Sirens

(c) Liz Cockrum

Via the marvellous Shakas and Singlefins I came across Liz Cockrum who has combined her passion for photography and surfing to capture the images of different generations of female surfers. Through a series of landscape, portrait and detail images Liz records the past, present and future of women as individuals in surfing.

Here's her own take on the Sirens collection.

The sport of surfing extends beyond wave riding and casual afternoons at the beach. Surfing is a lifestyle and a culture, rich with traditions that span continents and generations. Women have played a role in the progression of surfing since its birth in Hawaii centuries ago, but recent decades have seen a great shift in their place within the sport. As surfing rose to popularity on the mainland United States in the 1950’s, women were largely viewed as beach bunnies, rather than athletes. Through their athleticism, creativity and positive contributions to surf culture, female surfers have changed that perception and are now accepted as respected and influential members of the surf community.

The surfers I have photographed are full of passion and determination, but participate in the surf world without the dominating ego that has been prevalent in this culture for decades. Some of these women are professional surfers known around the globe, while others have only recently “caught the bug” and are still very much beginners. Regardless of their skill level, each of these women demonstrates a mindset focused on ideals that are uncommon in an all-male line-up.

My intention with this body of work is to celebrate the courageous and innovative females who are pioneering this shift towards a more positive, open surf culture. These images speak to broader ideas related to women in modern society, the power of determination and sub-cultures within a larger community. Through portraits, landscapes and details I want to explore a little-seen side of surfing, and focus the viewer’s attention on the individuals who are an integral part of a unique culture.

Revealing the wave inside time

This clip is taken from the current BBC South Pacific series. The first time I saw this footage at home on my HDTV I got goosebumps... just the most beautiful images of waves that I have ever seen. This online clip gives you an idea but watch it in high definition to really go 'wow'!

Just Add Water

Loved this surf documentary with Clay Marzo. Awesome soundtrack, inspirational surfing and beautifully shot. It took me a while to get round to watching it but so glad I did. If you get a chance you should check it out.

Eden Project launches Eco Surf Board

The Eden Project launched an environmentally friendly surfboard which could "revolutionise" the industry, creators said.

The new board was produced by the Eden Project and started life as a giant balsa tree which fell to the ground in the Rainforest Biome at its site near St Austell, Cornwall, in south west England.

Over five years, staff at Eden worked with three other companies, Homeblown, Sustainable Composites and Laminations, to produce the board which is made from 50 per cent renewable materials.

The move is a significant step forward from the petroleum chemicals used in traditional surfboard production.

Sam Robinson Photography

(C) Sam Robinson

Earlier this week I got mailed a heap of photos by Sam Robinson and this one I fell in love with and thought i'd share.

Mermaid's Tears

Globally, 100 million tonnes of plastic are generated each year and at least 10 per cent of that is finding its way into the sea. The United Nations Environmental Program now estimates that there are 46,000 floating pieces of plastic for every square mile of ocean. Some of that rubbish circulating the globe is 30 metres deep.

Each year, 113 billion kilograms of small plastic pellets nicknamed Mermaid's tears -the feedstock for all disposable plastics - are shipped worldwide and a scary proportion are going astray during transfer. These spilled pellets are ending up in gutters and drains and eventually getting carried into the ocean. Research carried out by the Marine Conservation Society in 2007 revealed these plastic pellets are the second most common litter item found on UK beaches.

By their very nature Mermaids Tears do not biodegrade, absorb harmful polychlorinated biphenyls in concentrations up to a million times greater than the surrounding seawater and they can also be a deadly threat to sea life, which mistake them for food.

Last summer Surfers Against Sewage released a film that exposes poor industry practice from 'plastic injection moulding factories', which is leading to the pollution epidemic of the UK's waterways and coastline. The evidence of the waste ending up on Cornish beaches was clear to see when then cameras filmed the shoreline down at Porthtowan.