Baby Humpy and the Yeti

Living and breathing the Surfer’s Eyes dream is a constant adventure. Documenting our fabulous earth, her waves and the people who ride them proves so rewarding in every sense. Nature throws everything at us during our pursuits, from vivid lightening storms, rain downpours and wind blasts to intensely piercing sun and steamy humidity. And our subjects embrace these challenges and adapt to every set of conditions, providing us with a myriad of creative potential.

But poetics aside, lately it has rained a hell of a lot, and the Takanami family have slipped quietly into a homely “routine”. Thankfully the sun decided to shine these past couple days, breaking the drag and opening the internal folders of artistic adventure!

And just as I was settling in for my evening cup of ginger mint tea, my iPhone came alive on the table, declaring a text message from Dave Rastovich had arrived.

“Could be some fun waves mid to late morn if u want to shoot.”

Smiling, I put the phone down and looked up to Kuni.

“Get ya cameras ready, tomorrow we embark on another adventure!”

Waking to the sun and very calm winds, I was hanging out washing when I heard the familiar giggle of none other than Karlee Mackie trotting past the driveway, heading out for a surf with her dad on day two of being home from England. After a quick paddle out the front then turning into a long swim after snapping her leg rope, Karlee was home in time to jump in our car and join us on our farm visit.

Whilst traveling overseas on their own special adventure, Dave and La opened their amazing sustainable farm retreat to us for the best part of four months last year. Today made it a month to date since we had visited these guys and the farm last, and just running over the bridge onto the moist green lawns Kuni and I were frothing like little kids. The garden full of vegetables, we spent the morning nibbling away and I was barely able to contain my excitement.

As we began preparing for the beach, the very talented shaper Gary McNeil popped in with a gift for Dave; a baby humpback whale.

A very special baby indeed.

Deciding she needed eyes to see her way along the waves, miss artist K.Mackie picked up a pen and perked up baby humpy, DR adding the right touch to her tail, and then we were ready to roll.

The sun burning bright our entourage of fun family love spent the next few hours shooting down at our local, which just happened to be pumping. Mick Waters was even there having a bit of a shred-YEW!

And our story will cut off here, this being just a teaser for the start of a series of photo shoots with Dave and La and new Surfer’s Eyes editorial coming soon.

Thanks to Dave, La, Gary and Karlee for an awesome day.

And sorry to Dave  and La for copping a set on the head and ripping the plug out of your board! Eek! (Glad it wasn’t little humpy…) It was a long swim in for this unfit mumma!