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5 Comments on “Letters From My Inbox -Part One”

1. 
   1 Lucia said at 11:39 pm on March 22nd, 2011:

   Hi Lucia,

   I am a surfer who is currently studying a BA(hons) in Adventure & media. Your work is truly inspiring and seeing your images has given me new found drive and passion to produce travel documentaries and seek out beauty. Reading about how you became such a successful surf photographer has inspired me to get out of a lack-luster attitude in my education (thank you). I am now working on a short documentary on cold water surfing in Northern Scotland, where I aim to improve my water based skills—Any words of advice about becoming a surf photographer would be awesome, many thanks -Jonny

   Johnny, I would encourage fully what you have written to me. It is important to be out in the world working on projects and even picking up work from maybe newspapers or local magazines. If there is a swell hitting around the time you are filming, send some of the stills into the local press, write a short story to support your imagery and findings. You should be paid for this no matter how much experience you have, for local papers don’t expect a great budget but who knows a solid swell could appear and it may hit the Nationals—then you’ll be hitting the big bucks! Good luck with the project it sounds like a great idea. Study is important but getting out into the world of working is just as important, good luck -lucia

2. 
   2 Lucia said at 11:51 pm on March 22nd, 2011:

   Hi Lucia,

   I spoke to Jason Reposar (photographer) who recommended I contact you about surfing photography. I was checking out your website and your images are truly awesome. To tell you a little about myself I am turning 25 next month and have spent the past five years living in Ecuador and shooting surfing throughout South America. I returned home back to the UK a few months ago and am trying to “get my foot in the door” so to speak in the industry of surfing photography. Like you it is a sport that I enjoy so much and would give anything to make a career for myself out of it behind the lens. Without sounding too desperate or forward, I was wondering if you would be prepared to meet me and maybe let me assist you on one of your shoots? I have attached a number of my shots (sent in a low resolution) to this e-mail as my website is currently being re-designed. I understand you must be very busy and I imagine you are not in the UK all that much, but if and when you next are I would really appreciate a chat with you! Enjoy your travels and photography!

   Best wishes -Ellie

   ….Ellie, thank-you for the photos you sent me I enjoyed looking through them. I picked out the one I liked the most and posted it on the Blog, I hope you don’t mind- I feel it should be shown. I like this image, it is bright, colourful and stands out. I am very impressed.

   Two things I would suggest for future reference is a) Make sure your subject (the surfer) is pin sharp, and b) just review the moment in which you stop the action and press the shutter. Maybe a second later, as the surfer goes into their bottom turn, this would provide the action shot with lets say ‘more action’, ‘getting that moment’, the moment the viewer really can see for them to feel the force behind that wave. Safe travels -Lucia

3. 
   3 Lucia said at 11:54 pm on March 22nd, 2011:

   Hi Lucia,

   My name’s Chris and I’m currently revamping my travel blog website – BackPackerBanter.com – and as part of which I am pre-loading the site with a whole heap of extra articles, interviews and what not. As a surfer and photographer myself (we’ve actually exchanged emails before regarding your London exhibition) I’ve been following your blog for a while. Basically it seems you’ve sorted yourself out with one of the best travel related jobs I’ve ever come across – and as jealous as it makes me – I’d like to know more about it and interview you for a piece on my site. Would you be interested at all? If not no worries, I’d settle for a link swop! hahaha! Take it easy -Chris

   …. Chris, send the questions to lgriggi@me.com – i’ll get them answered and sent back to you ASAP. I will send you a couple of photos to support the article too. Just let me know what you need, we can do it this week before I head to Sri Lanka -Lucia

4. 
   4 Lucia said at 12:02 am on March 23rd, 2011:

   Lucia,

   Just to say how envious I was to fall upon your website and realise some of the skate and surf people that you’ve worked with. Really great portraits of some of the best original skateboarders on the planet. Where did you take the one of Jay Adams? Best wishes -Pete

   …Thanks Pete. I took the photo of Jay Adams at his house on the North Shore of Hawaii. Jay was a very interesting person to work with and we shot his portrait outside in the garden in front of a wall. I choose to use one of his boards, illustrating his youth, to make this a contrasting shot for the book -Lucia

5. 
   5 Lucia said at 12:09 am on March 23rd, 2011:

   Dear Lucia,
   I am second year B.A (HONS) Photography student studying at Blackpool and The Fylde college. For our second year we have to find a photographer in our chosen field of photography and see if we could have a few days experience with them. This is so that we can see what the reality would be of our ambitions. As I as i am hoping to pursue a career in surf photography I thought it would be only right to email you because you are a huge inspiration to my work. All I would need is a day or two and I’m happy to travel where ever in the U.K for the help. Any help or advice would be most appreciated. I have attached a piece of my work, I hope you like. Many thanks -Joe Pegler.

   …Joe, thank-you for contacting me and I am sorry I will not be in the UK to accommodate your needs in work experience. Please keep in touch, however, and good luck with your study. I have selected one of your photos you sent to me, keep up the good work -Lucia

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