A Life Surfing - Surf Photography by Jeff Divine

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Photography by Jeff Divine

WAV E A F T E R WAV E

A Life Sur Fing


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Surfer - Unknown, 1970IES Surfing, Picture © Jeff Divine

Front Cover Picture, Waves, Picture © Jeff Divine

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my fingers long to swim in the surf of your skin salted with love just for me - jody lynn

Copyright Š 2020 by S.Wechselberger All rights reserved. This zine or any portion thereof may not be copied or used without the express of the publisher. First published online via issuu.com First Publication, June 2020 S. Wechselberger Amsterdam Fashion Institute

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E

to taste a sea


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SUMMER AIR Being locked-up in our living spaces for such a long time due to Covid-19 makes us crave those summer emotions. Whether it is the sound of breaking waves, salty hair, sandy clothes or a gentle beach breeze. However, 2020 had a different plan in mind when thinking about this year´s hottest season. Since the whole situation around us keeps us from going on our planned summer (surf) trip, this issue is showing off pure summer emotions in pictures, captured by Jeff Divine. Jeff is a world-famous surf photographer, who travelled the world for several magazines and captured the world and spirit of surf culture in the 60ies, 70ies and 80ies. The vibrant photographs do not just contain pure happiness and a throwback to those better days. They are full of movement and action, created by the original angles and camera settings. All surfers out there will also agree with me, when I say that Divine did an amazing job, capturing the early days of surfing, before becoming this commercial kingdom it is right now. At that time, surfing was not just a simple form of athleticism, but implied a certain set of sociopolitical beliefs around freedom, embracing and respecting nature. In this sense, let us dream of better days and sunsets at the beach! Let´s go,

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E Pipeline , Oahu, Hawaii, 1975, Picture © Jeff Divine

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E Surfer - Unknown, 1970IES Surfing, Picture © Jeff Divine

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E Surfer - Unknown, 1970IES Surfing, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Meet Jeff Divine

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Growing up in LA Jolla, California, Jeff Divine started taking pictures as a teenager in 1966 by capturing his friends surfing. At that time, he got to know the original alternative sport of Surf prior the commercialized kingdom it has become. His images ensured him a staff position at SURFER Magazine in 1971 which is still called the “Holy Bible of Surf“. By that period Divine undertook annual trips to Hawaii and around the world to explore the most dazzling waves around the world. Besides working for the SURFER, he also started as a Photo Editor for The Surfer´s Journal.

Jeff Divine, La Jolla Shores, 1970, Picture © Jon Foster

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Jeff Divine, Portrait © Julien Roubinet

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However, Jeff Divine´s work is not just seen in Surf Magazines but also publicized in several books and seen in numerous Fashion Media and style sections of the NY and LA Times. His work has been showcased in several Museums and Galleries around the world. The Images do not just reflect the act of surfing and the waves being a force of nature, but also a feeling of optimism, the surrounding subculture of surf, that has been expressed by art, dress and music. The photographs also showcase the influence on Visual Culture and the new kind of peaceful rebellion. Jeff Divines work is one of the world´s largest archives of Surf Photography from 1970 -2009.


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Feelings are much like we can not stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf. - unknown

Waves, Picture Š Jeff Divine

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waves,


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Divine Details, The Surfer‘s Journal, 2020, Picture © Jeff Divine

„ s u r f e r “ - „t h e S u r f e r ‘ s j o u r n a l“

The Gift, The Surfer‘s Journal, 2020, Picture © Jeff Divine 12


SURFER Cover 1975 , Cover Picture © Jeff Divine

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E Allen Sarlo, Glen Kennedy, John Thornton, Malibu, CA 1971, Picture © Jeff Divine

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WAV E A F T E R WAV E David Nuuhiwa, Oceanside, CA 1972, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Te r m i n o l o g y

ul o

r S

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„ groovy“ „ hel la“ „ t ight “ „ stok ed “ „ Y EW “ „ gnarly“ „ tubular“ SH A KA

fe

r u S

Big Wave

The on e rid ing t he biggest w a v e - is win ning t he gam e.

Mother Ocean

Dress

Bikin i, Bo ardshorts, Wetsuits , Bagg ies, w hat else?

h a r mo n y w i t h l i f e , surfing and ocean

Spirituality

Music

An cient H aw aiians stu dy of w aves Su rfbo ards m ade from trees w i t h souls Koa Trees offe red sac rific es Me m o rial padd le outs

„The Beach Boys“ „The Shadows“ „ T h e Ve n t u re s “ R&B and Blues A c o u s t i c R i ff s 16


60ies

WAV E A F T E R WAV E Picture via Surfholiday.com

The 60ies are both. The unknown alternative world of surf and the popularized and commercial world as we know it today. It has been a revolutionary era of surf, where the Surf Culture in California has been popularized by Beach Movies like „Gidget“ throwing a clichè light on the traditional surf culture, not being reflected correctly. But thank‘s to movies like Endless Summer, Surfers all over the world saw a chance to go on Surf Trips and globalize the hunting for the big waves. With the United States Surf Association founded, more and more sponsored competitions came along the way and Surfing became a popular subculture with it‘s own dress, music and symbolism. 17


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70ies

1970IES Surfers, Picture Š Jeff Divine

The movies being carried on from the 70ies, made the surf tribe more and more relevant. Finally, also the first women were involved into professional surf competitions and sponsoring took off. A massive surge of interest, that also came along with the Shortboard Revolution that started from Australia. The Shortboard is more compact and light due to a material revolution in surfboard design. By adding the famous fin to the boards, the sport became more accessible to the public, since the boards became easier to co-ordinate.

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80ies

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1980IES Surfers, Picture Š Jeff Divine

After the founding of the Association of Surfing Professionals in 1983 the Worldwide competing in the discipline of surfing started. With the introduction of the Three fin thruster a new aggressive style of surfing expanded from the more relaxed and spiritual origins. Along with the new bag of tricks, the affordability of Video recorders made it possible for nonprofessionals to train their surfing on another level and improve slight movements. The 80ies mirror the world of surfing how it is now: a highly competitive extreme sport. But 40 years ago, more neon has been involved. 19


60ies Longboard

70ies Shortboard One fin

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80ies Shortboard Three fins


...

boa

g

in d r

Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Velzyland, Oahu, Hawaii 1974, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Craig „Owl“ Chapman, Sunset, Oahu, Hawaii, 1975, Picture ©


et

c

p m l o

ed

Jeff Divine 23


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Wav e s r o l l i n ‘ i n

Waves, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Waves, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Places, Picture © Jeff Divine

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W h at a r e y o u wa i t i n g f o r?

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Pipeline 1975, Picture © Jeff Divine

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Surf‘s up Places, Picture © Jeff Divine

Sources:

jeffdivinesurf.com. 2020. About jeffdivinesurf.com. 2020. Gallery Elephant.art. 2020. Getting Wavey: The Gnarly Story of the Seventies Surf Scene surfingwalkoffame.com. 2020. Jeff Divine 2019 Surf Culture en.wikipedia.org. 2020. Surf culture SURFER. 2019 (Video). Jeff Divine Talks „Terror and Perfection“ at Sunset Beach surfer.com. 2020. Jeff Divine surfersjournal.com. 2020. Jeff Divine sfomuseum.org. 2020. Jeff Divine: 1970s Surf Photography creativeboom.com. 2020. Legendary photographer Jeff Divine‘s colourful portrait of 1970s surf culture

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Ku mai! Ku mai! Ka nalu nui mai Kahiki mai, Alo po i‘ pu! Ku mai ka pohuehue, Hu! Kai ko‘o loa.

Arise, arise you great surfs from Kahiki, The powerful, curling waves, arise with the pohuehue, Well up, long raging surf. (pohuehue - morning vine)

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