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Mat Arney hooks up with some old friends to go feral on the Arabian Peninsula and hunt down some truly isolated swell. Words & photos: Mat Arney

Luciano Burin catches up with Junior Faria, a pro surfer breaking the Brazilian mould, whose atmospheric photographs capture the happiness and freedom of surfing.

From Gerry Lopez to machine shaping and the retro scene, Tim Stafford chews the fat with UK surf veteran - and mighty leader of the Foam Asylum - Nigel Semmens

Self-confessed board hoarder Chris Preston expounds the delights to be found within his tardis-like garden shed, and explains how he came to favour the quiver approach to surfing. Photos by Jamie Bott [except no.3].

Drift checks in with Andrew Crockett following the release of the much-anticipated 'Switch-Foot II', a tribute to surfing's counter-culture.

Using locally sourced timber and having designed a manufacturing process that minimises waste, Mike LaVecchia of Grain Surfboards has cornered the market in beautiful, sustainable wooden boards. And the best bit? They ride like a dream. Photos: Nick LaVecchia

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 10 of 10


Spectators come in all shapes and sizes…

         

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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