Grain in Analog by Max Schmige

 

When I went to Grain for the Re-Evolution event, one of the people I traveled with was Max Schmige, Director of Photography for Manufacturing Stoke.

Max is originally from Berlin but studied cinematography at the American Film Institute Conservatory. Max is pretty fresh out of school but has already done some amazing work. He is one talented lens-smith and did an unreal job with Manufacturing Stoke.

When I heard Max was coming I was excited as I thought he would bring some goodies on the trip to get some great images. I pictured him showing up with all kinds of digital cameras for us to play with.

When we got on the trip I found out he left all his digital equipment at home and brought a bag of film cameras instead. Since I have come into this photography world in the digital age I really hadn't had much experience with a real photographer and the process by which they shoot film. Hanging with Max was an education.

Now that 99.99% of us have switched to digital we take for granted the virtually unlimited pics we can take in one day without the need to reload or spend money and all the built in light meters, auto-focus, auto everything.

To say the least shooting with analog is a completely different experience. For example while I walk through a room taking frame after frame, shooting as I please without a worry of running out of shots, Max would set up and literately take 20 minutes a single shot. Finding the joy in every aspect of the process as he would test his light, set his camera and agonize over the perfect composition. All while  knowing he had limited film to get his best work.

During the trip the ongoing question was "Where's Max?". That was because as we went through our day Max would slip away and get caught up in a moment in light and space and have a blast shooting that one perfect shot.

As the trip progressed we all would check out shots on our laptops and get our accustomed instant gratification. It sort of felt like Max was missing out a bit at the time as we could all see our work and feed off it.  But when I looked at Max while were were doing this he wasn't concerned at all. He was like a kid waiting for Christmas knowing that the best part of the gift was the anticipation. The knowing you did your best and the excitement of opening that package from the film processor to see if you really do know your stuff.

At the end of the trip we all went our separate ways and frankly I forgot all about Max's photos. Like the rest of us my mind went on to the next thing and then next thing grinding through this world of next things.

That was until I got an email from Max from a file sharing site that had no text just a download. When I opened the folder of images I was pleasantly surprised to see Max's work and the reminder that paying attention and waiting for the outcome is fun and does pay off.

Thanks Max for that lesson.

The above images where all shot at Grain by Max on a old Canon with God knows what settings. Maybe he'll fill us in. The rest of the trip is waiting to be scanned and I can't wait (as usual) to see them all. Will I ever learn.

www.maximilian-schmige.com

"Enjoy Madonna" by Rodney McCoubrey

"Enjoy Madonna" by Rodney McCoubrey, broken board foam, Entropy bio epoxy, baja nails, barbed wire, end of resin cup.

In all the handplanes we have made we have had only one go horribly wrong to where we couldn't use it. We never like throwing anything away so we saved it knowing that some day it could be put to good use. To be honest I didn't know what the use was but our good friend Rodney did and he talked us into handing it over. I'm so stoked we did. Good work Rodney!

Sacred Craft

Sacred Craft was amazing this year. It is always good but this year seemed even bigger and better then years past. Here are some great shots courtesy of Rodney McCoubrey. Enjoy.

The man of the hour, Carl Ekstrom. I was so happy to see him honored this year.

Leucadia resident and Andy Davis.

Local shapper Gary Hanel happy as ever. 

Mr Surfy Surfy himself. JP St. Pierre.

The Foam man Marty Gilchrist. 

Artist Joe Hodniki painted an Enjoy Handplane for the upcoming show at Surfing Heritage Foundation. We'll show you latter what he did. Unreal. 

My partner in all things handplane, Kipp Denslow and a tease of what is to come for the SHF art show. 

Me manning the booth.

Talking shop.

Photos by Rodney McCoubrey

Reminder TONIGHT Double Feature @ Bird's Shed

Tickets sold online only.

Buy them Here

Transparentsea Voyage- California 2011

The Transparentsea Voyage is going on now. Follow the progress of Dave Rostovich and crew as they sail down the coast of Southern California in the same path as the Grey Wales, stop to do performances and educate people about what and why they are doing what they are. 

See a map here of where they stop and hold events. They are expected to be in San Diego Oct. 22nd (ish). Track them if you want to be a part f it. 

Glimpses by Devon and Scott DeMint

A little video by my friends Devon and Scott DeMint who just got married this summer and traveled to Thailand for a little surf and culture. Check it out. Congratulations you two, you look so happy!

See more of their world at http://www.themermaidchronicle.com

Double Feature at Birds Shed - This Friday and Saturday

Buy Tickets Here

Come see two of my favorite films of the year together in one night.  Manufacturing Stoke and Come Hell or High Water will play back to back this Friday and Saturday night only at Bird's Surf Shed. Does it get any better then that?  

This event is in conjunction with Sacred Craft. The Friday show is the kick off event for the weekend. If you are coming into town make sure you get your tickets online here so you have seats.  

I have had the great pleasure of touring with the misfit pictures crew to show Manufacturing Stoke and it has been a very special experience. The premier was at Bird's, the movie has circled the country as well as the globe and is now back home where it all began. It was always a dream of mine to make a film and I basicaly got to live the dream without all the hassle, so thank you guys for letting me tag along for the ride! 

Pierce "misfit" Kavanagh, the man behind Manufacturing Stoke. The film itself is amazing but how it was made is just as incredible. There aren't that many things in this world we get to witness as miracles, but the making of this films to me was just that. How often do you have an idea for a project, and never get it off the ground? How often do you let budgets and life in general get in your way of making it happen? For most of us it is more then they want to admit. For Pierce he saw his vision so clearly that he let nothing stand in his way. Not the money, not the time, not the road blocks not the fact he had never before made a film. Witnessing his journey is amazing to me and as this gains momentum it gets even better. Here is to you Pierce for your hard work and faith that if you focus hard and do your best you can make something amazing.

Special thanks to Bird, Pierce and Petra Kavanagh who have come together to put this on.  Bird's shed is the best place ever to see a surf film. If you have been before you know what I mean. You can not find any other venue like this, period. It is an amazing experience. 

Amazing boards everywhere so bring your check book. They are for sale.

The amazing visionary Bird and his lovely family. Another person who is off fulfilling his dream. Thank you Bird for reinventing the surf shop and bring your knowledge and expertise to our community.

Brownieeeeeeee - Art By Rodney McCoubrey

From the Studio of Rodney "Rodrigo" McCoubrey. "Brownie", made from a leftover from our handplane production. "Here's a newbie inspired somehow by the changing of the season i really do love FALL and so im going to explore my earthtone stage all month and man oh man is it gettin rich, the ol' color palette. made from enjoy handplane's trash... a  recycled piece of fiberglass with a fin stuck on it and a whole bunch of brownzzzze. enjoy rodrigo"

Roger Beal

During my trip to the Grain Re-Evolution event Pierce, Petra and Max from the Manufacturing Stoke crew and I stayed with legendary surfer, shaper, glasser and master ding man (Think Roper's east coast twin) Roger Beal, his lovey wife Lisa and son Tony. I had never before experienced the surfing culture of New England and once I was there I was blown away by the stoke that lives in these amazing surfers. 

I had never met Roger before but once I had it was like meeting a long lost brother. Roger is known for his days in La Jolla charging Black's, the Reefs and the Shores and shaping amazing boards for G&S, Rusty and his own RB La Jolla Reefs label. Then about 15 years ago he picked up and moved east to be close to family. In the end we lost a San Diego legend but the East Coast (Boston specifically) gained some good people and one hell of a shaper.  

To be a surfer in New England you have to be willing to travel. I realized quickly that we are a bit jaded here on the west coast as we get ridable surf at our home breaks almost year around. Boston is a bit different as depending on the swell you might travel to a state or two away just to score.

The shot above was on a surf check with Roger. Note the Shed shirt. Roger is a huge fan of the surf tee. If you meet him, hook him up with a tee. You'll get points for that. 

It was flat that day but that point on the the left wraps that wall on the right swell. On the other side of that land mass is a left. There are some unreal point setups there. Roger has them all dialed!

The New England home base shaping shed. In the winter, the outside is freezing. A couple of space heaters and production is in full swing.

Roger in his home away from home. He may be in Boston but La Jolla lives in him. Note the influences of Skip.

From times past. He mowed thousands of blanks in his heyday. A little memento to Clark hangs on the wall.

The shack is never far away.

Roger was/is a huge fan of Lopez. I like the little guy dropping in from behind.

Roger is part of the movement of working with sustainable materials. A paulownia fish waits his attention and interest in using materials like bio epoxy is in his future.

Son Tony is an artist at heart. At the ripe old age 16 he has starred in plays, hand made his own fabrics for beanies and painted a number of boards for his dad. At the Beal's Tony's art from growing up is everywhere. Even the shed door forever documents the day he got his first airbrush. 

Roger spends a good amount of time at the local Nor Eastern surf shop. They carry his boards and tees and Roger performs his ding magic for the locals. This board is one that was on display in the shop. It dawned some doodles by our own Lecuadia Legend Andy Davis.

I was pleasantly surprised to read my first Volume 1 Surfers Journal on a sofa in Boston. Who would have thought? This bound set of 1-4 was a gift from Lisa to Roger on his birthday in 1992. Now that is a present. You get points mama Beal!