Daniel Watkins, Head Skimmer
Subject: Daniel Watkins
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Photo Essay section, Page 68
The Tweed Head River, Australia.
My last day to shoot in Australia before I came home to the States was less than sunny. Our photography options were limited right off the bat, and it didn’t help that it was threatening to rain. Watkins and I talked it over and tried to figure out a solution based off of what we had to work with.
We headed upstream where Watkins knew of an old production plant of sorts that was located on the bank of the shore. It wasn’t a stressful day by any means because we already had some photos in the bag. I was up for some experimenting and Watkins just wanted to get wet. He came up with the idea and I figured out the logistics based of the light and conditions.
There was a current that kept pushing me downstream so I had to enter the water well past the production plant. I wanted to keep the factory in the shot. After all, that was the whole idea of the photo. There was definitely a timing thing to nail between my drift and the boat driver pulling Watkins. We got about three “drive-bys” before I had to get back in the boat and start over again. Any more boat traffic in that area and the water would turn to soup.
The timing actually worked out well and was relatively easy. Watkins rode several times past me trying different carves. Each one felt closer and closer as he rode by. A few of the shots looked like he ran right over the top of me. It was great.
- Meddock
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Joey, this shot helps explain one of the many reasons I enjoy being a photographer. When you get that close to the action it just makes the shot pop out that much more to the eye. How close did he actually get to ya? Great shot!
Glad you got some good shots out of the trip. Between the missed flights and the crappy conditions all week I was scared you might have walked away from Aussie-land pretty bummed. Haha.
Ray,
Check out the shot on page 21. It looks to be about 2-3 feet. You can kind of see my paddle pattern in the water right when he came by. I think I swam back a bit, just at the last second. Ike took the shot in the Chronicle section.