How did your love for the ocean develop? Did your hometown help influence this passion?

Ever since I can remember I’ve loved the ocean, from playing in the rock pools and sailing in my pa’s sailboat as a kid to our annual trips to the rugged west country. My hometown is a small village behind the south downs, I’m close to the ocean (the English channel) and there are some really beautiful coastal areas where I live, but the clear and cold Atlantic ocean that adorns the North Cornish coastline has been one my biggest influences. I’m now living a stones throw away from Rincon and loving it!

When did your interest for art and photography begin? At what point did you start to pursue them as something more than just a hobby?

I’ve always been interested in art, my mum is an artist and she has taught and encouraged me a lot. I studied graphic design at college and really enjoyed it. It was really practical, and we did a lot of the design by hand and then enhanced and manipulated it on the computer, which really suits me. I’ve always branched more towards illustration, using raw materials rather than straight digital design. I suppose that’s where my interest in photography came from. My dad gave me a bunch of old 35mm cameras he used to shoot with when he was my age. I’ve always preferred film over digital, I love the unpredictability of it and the anticipation for the results.

What would you consider your style of art to be? Which mediums do you enjoy using most?

My style of art I would say is whimsical, feel-good-food for the soul. Art for me is such a release of tension, kind of like meditation I suppose. I can get lost in a creation for hours, I like to draw what makes me feel good inside, so that when I look it afterward it makes me feel content, maybe even peaceful. I hope that’s what it makes other people feel too! I love using really fine bleed resistant pens, fabric and translucent paper the most I think, I’d love to get more into textile based work though.

Your illustrations are pretty neat. They have a sort of simplistic look, but upon further inspection, one can see that extreme detail was adhered to…Can you describe the process in creating one?

My favorite illustrations to create are these little address cards which I’ve called the ‘maps, lines and floral waves’ series. They’re a combination of pen, fine lines, fabric and different papers. I Like how all of the textures work together and how each material represents an element of the scene being created. The transparent paper to me looks like a fine morning mist and the lines in the waves look like wood grain. I usually do a really quick sketch and label the elements and the material I’ll use and then just begin cutting, placing and rearranging the pieces. I like working small too, a lot of people are surprised at how tiny some of the illustrations are.

Do you usually have a good idea of what you want to do before starting a new project, or does your creativity tend to flow from the unconscious?

My projects usually start with a one off creation or idea, then afterwards I’m like ‘that was fun, let’s do another one but this time I’ll use these colors’. Projects or sets of illustrations are fun to do because they all go together well and have a consistency about them which is quite addictive to create. I get a lot of my ideas just before I fall asleep, it’s a time where I’m usually making my brain mentally make things, but I ‘ll be like ‘aha!’ then get out my phone and write it down.

Tell us a little about your blog, “The Magic Bus”.

The magic bus is an online and very real life community of surfers, photographers, artists and happy snapping adventurers around the globe. People submit their photographic tales to the magic bus Flickr group where every few days I select 6 that really stand out and post then onto the magic bus website, www.themagicbuscollective.com. It’s a really fun project, I’ve met so many incredible, adventurous and talented people through it.

Are there certain criteria that photos must meet before making it onto your blog? How do you go about choosing which ones are included?

There’s a few unspoken criteria that I think makes a ‘magic bus’ photo. They’re usually all film photos with a few exceptions, I like that with film every photo is truly unique from the type of film used, the camera, the grain and the light flares. The photos also have to be modest, real photos from people’s travels, but other than that it’s pretty relaxed. I like photos that make you want to get your backpack on, pack your tent and get off the beaten track.

On your site it says that you are going to have a book circulating between different artists all over the world…Pretty cool idea, can you talk about it? What was the inspiration behind it?

I’ve wanted to do a magic bus book for a longtime but I hadn’t found a lot of time to do it, but a graphics project came up in a class where I had the opportunity to create a book. It was really fun to make but i only made one as it was hand bound in a hand stitched cover. I thought it would be a cool idea to circulate the book with a little journal in it and an address list. I think it’ll be fun and really personal to everyone involved.

Where do you see yourself a couple years down the road?

I want to be living comfortably and happily, and having the time and opportunity to travel. I’d also like to be making a living off my art of course expanding the bus of magic.

For more of Maddie’s work, check out her blogs www.maddiejoyceart.blogspot.com and www.themagicbuscollective.com

Burch, Cy and Friends slide on some familiar faces in San Diego one chilly morning this January. 

Camera/Edit
Erik Derman

Music
“Firefly”
The Blank Tapes

Surfers
Ryan Burch
Cyrus Sutton
Bryce Frees

Be sure to check out a zine Riley created from the piece as well.

If you ever find yourself in a third world country or in a rural situation without access to clean drinking water, this episode of Health Nuts is for you. Simply using common materials like a 50 gallon drum, pvc pipe, bulk head fitting and spout and found objects like sand, charcoal, and gravel you can make your own water purification system. 

Hosts:
Loren Luyendyk and Aubrey Falk
Check out Surfers Without Borders: surferswithoutborders.org

For plans and more info on the biosand filter check out:
cawst.org/index.php
cawst.org/en/resources/biosand-filter

Camera/Edit:
Cyrus Sutton
Erik Derman

Music:
“Sawdust In My Clothes”
Discover America
Courtesy of Triple Nine Music
triple9music.net

As the hyper-saturated surf/art/lifestyle market becomes increasingly competitive-thanks in large part to the Internet and the instant access provided by various forms of “New New Media”-practically everyone who is anyone has taken to employing some kind of a gimmick in an attempt to remain relevant and stand out from the crowd. The tough guy image in particular, which has always been present in some form (be it through localism or other such nonsense), seems to be particularly en vogue of late, and as the surf-world is overrun by Bra Boys, Wolf Packs, jiu-jitsu trained enforcers and foul-mouthed, UFC-branded pros who are publicly F(ing)TW, its easy to despair that, discontent with always finishing last, the nice guys aren’t even bothering to show up anymore.

Thankfully, this isn’t necessarily the case-as proven by 24-year old Gold Coast surfer Matthew Shepherd. Shepo-as he is known to his friends-is the nice guy’s nice guy. Incapable of a mean-spirited comment, he respects nature, women, his elders-pretty much everyone he meets. He’s passionate. Humble. Generous. Soft- spoken. Which isn’t to say that he’s a pussy. A carpenter by trade, he knows how to work with his hands. Well-traveled, he is comfortable in a variety of climes and situations, and tends to up the stoke level wherever he goes-even when the going gets rough. Personable and outgoing, he’s equipped with a classic Aussie sense of humor and isn’t afraid to have a good time-you just won’t catch him doing so at the expense of others. In short, he’s nice to have around. The kind of guy you might like your sister to meet.

Shepo also happens to be a preternaturally talented, uniquely-focused, self-taught photographer. Discovering his love for ocean-based photography while visiting friends at their Micronesian dive resort three years ago, he quickly outgrew his Canon G10 and, upon returning home to Australia, threw himself into the study of his newfound art. When he returned to Micronesia for a second visit two years later, he brought with him a duffel bag full of equipment-housings, lenses, a top-notch DSLR body-and a highly developed skillset to match.

Focused initially on coral, reef fish and other underwater wonders, Shepo soon began expanding his repertoire and looking for additional sources of inspiration. An avid surfer since childhood, he had long been interested in trying his hand at surf-photography, and to that end asked me if I’d like to work with him the next time conditions were ideal. With little to no experience shooting surf and weighed down with a bulky scuba housing, Matt took to the water in a mask, snorkel and dive fins, and in just five hours over a two-two day period managed to produce a handful of startlingly stellar images.

Continuously evolving and reinventing himself as an artist, Shepo spent the next year focusing on slow-exposure captures of shorelines, rivers and various other aqua scenes-including Gold Coast surf staples such as The Spit, Currumbin Alley and Burleigh Heads (all waves that he grew up surfing). Transcending the difficulties involved in effectively portraying water’s natural dynamism through an inherently static medium, Shepo’s latest work blends the seemingly un-reconcilable elements of movement and stasis, resulting in surreal images that can only be described as ghostly and sublime.

Although he has won multiple photography awards and had his talents heralded by friends and family for the past two years, Shepo’s natural inclination is towards humility, and he is quick to downplay his accomplishments. As such, public exposure to his work has been somewhat limited. This is slowly changing, however, as Shepo has begun to share his unique view of the ocean, one exposure at a time, through a series of limited edition releases. He is also simultaneously working to ensure that the subject of his art will be around long enough for future generations to enjoy-5% of all sales are donated directly to Sarah Shark, a conservation awareness group emphasizing the vital role old Whitey and friends play in the fragile eco-system that we as surfers too often take for granted.

Where Shepo decides to take his photography from here remains to be seen. In a relatively short period of time he has proven a marked ability to excel in a number of fields of focus, developing a unique style that provides a fresh perspective of Oceania to the landlocked and water-bound alike. Although it may be too early to proclaim this affable photographer a commercial success, one can only hope that this will soon be the case. There are few who are more deserving.

To see more of Matthew Shepherd’s photography, or to order prints, please feel free to visit his website at www.aquaseen.com or stay up to date with Matt at http://www.facebook.com/aquaseen

An early film by Tim Bonython featuring Simon Farrer who influenced Troy and Chayne Simpson and Michael Novakov, who’s archival left tubes were featured in our Legless InnerView clip and who attempts a few barrel rolls ( a move he was known to pull off back in the 80′s).

Here’s a better glimpse at the surfing behind our last Legless InnerView. Brothers Troy and Chayne Simpson have been pushing the performance barriers of surfing for over a decade. Check out this edition of Sea Movies as they dismantle wedges and walls in Indo and Oz. 

Edit:
Cyrus Sutton

Footage Courtesy:
Steen Barnes

Surfers:
Troy Simpson
Chayne Simpson

Music: 
“Winter1 (Instrumental)
Pete and the Pirates
Courtesy of Triple Nine Music
triple9music.net

For more kneeboarding action check out legless.tv

Australia Day meets Kneeboard Week… Forgotten performance pushers of the surfing world, kneeboarders have long been edged to the outskirts of surf culture. In isolation they’ve been blowing up for years despite snickers and jeers. In this episode of InnerViews we catch up with the modern heart of the kneeboard movement in the lonely industrial town of Wollongong as a steadfast few quietly kneel their way through futuristic lines…

For more kneeboard action and culture: legless.tv

For more amazing surfing imagery past and present check out Tim Bonython: surfingvisions.com/

Directed by Cyrus Sutton

Featuring:
Chayne and Troy Simpson
Steen Barnes
Albert Munoz

Music:
“Advice”
Tijuana Panthers

George Greenough’s construction of boats, waterhousings, and waveriding tools in order to manifest his dreams are legendary acts not likely to be repeated. Not since has one man single-handedly so dramatically influenced surf culture. In this episode of Sea Movies we are fortunate enough to air an exclusive collab by Greenough himself with the talented Australian musician Shannon Sol Carroll who co-composed the soundtrack to Under The Sun with his Band of Frequencies.

For more of Shannon’s music and Andrew Crockett’s projects, check out switch-foot.com 

For more info on Band of Frequencies go to: bandoffrequencies.com

A limited edition ‘All I’ve Found’ EP with a frame grab of Greenough on the front cover is available for a short time only at switch-foot.com. It’s also available to download at: lowpressureproductions.bandcamp.com/album/all-ive-found-ep

Stay informed about Band of Freq’s future movements via: facebook.com/bandoffrequencies

Below is an interview with Shannon conducted by Andrew Crockett (author of Switchfoot I & II):

How long have you been working with George Greenough?

We’ve been working together for last few years on a couple of new short films, ‘Deep Tube Riding’ and ‘Wipeout’, that both take a closer look at some of the waves featured in his movies. George narrates and analyses what is going on (in detail) in select cuts from the footage taken on his custom-made 16mm film camera. It’s really interesting to get a glimpse into what’s going on when he’s riding either his high-tech Spoon or the inflatable surf mat with all that camera gear strapped to him. I’ve been creating the soundtracks using some trippy alternate takes and mixes from Band of Frequencies live studio recordings that were recorded straight to tape.

How did you first meet George?

I met Greenough with my mate AC when we went to hang out and jam at his house in Broken Head. GG was playing some of the carbon fiber didgeridoo’s he’s made and we were blowing out on how far the sound travels through the ground.

Have you ever surfed with him?

I’ve surfed out off the Cape at Byron with him a bit. He gets the longest waves on the mat, just gliding through the sections, reading the refracting energy lines that criss-cross out there.

How long did you spend working on this film clip?

We started visualizing it a couple of years back. We looked through the archives a few times and then I selected some sections that I felt a connection with. George pulled out the old classic cars footage and the concept of the life long journey really resonated with me so I took a disc of various things home and came up with the lyrics loosely based on the scenes. Once we’d recorded the track I went through and catalogued the shots that corresponded with the songs lyrics and within two days editing with George we had the clip done.

How did writing the song All I’ve Found come about?

Originally I wrote the tune whilst watching the silent footage and it came out as a spacey acoustic track with heaps of delays. When the band version was being jammed in the studio we toyed with the idea of making it a driving shuffle, like ‘The Farm’ soundtrack in ‘Coming of the Dawn’. I was into a few dubstep tracks at the time and decided to focus that influence into the bands sound rather than go back into the past because for me George Greenough’s greatest influence is as an innovator. He’s always looking from the present and into the future. George is always looking forward so I didn’t feel like going back into the past really did the collaboration justice.

Is there much more old content hiding in his archives?

There are plenty of classic moments GG has captured on film that haven’t been released and there are so many more stories to hear. I’m really grateful GG documented that time in surfings progression, but also documented himself surfing so futuristically. There is very little footage of Greenough surfing, aside from the content he captured himself. I really wish I could have experienced those days in a lot of ways… At least the next generations can get a glimpse into that golden era through the footage, sound recordings and stories within these classic films.