Sloane Photography - Blog

2012-01-30T20:29:00.002+11:00

There's a bit of a renaissance going on in my head about how I shoot the waves I live near. For example I avoid shooting this one from the water because I always get sucked so far out to sea and miss half an hour getting back in. When it's big I might get two waves an hour because of this.

I'm thinking I need to take these chances regardless, especially when it's big.

Anyway, yesterday wasn't big, or good and I should really have just surfed it.

2012-01-29T20:57:00.002+11:00

Josh Wood flew past my camera today.

This was his view.

2012-01-25T20:41:00.000+11:00

Farmland often gives way to the sea. Remember to shut the gates.

2012-01-22T16:10:00.001+11:00

Everyone always says you just can't beat the feel of film and blah blah blah.
Well, three rolls in and I'm bloody addicted to the stuff for that exact reason.

2012-01-18T22:11:00.001+11:00

Ben and I went for a super late session on this hot evening but wave quality deteriorated with the tide.

An evening offshore is not to be taken for granted in summer though.

2012-01-15T11:11:00.002+11:00

2012-01-13T18:38:00.003+11:00

"11 things I did in 11"

Every blog worth its salt did this one.

Well I've been thinking that nobody in blogland has a focus on the negatives anymore

and sometimes that's important.

So here are 11 things I did not achieve in 2011, perhaps subconsciously written with an eye for 2012.

I don't know.

1. Nail a cover.

2. Shoot the Chopes contest (god what a mistake that was).

3. Get to Hawaii in December (another fail).

4. Go overseas at all for that matter.

5. Fix up the Super 8 lying on my desk.

6. Shoot a single photo with a film camera.

7. Cover the land angle at my favourite left.

8. Finish this list.

With all that in mind did manage to accomplish a lot photographically but I don't feel like blowing smoke up my arse so there's my pile of fail.

So one positive.

Exactly one year ago I took this shot and it just got run in a French mag.

Anyway I'm glad it got up somewhere as I went over the falls on the following set and lost my camera.

Great start to the year that was.

Clinton Kettlewell

2012-01-11T17:37:00.000+11:00

I always feel so relaxed after a swim at Bells. Despite the nice afternoon the waves were rubbish but I needed to get in. I quickly realised it was all about the bottom turn so as to avoid plaguing the shots with surface chop that the unreasonable westerly was whipping up.

Glen Casey had them sorted.

2012-01-10T18:26:00.001+11:00

I went to say hi to the horses and interrupted something that's for sure.

2012-01-08T20:25:00.000+11:00

Today was spent scouting with Paul and wondering why I didn't shoot pictures of the lovely waves I surfed yesterday.

The shooting drought continues so here is one from last year.

2012-01-03T20:14:00.002+11:00

I am sorry Mr Dorling but nobody I know is ready for "our" share of Australia's population.

Kiss those quite surfs softly goodbye over the next year or two.

http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/battlefield-looms-on-coastal-playground-20120103-1pivg.html

2011-12-26T20:13:00.001+11:00

My parents garden.

2011-12-24T15:06:00.001+11:00

Various righthand waves that captured my attention in November.

2011-12-18T18:49:00.000+11:00

Shyama on a nice evening before sea-breezes ruined my life.

2011-12-12T21:59:00.001+11:00

I'm putting some deep thought into what I'm doing photographically at the moment, quite possibly a natural occurrence in the early stages of most image makers. I'm not sure this blog will make it much longer for a few reasons. Blogging will continue in some form or another though I think.

Anyway, for the minute there is a wave drought of epic proportions so I've been shooting non-surf things while I miss the ocean terribly, you may be able to tell.

2011-12-03T13:41:00.000+11:00

I'll continue with the Todd in a tube theme, pictured here in a nice little runner.

What a wave drought we Victorians are in huh?

2011-11-27T14:00:00.001+11:00

Sandy sunset tube at one of the only east facing beachies in Vicco.

2011-11-22T22:36:00.001+11:00

I only took 60 photos on this day due to some weird winds and rain.

The strict film photographer would laugh very hard at this fact.

Tom Allan.

2011-11-06T18:58:00.000+11:00

A peak into the shorebreak.

2011-11-01T19:53:00.001+11:00

Tom Harrison, high contrast black and white last week.

2011-10-28T18:20:00.000+11:00

Knock off work, drive home, hang on, what's the surf doing?

Oh shit, glad I checked.

Cahill wasn't though.

2011-10-26T20:20:00.003+11:00

A long drive to nowhere with Chris and Emerald.

2011-10-23T21:19:00.000+11:00

4 waves in less that 24 hours.

2011-10-19T21:25:00.000+11:00

It's been epic lately. Here is an example, I'm going to post heaps of snapshots from a 24 hour period in the next few days. Just because this blog is starving.

2011-10-16T21:50:00.002+11:00

I only play this album when conditions call for it.

The windswept sea, swirling gums and lack of human intervention called for it.

Elliot and I in solitude.

2011-10-15T17:32:00.001+11:00

I am having the spring clean-out of spring clean-outs at the moment. Multiple backups of images, re-instating and updating the workhorse that is my laptop, finalizing all the outstanding jobs and (thanks to Andy) getting an amazingly cheap 27" monitor for colour correct processing and printing. Why do you care?

Well......as a result I have a mint condition 400mm 5.6L series Canon lens for sale. Asking $1,100. Email me at esloane@netspace.net.au if you're interested or know anyone that is. I'll provide pictures and all that other info you need about it to make up your mind.

Secondly, I have two Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo phones to sell thanks to a job I did for them a few months ago. One comes with the box the other without. I want to get rid of these, so it's $250 for the one in the box, $220 for the one without the box. Those are good prices, these things are like iphones. Again, inquiries via email.

The image below is Shyama enjoying onshore but very allowing Winkipop last week with a cool new board.

2011-10-11T19:27:00.000+11:00

Fast moving weather.

2011-10-08T12:05:00.000+11:00

Mick Sowry has a Tale from the Chook Shed you should definitly check out.

I couldn't agree more Mick.

"Full of passion and a deep surfing knowledge, the separator for MC is that at 57, he can back it up in the water. Every surf is R&D, the results speak for themselves as he flies through sections, with those beady blue eyes always on the look out for the next poor soul who "thought he wouldn't make it"."

Tales from the Chook Shed 3 from Mick Sowry on Vimeo.

2011-10-05T18:47:00.001+11:00

With the financial world crumbling to its knees it's important to focus on the important things in life. Things like sharing a beer with your mates on a boat at sunset after surfing the best waves our dear state of Victoria has to offer.

Yea.

2011-10-02T18:47:00.003+11:00

The Bells Bowl a few weeks back.

2011-09-25T18:03:00.000+10:00

John left out one important detail.....

2011-09-24T08:33:00.000+10:00

2011-09-23T18:36:00.001+10:00

If we don't change our direction we will end up where we are headed.

2011-09-20T21:08:00.000+10:00

2011-09-18T15:38:00.000+10:00

The video below is truly amazing, a must watch.

Oh and a bit of sand turned it on yesterday, pictured is Lew Callahan high lining it on a screamer.

2011-09-16T18:15:00.000+10:00

Late last night my friend Nigel decided to put down his camera and surf a relatively uncrowded Bells Bowl.

Bells however had other plans for Nige and I managed to capture his first and only wave of the evening as well as the subsequent swim in.

2011-09-11T14:27:00.000+10:00

Right, where was I, oh yes, unable to surf. I've been touring around the countryside.

And this....this stuff floors me, the ancient artwork, it's everywhere you know.

2011-08-29T19:27:00.002+10:00

The only day in August that has done anything to raise a pulse in the Torquay surfer.

2011-08-26T21:12:00.006+10:00

2011-08-24T21:30:00.000+10:00

2011-08-17T22:25:00.000+10:00

Aussie bush mate.

2011-08-15T17:18:00.000+10:00

This is my mate Nige and my mate Elliot having a really bad time on a really bad bank.

More from this day elsewhere in the future.

2011-08-11T19:17:00.000+10:00

Every now and again you stumble across something you've never seen before. This wave is not likely to break again for a long long time, perhaps decades, I dunno, I've never seen it even look like working in the past. Anyway, it wasn't flawless but nonetheless Shyama here had it to himself all day

2011-08-07T11:06:00.001+10:00

A cavern from yesterday with Todd in it. Weird tube, weird day.

2011-08-03T21:11:00.002+10:00

The old local has had some really fun banks lately, shame the swell has been so flat the past few weeks.

Bronson, Cole and Elliot.

After the sun went down.

2011-07-31T18:04:00.000+10:00

Some snaps of Chris Martin doing what he does (when he's not getting tubed and building houses).

2011-07-31T08:52:00.001+10:00

Another pic from big Winkipop two weeks ago. That board isn't small either.

2011-07-28T22:18:00.000+10:00

Ocean Grove Coastcare is hosting a film night next Thursday, I'll see you there.

2011-07-25T21:00:00.000+10:00

Thought I'd throw in a pumping Winkipop lineup seeings as August is just around the corner. This year seems to be charaterised by good-epic swells backed up by a few weeks of crap. I'm getting tired of this.

2011-07-24T18:25:00.002+10:00

2011-07-19T18:32:00.002+10:00

Water drops on my port, I love them.

2011-07-17T15:40:00.001+10:00

Whoa, times are busy but it's safe to assume there have been a lot of waves exposed onto my digital sensors.

Yesterday was pretty amazing, pumping beach break pits set amongst classic bushland with a crowd of just us. It doesn't get better.

2011-07-13T22:29:00.001+10:00

This is an interesting shot.

A photo of Mitch and Cam relaxing poolside at their home during the Quicksilver pro this year before they left to go overseas.

Mitch (left) has er....got in a bit of bother with a bull in Spain this week. Get well bro.

2011-07-10T22:56:00.000+10:00

Simply classic Victorian surf this weekend.

These two are from Sunday morning, big, raw and unforgiving.

2011-07-08T17:55:00.001+10:00

I assume you're all waxing your 7'9"'s for the morrow.

Unlike you, Fandog Fanning here is riding a 6'1" in the bowl, Easter Sunday, Bells final.

Tomorrow should prove larger than this though so you are forgiven.

2011-07-05T21:40:00.000+10:00

More from that high pressure system last week.

2011-07-03T19:09:00.000+10:00

From where you'd rather not be?

2011-07-02T08:54:00.000+10:00

A 1044hPa high pressure system turned most days of the Victorian week into a kind of quasi summer. Minus the warmth and seabreezes but with light winds and sunshine this created unique opportunities to shoot sunsets with offshore waves.

Todd Rosewall.

2011-06-27T18:55:00.000+10:00

7 days and no posts, that's a record, don't stress though I'm just busy shooting heaps of stuff.

Here are a few unseen pics from the Rip Curl Pro that didn't make the feature I shot for Surfing Mag. They were taken at Winkipop firing as good as it gets on this particular morning.

The bottom turn, second image down, that's Taylor Knox, after this shot he proceeded to get the longest tube I've seen at Winki, just free-surfing in the morning.

2011-06-20T20:03:00.000+10:00

A freshly printed shot sitting over at the Bell St Gallery in Torquay. I'm slowly printing a heap of new stuff over the coming months. Go check them out sometime.

2011-06-18T19:22:00.000+10:00

2011-06-14T17:35:00.000+10:00

Well, things are pretty quite on the Victorian surf scene and have been for some time. However this lapse of wave quality has coincided with some great work for Andy and I. In the meantime, this image is of the last day of good surf I scored, hopefully the other images from this session will end up somewhere meaningful.

Go on, look closely, it's bloody pumping.

Oh and the two shoulder hoppers in this picture only snapped 3 boards and two leggies.

2011-06-08T20:32:00.000+10:00

The first image, pumping waves dead ahead. The second image not so lucky, trapped in a thunderstorm a mile from the car in pouring rain is not so fun. My camera bag is waterproof I found out.

2011-06-07T18:22:00.000+10:00

Made the most of the nice light late last week.

2011-06-04T09:01:00.000+10:00

I put some prints up on the wall at Hydrophilic last night so don't forget to drop in this arvo for a beer/bbq.

Some super cool art and images in there today.

2011-06-02T19:29:00.002+10:00

I went looking for some simple lines but only found tubes.

2011-06-01T20:04:00.002+10:00

Next time you decide to paddle out to a 6ft closeout beachie right before dark in the pouring rain just think about those of us who have to swim out to take the photos, haha, nah we love it.

Shyama keeping me fit.

2011-05-30T20:51:00.000+10:00

Surfing Magazine just released their 2011 Rip Curl Pro online issue. I was really stoked to be given the opportunity to shoot the action component of the mag. The folks at Surfing do some amazing post and design. Twas only last year I was frothing over the 2010 issue, I'd never have guessed I'd be a part of the next one.

Also, I'm really glad they ran a double page image of Adam Robertson I shot.

Check it out.

http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/forgot-about-bells/

2011-05-29T09:04:00.000+10:00

Hydrophilic is a radical surf shop in Torquay. Radical.

Custom wetsuits and beautiful boards.

Next saturday, drop in and have a beer.

Keep an eye on their blog too.

http://hydrophilicboardstore.tumblr.com/

2011-05-29T08:53:00.000+10:00

SE QLD duckdive.

2011-05-26T18:25:00.000+10:00

A quick shot deep in the Otway Ranges earlier this week, a lazy 730mm of rain has fallen right here so far this year.

2011-05-22T17:20:00.001+10:00

I'm not going to call it a studio, it's just a space we are working in, it's going to be really cool.

This is a series of images Andy has begun work on.

Smoke Art from Sloane Photos on Vimeo.

2011-05-21T10:15:00.000+10:00

Another image from the magical Lorne session last week.

On a pretty cloudy day we were blessed in the arvo with a few hours of uninterrupted sunshine.

2011-05-17T22:22:00.000+10:00

Elliot loves Sally Fitzgibbons. Here is proof.

He also loves tubes, this one was from Lorne (yes you heard me, Lorne) while side-slippin (see below) was taking place. The crowd was a bit too much for me at the point, so we stumbled up the beach.

I've never seen Lorne like this before.

2011-05-15T11:53:00.002+10:00

"Try to do it, if you fall down, try again"

2011-05-15T09:50:00.003+10:00

Yesterday was Victorian magic at its very best.

2011-05-11T20:38:00.000+10:00

Organising a surf day a few months in advance is dicey anywhere, doing it in Victoria is another level of probability all together. but doing it at Lorne? Madness I say.

Good thing Robbie Warden is in charge this Saturday, the man should be a surf forecaster or something he has nailed it this weekend.

Check Side Slippin for details and come along.

Oh and if you need a lift from the city, The Ilvia Community will look after you.

2011-05-10T20:08:00.000+10:00

Now this is kind of hard to judge because I am on one of the highest coastal cliffs in Australia, but I'm pretty certain this session was more about avoiding 12ft closeouts than catching waves.

Not my shoot though so I'll just keep it at this.

Cahill practicing some shallow rock freestyle.

2011-05-08T13:05:00.000+10:00

During the Rip Curl Pro I was itching to shoot some of the points from the water, problem was the comp never had a lay day, that and I had a sore shoulder.

When they are over 5ft again I will report back with a fresher angle and maybe even some film.

This was taken 7 days before the comp, too late to bother swimming though.

2011-05-05T21:49:00.001+10:00

2011-05-05T19:45:00.000+10:00

Check out fluidzone today for a pic I took of Greg Selby having a crack.

Here is a few frames later....

2011-05-03T21:24:00.000+10:00

I have just finished post production on the last wedding I shot.

I worked on each image individually and although it takes longer, I enjoyed the process particularly because the day was so dynamic.

Here's a few shots.

2011-05-02T22:13:00.002+10:00

Portraiture is fun.

2011-04-30T15:07:00.000+10:00

I spent the morning training Andy in underwater photography, conditions were pretty exceptional by Victorian standards and without planning it, I got some nice images.

Andy's job was documenting me shooting, he used my 5D, I think he got some good pics for his first time underwater.

Here is one of him, shooting me, shooting him.

2011-04-30T09:34:00.000+10:00

After two weeks out of the water with a sore shoulder I'm battling to keep my horizons straight.

The recent run of perfect surf and weather can continue though.

2011-04-28T20:00:00.000+10:00

Sometimes you go to shoot one thing, then see another thing and you don't end up shooting much of the first thing you had in your mind. This happened to me around lunchtime today.

2011-04-28T07:40:00.001+10:00

Dylan keeping the ocean company on a perfect autumn arvo.

2011-04-26T18:56:00.000+10:00

Some kind of random shots.

2011-04-25T18:30:00.001+10:00

This post sums up how good the past week has been, click through for a few action images I took.

Here is a lineup the morning after the event, Bells looking as pristine as ever.

2011-04-24T18:43:00.001+10:00

5 days, 8000 photos, that's a new PB.

While the best battled it out for a bell, just up the beach it was a full blown morning of the earth.

2011-04-20T18:12:00.002+10:00

Bells was beautiful early, but lumpy for most of the day past 10am.

This is heat 1 of round 1, not a bad way to kick off the event.

Alejo Muniz.

2011-04-18T19:29:00.002+10:00

The Rip Curl Pro starts tomorrow and the forecast is good to great.

Coastalwatch are using a bunch of lineups I took last year for some of their features.

Here is a damn fine example of what Bells can do that I took when it was last truly pumping.

.....and the popular moody shot.

2011-04-17T14:24:00.002+10:00

Sloane Photography has recently undergone rapid expansion. Not a day off the plane and Andy is straight into it, probably a good thing he was shooting in a hair salon actually. Look out for the little critter at a lineup near you.

2011-04-12T22:10:00.000+10:00

On this particular morning, Josh Wood and I got up super early, drove for a few hours and then ate some breakfast. After half an hour watching death by shallow rock shelf, Josh decided to dance with the devil.

It was more a case of avoiding tripping over and he made the last one.

2011-04-11T17:49:00.000+10:00

Angles. They are hard to get in Victoria.

Here is one though, Shyama Buttonshaw punting a rip bowl at the beginning of a very substantial swell increase. Stay tuned.

2011-04-05T19:09:00.000+10:00

Last night was amazing.

Jon Frank always produces still images that blow me away but seeing his cinematography live with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Melbourne last night was something else altogether.

I don't quite know what else to say other than this little teaser does it no justice.

2011-04-03T19:01:00.000+10:00

I photographed a beautiful surprise wedding this weekend. While I tackle a lazy 2000 photos, here is an image of the best man and bridesmaid, Matt and Trish that I took after the ceremony.

2011-04-02T08:48:00.000+11:00

Matt Banting @ D'bah from March

2011-03-31T20:27:00.000+11:00

The surf has been kind of ok this week, I didn't get too excited like the rest of the world though, just fun.

I lost count of the people surfing one particular stretch of coast, so went where I knew would be smaller but much more enjoyable.

The light was crazy to say the least, these shots are not digitally altered in any great capacity.

Elliot Gray

Gus Harfield

2011-03-30T18:04:00.000+11:00

Toby Lee pulling in under some cool tones.