Along with George Greenough and Bud Browne, Dan "Man Mountain" Merkel did the water photography for Big Wednesday.
Bud Browne with clapperboards and his surf mat.
George Greenough with a water housed Arriflex. When he was caught inside at Sunset -- which happened often -- he would let the camera go and hang onto his mat. He reasoned that it was easier to ride the mat into the shorebreak and retrieve the camera than it was to swim in with the camera and find his mat!
Dan Merkel shooting up at Conception. This is the same mat and camera rig he's duck diving in the shot below...I built the housing while we were in El Savador.
All three water photographers utilized surf mats in their effort...but none more impressively than Dan Merkel. For all you lilly-livered wusses who moan and groan that you can't duck dive your mat in surf over 2 feet, check this out...Merkel takes down a water-housed 35mm camera and a huge, rental-sized raft at Sunset Beach!
Next time you're caught inside on your mat, keep in mind the sage words of Dee from Sunny/Philadelphia: "Sack it up, Bitches!!!"
Seriously, there's a nice interview with Dan Merkel about the changes on the North Shore from a photographer's perspective...here.
6 comments:
cool pics.... and I love that show! .. The cast actually toured the US performing their play "the Nightman Cometh".. :) Too funny
Gee, my Go Pro sure looks dinky now.
Why did you have to go an make a reference to one of the few shows I actually watch? I love me some Dee!
Course that shot of Merkel ducking Sunset doesn't really show him UNDER water and does not indicate whether or not he escaped the dreaded "rag doll"... Just sayn'...
The fact he's out there says stop grumbling!
:-D
G
Definitely brass cajones on the man!
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