UMDLOTI SHORE BREAK SESSIONS

Had a very sick & large shore break seesion at my dad's place in Umdloti...winds forced the swell to Umdloti's heavy shore

and what we got....

CHRISTMAS BAY

Got some belter waves along Fruitloops reef at Christmas bay last Saturday.

Wave riding shots can't be put up now as Sixty40 are doing an article on the North Coast Crew.So i'll see if i can get published too.....hope.

MIKE WAZOWSKI LIVESEY

Today marked exactly a month that my dear mentor & best friend Mike Livesey passed in a tragic accident.
Mike was leaving my house on my skateboard after being at our Youth braai & was meant to come back and fetch me to go out,when he didn't answer his phone I called his home to which his mom replied in the worst news i've ever heard.

Story is a guy was overtaking in our road (we live in the same road) and didn't see my friend.Words aren't enough to explain the hurt that myself and many of his/our friends have and still going through.So many people within the Durban North community have come together because of this and in turn numerous amount of people have given their lives to Christ,some that didn't even know Mike.Once again,my friend,never ceasing to amaze me even in the darkest of times.

I display my speech that I gave at Mike's "Celebration of Life" or known as a funeral in most cases.The family,friends and especially Mikey would want everyone to celebrate his life rather than mourn.

Mike Wazowski Livesey. Best Friend. Mentor. Son. Brother. Gracious. Loving. God’s disciple. Legend

These words my bru are the words that best sum you up.

Mike and I worked last year for my mom during the World Cup but became best of friends beginning of this year as he took me under his colossal wing & mentored me through life as God wants me to. Jess being the loving person she is used to lift me to and from church until I was blessed with another Livesey, Mikey Boy. Taking me to and from youth and church on Sunday was the weekly lift scenario,Mike not ever saying no or trying to make a plan if he couldn’t.

Our relationship was tagged as a “bro-mance” by Zac as we shared some incredible memories together never ceasing to amaze me even in the darkest of times.

Spending the Mr Price Pro with my the boys Zac and Mikey having simply what we said was the best couple days we’ve had together. We had a field trip of a day watching the surfing,bmx-ing,laughing and of course….chowing.This lead to a braai later that evening at the Swart’s house where I was further introduced to Mike’s hordes of mates; welcomed…..as a brother, most if not many sitting in front of me. With us starting the fire, getting our steaks onto the fire 1st and some of his infamous pasta he recently perfected was gobbled in world record timing as we dashed down to watch the rest of the bands. An awesome night of music had come to an end and off to home where Zac myself and Mikey proceeded to sing as loud as our vocal cords could contain; blasting the Toyota to max volume with old tunes.I quote from Mike’s status: “Best two days of my life...Shot Tyler Walker, Zac Dermick, Justin Elson,David Daniel, and the rest of you legends who contributed in some part!”

Our last youth together was simply amazing. With Dom leaving for some chow early Zac asked Mike for some impromptu; not warmed up nothing yet he flippen rocked that worship session! Once again, my friend, never ceasing to amaze me. We did our usual mess around after youth till we decided we wanted to rock it out with Myself singing ,Zac attempting to sing ,Mellon on drums,Lara jumping up and down on her imaginery guitar and Mikey slapping the bass absolutely owning the stage together,no holds barred. After having to stop due to Quarters Hotel complaints we left up the hill to the HoC/House of Curries mingle session where I was fortunate enough to form relationships with more of Mike’s good mates Theo and Leighton. HoC was where our usual games of signs or Mafia would take place; on one occasion Mike killing me (a fellow mafia) to win the game…needless to say that didn’t work at all.

I had the insane honor of the spending the whole day of Mike’s last day with us. Surfing in the morning with Zacary and Mellon in the morning lead myself and Mikey skating around Durban North tirelessly till eventually pleasing our manly stomach’s with some Steers where Mike proceeded to have an ever so colossal R76 King Steer burger with large chips and Coke. Once again my friend never ceased to amaze me. Eventually through our slobber and mush of Steers burgers we went harping on about the number one talking point in men’s lives……women. Onto Checkers for more chow for the braai at my house later that night and chilling at my house looking at photos will be the memory I most cherish.Yes bru I know,I owe you that R18 for the charcoal.

Our love and passion for photography unfortunately left either myself behind the camera taking photos of Mike or Mike behind the camera taking photos of me. Memories will last forever.

Our youth absolutely adored him and had the privilege of spending that Saturday evening having a braai at my house. Ask anyone from our youth about how he was and undoubtedly each will tell you how at peace he was with life.




Our last photo together that tragic Saturday evening at my house.

He was at such a character,a brother,my brother,my leader,my chom.
Bru I love you so much,never will you leave my heart.





A video made by Mike's sister Jess Livesey is displayed on Youtube for all to see comprising of some of my photos and family photos that best visualize who Mikey was.

This can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mike+wazowski+livesey

MyBoogie website & Fetish Media

My friend Adam Waites has started an SA Body Boarding Youth Collective site for all young up & coming SA body boarders and photographers under the age of 21.So now I will be one of the designated photographers to be on his site.Cover image for the site is mine too,stoked.More news regarding MyBoogie is that Sixty40 (best body boarding mag around) has contacted Adam to get a pic of the North Coast crew guys this weekend.AMPED.Further details will be given.

Go check it out on:

www.myboogie.weebly.com & facebook on http://www.facebook.com/groups/160832533993776/

I'm going to be featured in my mates new and online page called Fetish Media.It should be featured on the Facebook page soon.Their site will be launched soon.

Go check out their page on:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fetish-Media-Marketing/163254220417742?ref=ts&sk=wall

AWEEEE

My uncle Brad and I are starting up a sports photography business!
getting new equipment such as Canon 7D,Del Mar housing,Fish eye,50mm and telephoto's !!!Durbs come alive!!

MOREEEEEEEEEE

Glad to see Zag chose 2 of my pics fro their new Gallery "The Pro Were In Town"!!

http://www.zigzag.co.za/multimedia/galleries/7829/The-Pros-Were-in-town

MORE STOKE

Yes,more photos got to the Leaderboard of Zig Zag's "Shot Bru" compo!go to http://www.shotbru.co.za/leaderboards/photos/week to check it out!

Other news is that there's hope as Adam submitted two of my images of him to the profound Sixty40 Bodyboarding mag,they got through...now to see if they get published!!!Super blessed...

Went on youth camp with my amazing church and that the time of a life time!So much of Him was filled into EVERY person at that camp,yes i did get baptized!Now a walk in faith is to come.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF LAURA WATKINS

One of our dear family friend's Laura Watkins passed away and had her memorial at our church yesterday. Our church was filled with twice the number of people it's usually filled with,this is testament to who Laura was. Laura was born with only two chambers in heart & ever since been living with increasing pain. Nonetheless she ALWAYS had a smile on her face. Unable to bear a child her sister in law did so.
God Bless to her husband Christian & 3year old Jon.

Laura Watkins: Fighter,Friend,Mother and Leader 5 October 1969 - 6 July 2011

Haven't blogged in a while but got possibly the best amge i have ever taken.The Waites Bros. woke me at sparrows to go for a surf by my ballies pozi in Umdloti,checked the Point was cranking so we went out unbeknown to solid 6-7ft barrels and clean as you can see in this cracker of an image...

This image is dedicated to Laura Watkins

OPPORTUNITY

Went to GMT with my cuzz Wezo Lewis last night,had a massive joll!

More importantly saw my long time maat Michel "Ratt" Ostler who's virtually world renowned and sponsored bodyboarder for Thiel Co. with members Wez Fischer and Adam Waites.Amongst the dancing,beer,girls and music Ratt and I managed to handle a convo...he'd been overseas for quite some time,boarding,so i hadn't seen him for donkey's.I told him i was missioning North Coast again with Adam & Rob Waites this weekend and said he was keen and could possibly make me some cash(as he knows anyone & everyone in the body boarding industry in SA)-i got amped.

Convo lead to him and Wez going to Indo next week some time for sponsored trip and paying photographers to go with and his words ," If i'd known,I would've taken you!" i nearly dropped dead,then assured me that they'd be going to Hawaai in the following months & would recommend to the sponsors that I come with!!!!Whaaaaat!!

before this Kelli Crawford(one of my dad's close mates' sister) emailed me to tell me that my pics looked good.I told her i was getting into my skate photography now too and told me that she's good mates with renowned Skate Photography Tyrone Bradley(Session Skate Mag Photos)and that she'd let me know next time he did a shoot so i could tag along and check how it's done!!! :D

TOWN BOWL + UMDLOTI WASH AWAY

Well after deciding that North Coast would be maxed out by swell & heavy washes+paddle out Boss Adam reckoned town was virtually the only option.
After checking yesterday at Umdloti,the beach had been washed away to town was really the safest & less petrol consuming option.

So myself Adam,Rob,Alex Chang and Nic Westman hit town with a hope,that hope was diminished by the lack of swell and dropping tides.Nevertheless I got a few pics...

MARNO

My dutchie matt Marno Langeveldt rips Snake Park a while back as we catch him getting involved as Durbs' sun starts to set.

PHOTOS©WALKER

LONG LONG AGO

I took some pics at my ballies(dad) pozi(house) at Umdloti a while back and got some cracker shots.

I cannot be more grateful to my teacher Ant Hoyer who lent his underwater cam to me and continues to whenever need be.

PHOTOS©WALKER

SA MENS HOCKEY SELECTIONS

Went down to Riverside Astro tonight with my boy Mike Benson to shoot some SA Mens selections for Olympics next year.
Had a bit of a dodgy time shooting as Hockey is out of my legue as a photography but always up for change....had a shweet chow at Spur with Mikey & the ballie

Came up with a pretty decent pic here

CHILLING

Chilled the whole day in my PJ's with my Craven Week rugga boys Cam Wright & Msizi Zondi and even made a couple music videos in my room!WHaaaaaat!!It will be on Youtube ASAP

Anyways,off to Riverside Astro to shoot some SA Mens Hockey with Mike Benson...Will let ya'll know how it goes!

CAN THERE BE MORE?

More good news,flip!

2 more of my photos got featured on Zig Zag's Shot Bru competition almost instantly when I uploaded them,very stoked!

These are the two the newly feature pics:

DURBAN JULY 2011

Wowa wee wow I nearly never mentioned my Durban July 2011 offer!

One of my mates Camilla's status was "Any studying photographers want a job at The July?" and did i ever reply!haha...I told that I wasn't studying but keen & relatively good.She said that was cool....she put me through to a worker that told me I would be acting as Paparazzi for models coming out of Limo's wearing Police Sunglasses.I was keen and he explained that he would forward me to the boss who would tell me how much i'd earn,hours etc.

The boss told me i'd earn (a very,very reasonable amount) for 4hours work,I get free entrance to the July,access to anywhere,free food & the pictures taken by me are solely mine & if I would like to,hand out business cards etc to promote myself.

I mean,what a deal right??Getting paid to go to The July and everything paid for to do something I love-magic....blessed I tell you!

WESTBROOK MISSIONS

So after an averagely eventful night skating evening in was time to hit the sack.

7am wake up call by boss Adam got us into gear, a quick cuppa tea and toast got us settled for a mission up the North Coast.

A slight land breeze got me & Rob a bit anxious but The Boss Adam was quite adamant that there was waves and that everything was sorted. Initially Adam suggested Westbrook so we sped in our double cab to check it out.

Nonetheless Adam was spot on with lines and swell running from Umdloti river mouth and on.With 4 okes out fast running ,clean-barreled Westbrook got us excited.An easier paddle out than Umhlanga yesterday made an arrival of others to flock (not like crowded town of course).

Barrels,barrels & more barrels was definitely the order on the Westbrook menu!Some a tad too fast yet some simply perfect for Rob & Adz ,almost like a dream or video game.

A couple hours went by and swell + some more folk to join the line-up + Adam having to get to the police station due to the damage of I quest the night before(bad oke) left the boys to come out ,chill and observe having a joll in the shore break.

A coke & change of clothes was us for the day at Wests driving and taking a squizz at some spots through dodgy La Belle along the way back to Durbs.

The exciting part of uploading the pics to the Mac had come and too came happy faces after a successful day down the N.C.

“This is what I love,waking up at sparrows to mission for an uncrowded spot,surf it,nail it and still have the rest of the day to check out chicks on the other beaches and just chill.” Robbie Waites