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HARLEY CLIFFORD
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ALL PHOTOS BY JOEY MEDDOCK (UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE)
Š 2011 Wake Journal & Meddock Photography, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Independently published online every week.
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ON THE COVER HARLEY CLIFFORD LAKE SHAWNIGAN SUMMER 2010 CAMERA: NIKON D3 LENS: NIKKOR 24-55MM ANGLE: TUBE
It’s easy to say you’re a good wake photographer when all you shoot is good wakeboarders. I’d never accept 100% of the compliment because so much of it relies on the subject you’re shooting. For example, you can shoot a amateur wakeboarder all day long and never get an image you’re happy with. The rider in front the the lens is just as important (if not more important) than the person pressing the button behind the lens. Google the name Harley Clifford and you’ll find over three million search results in less than .09 seconds. At the ripe age of 17, he’s currently the youngest superstar in wakeboarding history since the rookie days of Parks Bonifay. With contest victories all around
know how to shoot a good photo, Harley gets
the globe and the sponsorship endorsements
it. He knows what looks good in a photograph,
to back him up, Clifford has risen to the top of
knows how to do it bigger and better than ever,
our sport quicker than Charlie Sheen’s descent
and adds style to the most difficult of tricks.
to the bottom. The only comparisons the two
His consistency in doing so puts him at another
have in common are their record-setting Twitter
level. There is no need to have to “create” a good
accounts and of course, “Winning… duhhh.”
photo with Harley. You’re better off sitting back
Point is, “Gnarly” Harley makes my job easy.
and “recording.” Now, go get your Google on and
While contest results don’t always mean you
prepare to pick up your jaw from the floor. GET THE APP
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The world’s first wakeboarding & wakeskating magazine on the App Store
Palm Trees CURACAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Anytime I’m on a photo shoot away from home, I never quite sleep soundly like I would in my own environment. There is always a lot on my mind. In some ways it feels like sleep is a waste of time. I tend to push myself awake more than I normally would, always questioning myself if I’m missing something while I sleep. Restless on the Nike 6.0 team trip to Curacao and anxious for the sun to rise, I went out for a late night exploration in search of some palm trees and stars.
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Shaun Murray LAKE WHIPPOORWILL, FL
It’s nice to execute an idea when the subject is the one who brought it to my attention. Murray is great at coming up with unique ideas for photos. I remember the clouds moving in that night, trapping in the moonlight like a big, natural reflector. The dock was a glowing silhouette. Murray ran out there and climbed onto the roof. Once I could see his profile, I told him to raise his hands in the air and stay still for as long as possible. The slow shutter capturing the movement of the clouds wasn’t something I anticipated. Accidental awesomeness and photography go hand in hand.
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Parks Bonifay LAKE TELLICO, TN
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iPad速, iPhone速, and iPod touch速 are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.
The world’s first wakeboarding & wakeskating magazine on the App Store
Ashly Becker LAKE SHAWNIGAN, BC CANADA
Kevin Henshaw’s girlfriend looks better than you do on a wakeboard. 12
Ben Greenwood LAKE SHAWNIGAN, BC CANADA
What you can see in this picture is Benny G gracefully airing over the tube, recording magic like he always does, getting the job done. What you can’t see is the ICE someone put in his binding for him to chug off the back of the boat at 6AM. GET THE APP
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Orange and Blue Clear Lake ORLANDO, FL
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Danny Harf LAKE SUSAN, FL
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Jeff Langley CLEAR LAKE, FL
Thanks to Mr. Sheen, Jeff recently drank to much tiger blood and now has the spins.
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Silas Thurman
Through the lens commentary:
Then I looked at the photo
LAKE WINONA, FL
“Dammit, I got the damn roof
again…“Hmmm, well damn.
in the damn frame, dammit...”
that worked out nice.”
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Jimmy LaRiche LAKE HART, FL
More pressed than a Cuban sandwich.
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Click to get the free Wake Journal app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch
iPad速, iPhone速, and iPod touch速 are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.
The world’s first wakeboarding & wakeskating magazine on the App Store
Chase Boatin’ LAKE SHAWNIGAN, BC CANADA
Fellow photographer and friend, Rodrigo Donoso chasing down the action with Amber Wing. Photographs of photographers taking photos– like sloppy seconds. 22
Erik Ruck CLEAR LAKE, FL
With Ruck’s style and grace on a board, photos of this wake veteran will never get old. GET THE APP
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Brandon Thomas LAKE JESSAMINE, FL
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Chad Sharpe CLEAR LAKE, FL
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Nick Taylor CURACAO, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Too close to call? Hardly. It’s the next, most badass wakeskater on the planet, duh.
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Last Catch LAKE BUTLER, FL
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San Juan Islands WASHINGTON, USA