As I prepare to launch the print side of my business (from my personal work in photography), I wanted to write something relating to “behind the image” from one of my works. I chose “Cliff Jumper” as the image because it relates to my dear friend Chad Christensen who is featured in the above image as the jumper. It’s a good one. Keep reading…
Chad
So let’s start from the beginning….it’s the early 2000’s and I am on a 3 month stint in San Francisco to shoot weddings for my Aussie boss. It’s a sweet deal. Apartment, car, freedom, anominity and a really exciting gig each weekend photographing gorgeous Californian weddings. I was having the time of my life, amazed by this incredible city of mystery.
One fine day I was sitting in a cafe reading Henry Millers “Crazy Cock” (possibly a sign for Chad to introduce himself), when I am approached by this punk meets surf meets cowboy character wearing the wildest pant/shirt combo with dyed blonde spiked hair, asking if I’d like to go to the beach later that day (since I was Australian, how could I resist)?
As I waited to be picked up on the designated corner later that afternoon, I became nervous about getting into a car with a stranger I’d met at a coffee shop triggered by reading that raunchy titled novel….and more nervous as we drove towards the ocean as Chad’s driving was reckless and hairy to say the least.
I relaxed once arriving at the very beautiful if somewhat blustery beach and a picnic was served with friends.
Climbing a cliff with a 4x5 camera in the suitcase!
There was a vibe.
As the sun began to set and the fog rolled in over Golden Gate bridge, we dispersed from the beach and I realised I was not ready to leave Chad’s company. We proceeded to stay up the entire night! Driving all over the city, taking in some crazy view points, talking about art….just the best damn night.
Exploring. Fun. Dancing. Dress ups. Get wild. This was Chad’s modus operandi and I was in!
Wigs, dress ups, dancing! This was the name of Chads game.
From the next day forward if I wasn’t working, I was with Chad.
San Francisco is one of the most insane cities. I mean, who, what, how the heck did they ever decide to build a city on such a dramatic landscape?
We never stopped exploring.
We never stopped taking photos.
Chad loved taking photos. We took alot of photos. And Super 8 film. I should find that stuff. My favourite trip was a drive up the coast to Bodega Bay. So spooky. Total Hitchcock. Windy, duney, seagull beaches.
Bodega Bay, where the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” took place
The beach was Chad’s thing. He loved boogie boarding. He had this fantastic best pal, a tall German heart throb named Bodo. These 2 together never stopped laughing. And always went beaching.
The coastline around San Francisco is rough. The water is rough. It’s freezing (you have to pretty much wear a wet suit) and it’s trecherous. Don’t get me wrong….I went in. I love swimming in the ocean, but I’ll never forget the day that Chad had his Point Break moment.
Beaches are his favourite place.
The swell was massive. And it was way out. The water was deep as soon as you entered and there was an undertow. That’s what the surfers were using to get out to the break. But I swear those waves, they were ominously high.
so there’s Chad and you can just see his mind ticking “I want to catch that” and next thing he’s flying out there on the undertow towards that wall and he’s on a god damn boogie board. In a split second he’s under an approaching massive breaker. He had no choice but to turn that boogie around and try to catch this thing and by god there he is like a speck ona curtain holding on for dear life as he rides that wave all the way in to the shore.
A god damn miracle. I’ll never forget it.
Fast forward to 2010. Chad is marrying beautiful Kimmy and the wedding is taking place in Hawaii. Nathan and I fly from Toronto to be there and all the guests spend an entire week at a beautiful spot on the north shore. Needless to say, Chad is in beach party mode. In fact, this jumping off the rock happened the morning of the wedding and doesn’t that just sum up Chad so perfectly? Fun at all costs! recklessness!
Cliff Jumper series, Hawaii, 2010
I shot the images with 120mm black and white film with a plastic camera (Holga). I love the distortion of the bodies in the water. This image (above) is 2 negatives sandwiched together and I enjoy the spookiness.
I am excited to offer the featured image in my Print Shop. I am working on updates and image presentations and I can’t wait to formally share but for now…