Standerd Slides

Subject: Collin Harrington
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chronicle section, Page 32

On our drive over to the water that morning, Collin mentioned to me that he thought he had seen a huge sign near the waters edge that might make a cool photo. When we finally got on the water and was time to shoot, we decided to go explore a bit to see if we might be able to get close to this billboard he was talking about.

When we rounded the corner in the marina, I quickly realized how big this sign really was and that there might be a chance to get it in the background of the photo somehow. I told our boat driver to drop me off on shore so I could shoot from the angle that would increase my chances the most.

Collin got off the boat with me and began to get ready to ride. We were posted up shoreside near a park where people were jogging, walking their dogs, enjoying the views, etc. With camera equipment in hand, I set up a tri-pod, gave the boat driver a walky-talky, and told them what I wanted them to do in order to get this shot. Clearly, from an outsiders perspective, we were about to “do something,” they just didn’t know what.

The more and more we talked over the shot and how I wanted the boat pattern to be driven, the crowd of spectators next to us gradually got bigger. What is seen here in this photo is only about six of the 50 people checkin us out.

- Meddock

Subject: Nick Tomsyck and Steve Froelich
Photo: Bess Marine
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Critique section, Page 94

Ah, always a good time with my Wisconsin boys. My friend/biz partner and I just moved down here in January from Maine, not knowing anyone, so we’ve been in short supply of friends.

I hopped on trusty WakeWorld to see if there was anyone in our area who might want to hang or ride and Nick Tomsyck replied. Him and his buddy Shua were living in Winter Haven. They had trailered their boat down from Wisconsin just so they could ride through the winter months.

So I drove out there and coincidentally enough met one of their friends Steve Froelich, who is from Chicago and living virtually across the street from me in Winter Park. The four of us have been riding together, hanging out and shooting a lot.

Now the only downside to shooting from the boat all the time is… well you’re shooting from the boat all the time. I’ve been trying to think of creative ways to shoot wakeboarding from within the boat.

I figured it could be neat to do a shot with a rider watching one of the other guys ride. So I gave it a go, I started with my 50mm lens to keep the image tight, took a few frames then moved on.

Then later in the day the light coming through the clouds was so cool I wanted to incorporate it some how so I switched it up to my 12-24 and nabbed this shot of Nick Tomsyck watching Steve Froelich ride.

- Bess Marine

Subject: Andrew Adkison
Photo: Josh Letchworth
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Contact Sheet, Pages 64-65

Andrew is a really fun dude to hang with. He lands somewhere between serious and obnoxiously witty.

He came over to the house for the studio shoot with his girlfriend. I caught him one afternoon between trips.

It was boat show season, so he was all over the place. People don’t realize how busy these guys are sometimes.

Andrew gets it bad during boat show season b/c he is personable enough to spend the time talking at lengths to the customer about the boats. I am sure MasterCraft sends him to every one of them.

Anyways…about the shoot. We got the main photo we needed and then I told him that I needed to get a full roll of shots for the actual “contact sheet” spread in Book 2.1.

He started doing all these yoga poses and handstands. He went and got his Passport that he was proud of. It’s pretty stamped up.

We had a lot of fun. I always appreciate those who bring a good attitude to a studio shoot. It takes those that are a bit curious to get something interesting on a plain white background. Thanks Andrew.

- Josh Letchworth

Subject: Brett “Ike” Eisenhauer and Joey Meddock
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chonicle section, Page 22

Gold Coast, Australia– Book 2.1 was quite the traveling issue for me personally. I hopped through three countries in three months. Australia was one of those countries I was fortunate enough to visit.

Getting there however, was a very “un-United” experience. So, let’s start there.

Monday- Get to the Orlando airport on time (like I always do) to find out that I might not make my connection in Los Angeles to fly to Australia. I tell the agent, that’s okay, but just get me to LA and I’ll risk it. If nothing else, it’ll get me across the country and will break up the trip a bit, plus I’ll get to visit some friends out there in Cali for the day. Done. I got on the plane.

I get to LA and quickly find out I missed the connection, just like he warned me would happen. The next flight out was Tuesday night.

Tuesday- Finally fly to Sydney

Wednesday- Lost day due to travel

Thursday- Arrive in Sydney at 8AM, with lost baggage due to an idiot. My “un-United” photo trip was off to a sluggish start with no clothes, nor camera equipment.

Friday- Postpone the 10-hour drive to the Gold Coast ’till Saturday hoping the bags would have arrived by then. Bags finally arrived late that Friday night, and we began shooting on Saturday morning. I nearly lost a whole damn week of shooting due to the airline screw-ups. Thanks UnUnited Airlines!

So here we are, Ike and I, finally in the car and driving toward the Gold Coast just 30 minutes after Ike got a speeding ticket. Let the good times roll!

- Meddock

Subject: Shane Bonifay
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chonicle section, Page 20

Dubai UAE- No strangers to traveling, team Liquid Force arrived this past December in the great Arabic nation with a crew of wakers ready to shred. Shane Bonifay was one of them.

Transporting all the riders, photography gear, and board bags is always a fun challenge once you leave those car keys at home behind you.

Relying on somebody else to handle the sticks and levers works for–and against–you. Not having to drive anywhere nor navigate the foreign turf is a great thing, but with several people in the van and one-too-many opinions being blurted out, patience is tough pill to swallow.

And don’t forget the odor inside that little white van capsule! Eight dudes farting in a confined space early in the morning isn’t exactly a balanced breakfast either.

I was in the car in the other lane when Shane opened the window and smirked back at me with a “get me the hell out of this damn van” look.

- Meddock

Subject: Collin Harrington
Photo: Josh Letchworth
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Critique section, Page 91

I am surprised that I got Collin on his wakeboard this day. I know that in the waves, he prefers another type of board. Especially when the waves are good.

We went down to Sebastian for a second time in the month of January. Tim McKercher had loaned us a Sea Doo to use for tow-ins, so we put it to use.

We had consistent swell for two weeks. After our first trip, we had it dialed in for the second attempt. We all took turns driving and getting whipped into waves.

At the end of day, Collin strapped in for a few and got loose on some lay backs. It was nice to sit in the sand under an umbrella take pictures of waves. Collin dirtied this one up a bit.

- Josh Letchworth

Subject: Belgrade, Montana
Photo: Josh Letchworth
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chronicle section, Page 27

Well, I must admit a mistake. It happens, right? This photo was not taken in Lake Mary, FL, as indicated in Book 2.1.

Brett (my assistant) and I were on our way to West Yellowstone for the Ski Doo shoot.

This was cutting though Belgrade, Montana about to begin the ascent into the mountains. It was a great trip.

We stepped off the plane and were greeted with 30-degree temps in which you could wear just a long sleeve shirt. It was so dry that when the sun was out if felt like a Florida 70-degree day.

- Josh Letchworth

Subject: Australian Mud Monsters
Photo: Joey Meddock
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chonicle section, Page 22

Tweed Head River, Australia– It was late in the afternoon, with boat in tow, when the Ozzies and I pulled up to launch the boat.

From a distance, Daniel Watkins spotted out these three kids completely covered in mud from head to toe.

They were playing in the rainy mud hole that was right next the ramp where we were putting the boat in.

There was a little pic-nic table in the mud where they were belly-flopping from as if it were the top rope in a wrestling ring.

I walked over, asked for their photo, and they happily posed.

- Meddock

Subject: Tino Santori
Photo: Aaron Katen
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Critique Section, Page 98

Tino and I have shot together a bunch in the past. He’d been in Colorado all winter snowboarding and this was the first time we shot this year.

As usual he can take a simple move like a toe three and make it look totally unique.

I felt like it deserved a sequence and this one worked out perfect for the merge. 

- Aaron Katen

Subject: Ben Greenwood
Photo: Josh Letchworth
TSQ Location: Book 2.1, Chronicle section, Page 22

Man, I never even saw this photo that way until Joey and James were talking about it one day. Wow, that’s pretty gross.

My poor cat, Sandy. We had setup a studio in my garage to shoot some Quiksilver stuff. Ben stepped onto the seamless and my cat followed him out there.

So, he did what everyone else would do…stuck his arm up…
I mean, picked her up and put her on his head.

- Josh Letchworth