Q&A: Haa Keaulana wants to change how people think about Hawaii

The photography of Haa Keaulana, granddaughter of Oahu surf legend Buffalo Keaulana, has a worldwide audience.

Hawaii Magazine Nov 6, 2017

If you don’t already know surfer-photographer-model Haa Keaulana, you will soon enough. With more than 140,000 Instagram followers, the 25-year-old Keaulana has been sharing colorful lifestyle surf photography of her hometown of Makaha with the world. It’s led to partnerships with several companies, including the Four Seasons Resort Ko Olina, OluKai and Hawaiian Airlines. Our older, sunbaked readers may also recognize her family name: The patriarch of the family is her grandfather, Richard “Buffalo” Keaulana, who was a famous Waikiki beachboy, lifeguard, big-wave surfer and inaugural Hokulea voyage crewman. Haa continues the ocean-centered legacy her family has established, and she’s sharing it with the world, pic by pic, like by like, follower by follower. 

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Surfing in Alaska with photographer Scott Dickerson - GrindTV.com

When one mentions the term “boat trip,” visions of the Mentawais and swaying palm trees fill the minds of surfers. Well, most surfers. For a certain dedicated bunch, a boat trip is a chance to scour un-surfed coastline in a region better known for heli-skiing than surfing. Meet Alaska-based surfer and photographer Scott Dickerson. Dickerson and his pals have turned their focus away from palm-fringed beaches and toward soaring bald eagles and snow-covered peaks that dip into the Gulf of Alaska. Aboard the good ship Milo, these guys are on the front line of surf discovery in Alaska. Here’s their story.

What are some of the challenges to surfing in Alaska? It seems like the first one would be getting to the surf spots.
Most people assume the cold and extreme weather conditions would be the biggest hurdle to surfing in Alaska. If only it were that simple! Really the only time that the cold temps slow us down is when it’s so cold that freezing spray makes boating unsafe. Otherwise, as you suggested, the biggest challenge we face is accessing the waves, which are mostly tucked away in the endless miles of rugged wilderness coastline.

Have you ever had any encounters with the local wildlife, like orcas, bears, et cetera? Do you guys carry rifles to protect yourselves?
Everyone seems to like the idea of Alaskans being chased by hungry grizzly bears every time we step outside. It works good on reality TV, and fortunately that’s where it stays for the most part. We certainly take precautions to avoid unpleasant interactions with the local critters further up the food chain, but honestly your own surfboard in a closeout barrel is a lot more likely to cause you problems on a surf trip here than a bear. Occasionally sea lions will chase us out of the surf, and nobody really likes seeing killer whales up close when you are in the water. Bears don’t swim very often and we don’t spend much time on land, so we mind our own business. Camping is a different story …

Read more; Surfing in Alaska with photographer Scott Dickerson - GrindTV.com

Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 | From studio to cardio

What happens when you throw a TV and radio man into training for the toughest of sailing races? Tom Bushell is finding out the hard way as the Onboard Reporter for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

When we asked Tom Bushell to give us a behind the scenes peek into his life as an Onboard Reporter we weren’t really sure what we would get.

Here at Volvo Ocean Race HQ in Alicante we know Tom as a bubbly, fun guy, as well as a top professional reporter with a background in radio and television – however we wondered whether he’d still be the same energetic dude after a few months of hardcore training with an elite sailing team.

Luckily they obviously make ‘em tough in Tom’s hometown of Whitley Bay in England, and we needn’t have worried. As Tom’s video report shows, he’s still in high spirits and loving the greatest adventure of his life so far. Probably going to need a bit more work on that rowing machine though Tom!

Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards - Europe and Hawaii Swells Top 2014Nominee List - Dorian, Baker, Rothman, Cotton & Burle Among Finalists

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - (April 1, 2014) - The nominees have been revealed for the 2014 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, and - as expected - the focus is on the huge swells that hammered the European and Hawaiian coastlines and splashed big wave surfing across mainstream headlines worldwide. Nominees run the gamut from past champions like Shane Dorian of Hawaii, Grant Baker of South Africa and Carlos Burle of Brazil, all the way to emerging stars like Andrew Cotton of England, Gautier Garanx of France and Francisco Porcella of Italy. Portugal, Australia, California, Mexico and Tahiti are also well represented by either surfer nationality or surf spot location - making this the most international field in the 14-year history of the XXL event.

The Billabong XXL Awards competition window closed on March 19 with the start of spring, with every wave ridden at every big wave break around the world in the past 12 months up for consideration. The five biggest or best in each of the key categories have now been identified based on the photographic evidence, and the winners will be crowned at a gala awards show at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California on May 2, with over $120,000 up for grabs across seven diverse event categories. (Four are announced today, leaving the wipeout and two performance categories to be announced next week.) Photographs and video of all the nominated rides can be viewed by visiting the event website at www.BillabongXXL.com.

  

The extraordinary weather conditions of the last year have helped to push the spotlight back toward the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award (where jet-ski assisted tow-ins are allowed). The main beneficiary of the massive storm action this winter was Europe, where three different swells in three different months produced three strong nominees for the biggest wave of the year - Brazilian Carlos Burle and Englishman Andrew Cotton at Nazaré, Portugal plus the unheralded Basque surfer Gautier Garanx at Belharra, France. Also in the top five are a pair of waves from the first major tow day in Hawaii in half a decade, featuring Italian transplant Francisco Porcella and local legend Ian Walsh at Jaws on the island of Maui. Numerous media outlets have speculated that the existing Guinness World Record mark for the Largest Wave Ridden (Unlimited) of 78 feet could be in peril of falling once the judging process is completed.

Video - Salty Pixels - A Guide to Nautical Photography

 

Join renowned sailing and nautical photographer and Canon Explorer of Light, Onne van der Wal, as he takes you on a salty voyage through his photographic works. Onne shoots around the globe taking full advantage of our water logged planet, capturing harbors, beaches, regattas and coastal scenes that make landlubbers and "yachties" alike yearn for a life (or at least a vacation!) at sea. Revered for his witty and enlightening presentations, Onne gives you an inside look at what it takes to shoot in the salt and waves and how to make the best pictures in a salty situation without donating your camera gear to Poseidon. Sharing stills and video clips as well as tips and tricks, Onne's lecture is sure to delight photographers, mariners and admirers of the sea.

Onne van der Wal's Site
http://www.vanderwal.com/

  

Surfing photos hailed at the 2013 Red Bull Illume

Surfing photos hailed at the 2013 Red Bull Illume: Zakary Noyle, Morgan Massen and Chris Burkard won the Sequence, Lifestyle and Spirit categories, between 28,257 shots submitted by 6,417 photographers.

Photo; Zakary Noyle

The new angles of the surfing drones / Surfer Today

The commercial drone industry is taking off and surfing prepares to welcome a brand new angle. Is the personal point of view generation already outdated?

 

The future of surfing comes from the sky. Interestingly, surfing gets a bright innovation from the air with the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Helicopter owners change your business model, please.

Waterproof cameras gave surfers the ability to check their rides and correct their skills. The GoPro surfing generation is recording stories for life. But, what's next?  More; The new angles of the surfing drones:

The Pagan brothers scour the Los Angeles coast in 'Smoke and Diamonds' | GrindTV.com

Follow surfer Matt Pagan and cinematographer Mike Pagan up and down the Pacific Coast Highway  More; The Pagan brothers scour the Los Angeles coast in 'Smoke and Diamonds' | GrindTV.com

Professional Surf Photographer Shares Tips for Catching Waves on Film | SURFLINE.COM

Gear Up to Get Wet.
One of the most important investments you can make when pursuing your career or hobby in surf photography is waterproof housing. There are a number of good brands, with different shapes and sizes available, so choose one that fits you and your camera best. Just be sure to set all camera settings prior to mounting your camera in the housing and heading into the ocean. Once the camera is locked in the housing, you'll have limited options and camera setting controls.

Stay Cool.
Your camera temperature needs to be relative to the water temperature so don't leave your camera sitting out on the hot sand or in your car before diving in the cool water to start shooting. The drastic temperature change will make your camera foggy when in the water and you won't be able to get a clear shot. If waiting at the beach for the right conditions before shooting, keep your camera cool by covering it in a towel or storing in a shady, cool area. Next, make sure the port/lens is lubricated so the ocean water won't bleed and ruin your photos with water spots. Just like with snorkeling, you need to frequently spit on the lens to be sure you are keeping the port/lens lubricated to capture clear photos.

Jay Nichols On The Long Road To Recovery | OffshoreOnly.com

The color-saturated, Photoshop-heavy work of photographer Jay Nichols isn’t for everyone. When it comes to capturing the high-performance powerboat world, Nichols’ approach to digital imagery is more Impressionist than Realist. Depending on your taste in photography, you either love or hate—there doesn’t seem to be much in between—his work. Like many of you, I fall in the first camp.

As for the guy behind the lens himself, everyone seems to love, or at least like him. And why not? Nichols is easygoing (though like all of us he can be provoked and lose patience), gracious and approachable. He has zero “big-shot photographer” attitude, and he’s often wickedly funny. More; Jay Nichols On The Long Road To Recovery | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

Jack McCoy enters the Surfing Walk Of Fame

Jack McCoy enters the Surfing Walk Of Fame: Jack McCoy has been filming the global surfing scene for some 35 years. Jack was privileged to meet Bud Browne, the pioneer water and underwater photographer, whose work he emulated

Volvo Ocean Race | Sunset Vine on board as 2014-15 Host Broadcaster

Volvo Ocean Race has appointed British-based independent sports production company Sunset+Vine as Host Broadcaster and Distribution Partner for the 2014-15 edition – with a mission to take full advantage of enhanced media capabilities on board and deliver the human and sporting drama of the nine-month race to a global audience.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

As well as delivering live coverage of the In-Port Race Series and Leg Starts, Sunset+Vine will distribute all race programming and news footage around the world. The production will be headed by the company’s specialist sailing unit Sunset+Vine|APP.

For the 12th edition of the race, each of the new one-design Volvo Ocean 65 boats will be equipped with the most sophisticated ever on-board filming, editing and satellite transmission equipment. At race headquarters in Alicante, a 24-hour watch system will be in place to ensure a more complete picture of the ocean legs will be painted than ever before.

Embark on a spontaneous surf adventure / Grind TV

The process of haphazard adventure is detailed in 'Holes in the Map'

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones we don’t plan—at least, this is what we learn from surfers Jen Smith, Mele Saili, and Jenna Balester in “Holes in the Map,” a new short film about a road trip that stretched up the West Coast from San Diego to a tiny island off the coast of Canada. Overflowing with fun waves and breathtaking scenery, “Holes in the Map” captures a spontaneous journey into the unknown.

Filmmaker Hayley Gordon on location for “Holes in the Map”

Image courtesy of Gordon

Hiding behind the lens is New York-to-Cali transplant Hayley Gordon, an Encinitas-based filmmaker who inspires us to throw caution to the wind and set off on unexpected undertakings with our best friend riding shotgun.

GrindTV caught up with Gordon to learn more about her recent exploits.  More; Embark on a spontaneous surf adventure

Images By Carlo Borlenghi From The Giraglia Rolex Cup : Sailmix

sailmix.com - Images By Carlo Borlenghi From The Giraglia Rolex Cup Posted by Sail Mix Editor on Jun 19th 2013 in Europe, Yacht Racing ‘  More; Images By Carlo Borlenghi From The Giraglia Rolex Cup : Sailmix

Meet Ben Thouard and His Exquisite SUP Photos | SUP Profile

TAHITI - Have you ever noticed some exceptionally unique and inspiring stand up paddle photos coming through your social media news feed or perhaps have seen some stunning tropical images on the BIC SUP website with SUPers who look like they are absolutely in paradise?   Meet the man behind the camera who has been able to capture such beauty and share it with all of us.

 

Ben Thouard was born in 1986 on the coast in the south of France.  As a boy he was introduced to the sea with family members who sailed, surfed and windsurfed.  Ben quickly gained a passion for water sports but when he was only 15 he also discovered photography and just knew that this would surely be his future job. More; Meet Ben Thouard and His Exquisite SUP Photos | SUP Profile

Source; SUP Connect

See how surf photographer Burkard influenced his art

Hailing from the small, salty central California town of Pismo Beach, photographer Chris Burkard has rapidly become one of the most respected names among surfing’s lensmen at the ripe old age of 26. Chris started his career at 19, and in relatively short time he has made a huge impact on the photo world, capturing some of the most incredible imagery ever seen. Chris’ work has come to redefine the Golden State’s golden hour light; his catalog of images drips with color and moody hues.  More and video; See how photographer Burkard influenced his art

Source; Grind TV

San Francisco Bay eye candy / America’s Cup

The America’s Cup’s omnipresent photographer Gilles Martin-Raget is nearly as excited about having the fleet of AC72s ripping around San Francisco Bay as the sailors. Martin-Raget came off the water beaming after another day of solid, manageable winds and iconic shots. Read more and video; San Francisco Bay eye candy / America’s Cup

© ACEA 2013 / Gilles Martin-Raget

Volvo Ocean Race | Last call for the brave!

Only a few hours are left to apply for an Onboard Reporter position in the 2014-15 race. The recruitment process is closing this Friday at midnight. Applicants, you may want to read this before sending us an email… More; Volvo Ocean Race | Last call for the brave!

Guy Salter/Ericsson 4/Volvo Ocean Race

Finding aloha with surfer/cinematographer Leah Dawson

Surfer, cinematographer, and positive living enthusiast Leah Dawson had us at “Aloha.” An ambassador for the Keep a Breast Foundation and Non-Toxic Revolution, Dawson is also a two-time Pipeline Women’s Pro Longboard champion and former U.S. longboard champion. A wanderer at heart, Dawson calls the world home but spends six months of every year on Oahu, surfing and living her dreams. Finding aloha with surfer/cinematographer Leah Dawson

Source; GindTV

Volvo Ocean Race - OBRs beware, a multi-sensory nightmare awaits

Just how hard is the Onboard Reporter job in the Volvo Ocean Race? For anyone who still thinks they could cut it, read this thrilling tale from Marc Bow – someone with all the qualifications for the job, but now possessing the first-hand experience to know that this is the toughest, as well as the best, gig in journalism.

Strolling into Thunderbolt Marina straight off the plane I spotted Sanya’s 105-foot mast towering above the billionaire pleasure craft around her. The sail team had also arrived on my flight and I felt a bit of a lemon as the fly boys caught up with the shore crew who had been rebuilding Sanya here for a few weeks. After a quick team get-together we were told a shallow sandbank at the end of the Savannah river meant our 4m draft would prevent us from leaving till the next day. So with a lethal concoction of jet leg and anxiety coursing through me I headed to our hotel and didn’t sleep a wink.

 

Being bred on South African waters and starved of real yachts the Volvo boats are massive. The dimensions. The sounds. The loads. Even the speed. It’s all been super-sized. The beam is the size of my day sailor, the mast disappears into low clouds, and the length challenges even the surest of sights. When her wardrobe is unpacked she’ll be flying over seven hundred square meters of sail, all of it hand crafted from the lightest, most expensive material known to man. The mast, boom, rigging, hull, even the bunk tubes are all fashioned from carbon fibre. In all it means a Volvo boat is as strong, light and fast as modern man knows how, and when in the hands of a veteran crew like the predominantly Kiwi gang on Sanya, she’s a brutally expensive weapon.