“Mandurah Wedge is a classic bodyboarders dream wave. Sidewave take off to a-frame super ramp that reminds you why laying down feels so sick!” – Ryan Hardy

Transitsurf wallpaper #4 features Mitchell Rawlins floating high above a dream wedge. Photo: Mike Maxted.

Available in 3 sizes simply click on either of the links below which correspond to your screen resolution and once the image has loaded up right click on the image and choose set as background.

• 800 x 600
• 1024 x 768
• 1280 x 800 (widescreen)

If you would like the wallpaper to be available in different sizes simply drop us a comment.

FEATURE 1st PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2008

TS: Mike, welcome and thank you for your time.

Thank you very much for yours!

TS: You have had close ties to the bodyboarding and surfing scene here in Western Australia for quite some time. How did you first get involved?

I’ve been a keen body boarder since I was about 14. I went to school at Carine High in Perth and the lifestyle at the time was immensely beach orientated, so needless to say I was surrounded by some very good surfers and bodyboarders. Since then I’ve worked and managed surf retail outlets and for the past 7 years have been involved a little more behind the scenes at a wholesale level working as a brand manager for a number of labels. Throw into the mix that I’m a keen photographer and videographer and that I have had the pleasure of growing up with some of the sports best, it just all kind of snowballed.

TS: Like others such as Jeremy Grieve and Chris White you first made a name for yourself as a videographer working alongside the likes of Andy Lawrence. Was photography a natural progression or was it something you have always been interested in pursuing?

I have always had a love for photography, but I think regardless of whether you’re sitting behind a video or a stills setup, then you share a strong visual sense. Using a stills camera at school taught me a lot about using video in and out of the water, and my progression with video taught me a lot about how I currently approach my photography!

Guys like Chris and Andy are inspirational on different levels, Andy is extremely creative and artistic, he dissects every aspect of both his video and stills work, where as Wong has always just put his balls on the line, physically putting himself in positions a lot of others would hesitate in and you can’t help but respect that!

TS: Tell us about the gear you shoot with, we understand you have a dual flash water setup. How did that come about and how does it work?

I don’t use the flash set up enough, but when it all comes together the results are amazing. My love of art, fashion and skate mags were the inspiration for following flash photography. The whole idea is to take the concept of a studio shoot, pick it up and chuck it in the water. Adding artificial light to naturally lit conditions gives a photo extra depth, detail and almost imitates a form of art. You’ll stare at a surf flash photos longer for the simple fact that it looks fake, it’s not something that the naked eye would generally capture. An extra person, a switched on rider and favorable lighting conditions are needed to ensure the job gets done.

TS: As an advocate of the digital age and experiencing first hand the pro’s and con’s over traditional film photography, what in your opinion has been the biggest advantage for yourself in the development of your own photography since making the switch?

It goes without saying that you need a basic knowledge of what makes a great photo but knowing the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of your equipment is the biggest key to developing your photography. The next big thing is being creative, when you have 3 or 4 guys shooting the same session then the most unique and innovative image will always get snapped up first. Digital has undoubtedly changed the face of photography forever, most people will say it is for the better and I would tend to agree. Always remember that photography is a visual art, every photo is open to interpretation and judgment. What you might consider to be an amazing photo, others might not like and vice versa. Some of my favorite images will never be published and at the same time I’ve had some run that I would have preferred not.

TS: The magazine editors and riders have all had an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings on the subject of tow out bodyboarding. As a photographer who has been a first hand witness to its rise, what is your personal opinion on this aspect of bodyboarding?

From a photographic perspective it’s one of the best things ever to happen to the sport . It’s a great way to turn poor conditions into a positive and also to make use of good backdrops in locations where the conditions may not get any better than 2 or 3ft. Towing out tests a riders skills, I’ve seen guys having to completely adjust their styles to get whipped into waves and I also have no doubt that that learning to control your body whilst completing a 10ft tow out boost is good preparation for surfing solid wedging and bowly waves.

For the likes of Mitch, Brad, Virtue and Chad a ski is at the top of the travel checklist alongside board and fins, I would class it as an integral part of pushing the limits of both small and big wave riding.

TS: You have worked closely with the likes of Tim Fowler, Ben Horrocks, Trent Sanford, Brad Hughes, Chad Jackson etc. Do you have any favorite riders you like to work with and do you think it is key for photographers and riders alike to work together to produce extraordinary images?

Riders and photographers definitely have to click and work together. Both parties are there to get a job done, so there is definitely an element of business involved. With petrol prices the way they are and the introduction of digital cameras and jet skis, there is a lot of money and risk involved so you have to be on your game. As far as favorite riders go, the list is endless but I mostly shoot with Brad, Chad, Mitch, Trent and Virtue. But there are also a lot of guys I would love to spend more time shooting with like Luehman, Backshall, Szczepanski, McCurdy, Fowler and Horrocks. Everyone of them is an amazing body boarder and all for different reasons.

TS: As a water photographer have you had any injuries or close calls which made you think twice about the positions you put yourself into in the name of getting the shot?

I have had a couple of close encounters at Box and North Point that have shaken me up but asides from that (touch wood) nothing too serious. I have however split my head open with my water housing while shooting with Trent Sanford on a terrible day at Trigg and I must confess that I returned the favor to Whitey putting a hole in his noggin while we were mucking around at Cobbles a few years back! Both were with a video camera, so it seems as though the stills setup has been a little luckier.

TS: Do you have any surfing or bodyboarding sessions you were witness too that have stuck in your mind due to sheer lunacy, perfection or outstanding riding of the riders etc?

There are 2 video sessions that I’ll never forget. One was with Sean Virtue at a wedge down in the south west, after we checked the whole coast on a wet and windy onshore day we rocked up at 11am as a last resort. When we arrived it was light offshore and pumping with no one around. Sean spent the next 3 hours charging what at the time were some of the biggest airs on the craziest wedges I had ever seen. The results can be seen in his section of Superstars 2, that section is amazing!

The second was a tow out session with Hardy and Virtue. It was in the infancy of tow out body boarding and I’m pretty sure it was the first time Hardy had been behind a ski. I was filming for the Tension movies and I just remember swimming in the flats and thinking how lucky I was to be capturing such fresh and innovative footage. I’ll never forget that arvo back at Whitey’s house, we were watching the footage and everyone was so blown away with what these guys had just done, there were 2 cameras on land and me in the water and everyone had incredible footage.

TS: For any budding photographers out there what is the most important bit of advice you can give?

Do it cause you love it not cause it’s the cool thing to do and don’t drop in on other people’s photo sessions.

TS: Mike, thank you yet again for your time. Any last words?

Don’t upgrade your Whopper meals. None of us need the extra sugar, salt or added expense. It’s a con!

Read feature here.

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