Coast gives shapers a non-commercial, non-competitive opportunity to come together and share ideas in a shameless celebration of the fabulous fish. Words: Tommy Leitch Photos: Jamie Bott

Drift caught up with big-wave surfer Carlos Burle on home territory in Brazil to find out why he considers big-wave riding to be a playground for the few who have earned the privilege. Photos: Al McKinnon

Positive portraits

November 15, 2009 | Words By: Angela

open1While I’m wary of sweeping generalisations, I think it’s fair to say that female surfers are frequently portrayed as mere fashion mannequins, their images used to flog us more useless crap. So when this bunch of strong, celebratory, retro-tinged pictures dropped into my inbox it was a wonderful change from the norm. Meet photographer Shosh Bowles – capturing all that is positive about women’s surfing…

“Growing up in one of the most insignificant towns between Manchester and the Mersey does not exactly a surfer make! Despite the local ocean being the grim murky depths of Liverpool docks I always had a great love of the sea and wanted to ride waves like those I saw on TV and in magazines.

When I first actually got to surf – many moons ago in north Devon – I thought it was the most spectacular feeling of freedom, expression and beauty in the world. I felt compelled to translate it through some medium so that I could keep and share the stoke, the beauty, the life.

I love portraiture and observational photography, and was bored with the typical barrel action shots that dominate surf magazines today. So instead I took inspiration from the greats such as Leroy Grannis – who really captured the culture of surfing – and Jeff Devine, whose pictures of rainbows over exotic breaks never cease to amaze me.

I want my work to represent the beauty of surfing: the colours, the people, the atmosphere, what it’s like to be a spectator instead of being directly in the action, and to celebrate women’s surfing in all its girl-power glory!”

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Picture 1 of 10


I met this girl along the beach taking photos out towards the ocean. She looked so beautifully happy that I just had to take her portrait.

         

3 Comments


  1. chingland says:
    November 15, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    Great action shot on picture 3 Shosh Bowles!

    1
  2. Patricia Heaviland says:
    November 17, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Where did you get that picture of me?

    2
  3. Duncan says:
    November 24, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    I can really relate to your comments above about portrait and observational photography. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’, your photos are great.

    3


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