PHOTOCPL - New Zealand Surfing Photography 1991-2008

Craig (CPL) Levers has just released his first book, and it is amazing. It represents 17 years dedicated to the sport of surfing in New Zealand, capturing the surfers, the waves and culture of the sport we love.

This book should be on the coffee table of every NZ surfer. Each page is a geographic and time-based leap - Wairarapa, Samoa, OZ, Barrier, West Coast, Hawaii, Tahiti, Indo - CPL has done some miles over the years for sure, and what about the thousand other shots taken to get the one shot that graces these pages? You can almost hear that shutter snapping off while you turn the pages. To say the book is comprehensive is an understatement, you'll find a bit of everything in it and more.

As well as all the amazing photos, every page has cool in-depth captions loaded with stories, history, break info, photo tech you name it. The overall focus is the people and personalities involved in New Zealand surfing, CPL documents this so well.

"I learnt from previous surf photo books that, while there's nothing wrong with letting the photo do the talking, what does it hurt to let the viewer know a bit more about the situation or the subject. The lengthy captions are intended to add another element - more depth", Says CPL.

The book is 150 pages, hard cover. Pick it up and it has a real nice feel in the square 28 x 28 cm format. The designer, Brent Courtney has done an amazing job, the minimalist layouts and typography are perfectly designed to showcase CPL's shots and stories. The print job is immaculate as is the the photo colour correction - A real slick job.

"I'm absolutely stoked and proud of the end result. To see the crews' faces light up on a particular spread, to see them get amped to go surfing right now, or proclaim they need to go on a surfing holiday right now - that was always something I strove for at my time with NZSM. I reckon it's the ultimate proof you've done your job", says CPL