Beautiful perspectives from Surf Photographer Clark Little

40 years ago today, and we still remembered how to play.

I keep on going back to Brian. There’s something about even his really early instrumentals with the Beach Boys that put the music in a category of its own. Listen to this track. Completely simple, completely irresistible. Brian evoked the his own imaginary – of surfing, California, and the transient beauty of youth itself – more completely than anyone.

My friend, collaborator Jimmy Newitt makes nice images, designs strangely beguiling pages and type and surfs with a beautiful simplicity. He’s on an extended global wander and is currently in Santa Cruz making nice things. One of them is this little blog. Come home soon Jim-lad!

The Do Lectures 2008 from The DO Lectures on Vimeo.

Back in September I was honoured and humbled to be invited to speak at The Do Lectures, which was organised by Dave and his team from HOWIES. Amid the beautiful people and the beautiful setting Alastair McIntosh summed up for me the importance of sticking with what you believe in, in everything you do. Dave and the crew at Howies were instrumental in enabling the September Project to be and have been friends and inspirations to me for a few years now. Nick Radford, our friend and collaborator, is on HOWIES surf team, and during the winter months I try to surf in far west Wales, (the Howies back yard) as much as possible. Boulders. What I am trying to say is they’re good people. Please take 30 minutes out of your day, have a cup of tea, listen to Alistair’s talk and be inspired.

If only Carlos would give up the licence.

Music for the first minute of a brand new day.

Respect to the creators of Pro Surfing as we know it. They created an industry and a global way-of being in their own images. But there are endless ways of defining what it means to ride a wave, and the guys who Busted Down The Door asserted their way of viewing things in the strongest and most far-reaching manner. Interesting that this cinematic paen to the ‘Sport of Surfing’ comes at a time when surfing is so much more than just a sport in the majority of surfers’ minds. Still, essential viewing for anyone interested in where surfing is, has been or may become.

…is that you can connect sections to the beach. If anyone needs convincing, watch this.