A kid named Bob.

I got an email from, who I can almost call- our, "staff photographer" Keith Novocel.  He said there's this kid from New Jersey that we should shoot.  His name is Rob Kuliesk.  I had never formally met him, nor seen him surf but was eager to welcome him aboard this trip.  From what I knew about him, he was a cool kid.  Rode logs, shot photo's and has a solid record collection.  

But none of that really matters.  There's tons of kids out there that are on this program.  Their in bands, they shoot photos, they make stuff and drive van's stuffed with their entire 10 board quiver.  Rob's different.  He rocked up driving a 2004 mexican beetle with dinged up log strapped to the roof, a few wetsuits and an interior chuck full of camera gear.  Rob's surfing was clean- simple lines and smooth.  Out of the water it was much of the same.  His self expression is unique.  Here's some photo's that he shot on what I am now dubbing, "The Long Island 1000."

Polaroids

Jerry Ricciotti, who shot video on this trip brought along a Polaroid camera and some instant film.  He came up with some cool images that I laid out on the floor and then shot.  It's a neat little montage from the last few days of driving circles around Long Island.

Back to Babylon.

This film was born in New York.  I was born in New York.  So, to me it was necessary to have a solid NY section to show my love for the Empire State.  We started filming this project last year in Montauk.  We had surf, but it was only visible in between the fog banks.  Made for some cool shots, but not exactly what I was looking for.  I wanted to show NY the way I saw it growing up.  The days I remember of my Dad pulling into stand up tubes only yards off the beach on Central Long Island.  I was just a little kid and remember it so clear.  Today, was the day that I imagined.  The day we had been waiting for.  

Photos: Keith Novosel 

Log Island.

October brought the first Nor'easter of the season.  With harsh North East winds and even harsher temperatures, which dipped down to the low 40's, things had changed from the week prior.  Winter was at our feet.  The indian summer was over and cold front swell was pumping.  

Pumping right by us.  The horizon looked like a marching band, on it's merry way to somewhere warmer.  Would it ever fill in or was this massive Nor'easter swell that has been ticking the buoys a myth? 

Late that morning, it started to fill in.  With hard offshores and a wind chill in the mid 30's it was almost hard to motivate.  Until we found this little against the grain right going into one of far Rockaways jettys.  Here's what we found.  With a little luck, bigger swell is on the horizon.  Literally.

Photos: Keith Novosel

Hello Nor'easter

Stay tuned folks, I think I found my unicorn.

Chasing unicorns.

The boys were scheduled to depart their locations on Friday to this mythical place called, "The North East."  I have been ranting and raving about this place so, everyone was pretty disappointed when I called Wednesday night to say, "Cancel your flights."  It was flat.  Now, where these guys are from - flat means something entirely different.  Were talking East Coast flat.  Total different story.  

For now, everyone is on hold.  Waiting for me to make the call.  As for me, I'm just sitting here chasing unicorns waiting for NY to look like this again...

More film!

All the film is back from France.  Well, all except this roll- witch is still in France.  In a trash can.

I'll post some actual frame grabs later this week.  

Moules and frites.

Hossegor, some of the best beach breaks in the world are to be had here.  Not to mention one of the only places in the world where I would gladly live on bread and wine.  The only disappointment of the trip was all the naked dudes on the beach with their 60 year old junk out while playing frisbee.  All baguette jokes aside, we found the France we were looking for.  Biarritz offered loggin days while the banks in Capbreton threw some tubes and wedges that we all freaked over.  We were in France.  It was autumn and there was no place I would rather be.

Photos thanks to Keith Novosel

First up!

After having 1,400 feet of super-16 sitting in the fridge, shot over a month ago I decided it was time to send it out.  AKA, I had the money to have it processed.  This surf-film-making thing is expensive.  While I was in France last week it was processed, transfered and awaited my arrival yesterday when I returned to Rhode Island.  We shot this whole trip on super-16, so it was kind of nerve racking wondering what we were going to see.  Pleasantly surprised, it's all I hoped for.  Here's a little tease of what you will be seeing.  

Photos thanks to Chasen Marshal.