Standerd Slides

Subject: Chris O’Shea
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.2, Critique, Page 92-93

Chris O has been on fire lately. Contests aside, he’s been a media magnet. Erik Ruck, Chris O’Shea and Daniel Watkins all rode together this evening when I got this photo. I used some “funny film” to give it that blueish cast you see. Yes, I did say film.

I was floating in the water for this shot, camera completely exposed to the elements. There were boats all over the place that evening. Clear Lake looked like a lake circus. Weird how that is occurring more and more these days. I was lucky not to get run over. The only thing coming close to hitting me was Chris O. Being that low in the water, it’s hard to see the rider coming toward the camera. First the boat will block my view of the rider, then as the boat passes, the wake will block my view. I only had a few seconds to find him in frame, adjust, then press the button. When he cut in for the wake, I first thought he was way too early. I was a sitting duck waiting to get squashed. When he hit the wake, I knew it was going to be close and there was a huge chance of getting soaked if not injured.

Hats off to Chris O for not making my head a hood ornament on the tip of his board. Apparently he could judge the distances a hell of a lot better than I could that night. I’m a survivor.

-Meddock