Umzumbe Kids

Sometimes you just get to do something cool. Will Bendix had been tuning for a while about some kids down the couth coast at Umzumbe and how we needed to go check it out and hook up a shoot. So last week we finally organised it and Brandon and I headed down early on Saturday morning to meet the guys. I guess I didn’t really know what to expect but it didn’t take long before I could see the energy and honest stoke these kids have for surfing. There was a perfect little split peak and I had my time cut out for myself shooting as every wave, set or insider was surfed all the way to the beach by at least 3 of the frothing groms. We all know the cost of equipment and a lot of these guys were sharing old boards - so this is a little call out to the industry or anyone who has some kit or boards they could donate. It would go to someone who needs it, and it would get good use and be much appreciated. So if anyone can help, leave a message here and I will forward it on to the right people.

Me and my 6000mm

I found this photo of me on Facebook haha. Caption said ‘Ewing just cant miss the good shots' - Shot Richard

Babe shoot

Its been a while since I did a fashion or swimwear shoot but was asked the other day to do the surf trivia page for Zigzag. For those who don’t know, Zag basically go out and find a hot chick, ask her to pose semi naked in front of a creepy surf photographer and then ask her some questions to which 50% of the time is answered uummmm Kelly Slater haha, just kidding. This time was different and they hooked up with two lovely Island Style girls. Of course one of the mothers was there to keep Warren Wareing in place and they hired the very civilized Greg Ewing to shoot the thing. In the end we had a great time and got the shots. So check out the Zag and of course watch this space for my upcoming Swimwear Calendar... Haha

Covers

Can’t say I have ever got two covers in one day before, but its fine with me!

Cover of ADvantage Magazine and Australian Kiteboarder.

Travel

We all need to travel more. I know it's not as easy as packing your bags and just getting in a car or on a plane but it is as easy as making the decision and the rest will fall into place.
Being from South Africa and relatively privileged enough to choose the quiet protected life of suburbia, I think a lot of us forget or maybe choose to forget that we live in Africa and there is a whole beautiful continent out there with a lot of positivity and things that could be learned and brought back here.
I recently returned from a trip to Dakar - what an amazing place. Dakar, like lots of African countries has problems including poverty and all that goes with it. But I left with admiration for the people who under obvious hardships are so positive and welcoming and have kept those simple values that a lot of people here in South Africa have forgotten. So next time you are thinking about traveling just make the decision and you might learn something.

Wisdom

You have to wake up early sometimes to appreciate things... and then you can go back to bed!

New Year

Please forgive me, it’s been a while since my last Blog... haha. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and news years! Was down in Cape town with the family as well as chasing little swells around the peninsula. Nothing to write home about but still had to jump in and test out the freeeezing water and little barrels at the Hoek. Some good trips in the pipelines for this year, little hint, Africa... Keep you posted.

Indo 08

A selection of some of my favorite shots from a trip we did earlier in the year to the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia.

Who is this Greg Erving?

November issue of Surfer, stoked with the shot but who is this photographer who keeps stealing my shots haha.

Triple Challenge 2008

Anything is Possible

Something I realize more and more is just how important it is to do something you love. It had been a bit of a crappy time with the break in and having to sort out a new laptop, being ripped by computer geeks, finding more and more things that had been lost and just feeling unsafe in the crazy world we live in. But just when I was feeling irritated I got a call to do an assignment for a well know travel mag and I was off to the bush again. It may not have been a holiday but getting out of the city was the best thing and reminded me how lucky I am to do what I do. So some advice to anyone who cares, follow your dreams, don’t sit in an office 5 days a week unless its what makes you happy and don’t get jealous when you hear about people sailing yachts around the world for a living. If that’s what you want to do, do it! It may not happen over night and it will take a lot of hard work but remember anything is possible...

Back-up! Back-up! Back-up!

If there is one thing we all learn at some stage in this digital and crime ridden age is that you need to back up your work. I had been shooting various things, pretty much everyday and I had a long list of new files in my picture folder. I don't back up everyday, approx once a week, and as I was shutting down my computer last Wednesday evening, something told me to drag my new images to my lacie backup drive. To cut a long story short, some little monkey got into my flat while while I was sleeping and took off with my laptop, ipod and some other things (thanks for leaving my cameras!) So lesson learnt - backup your work!