2 New Great Photographers Join NYCWATERSHOTS
March 2009, NYCWATERSHOTS was up and running. The idea of it was born much before but the actual physical appearance of the site online happened last year. 40,000 visitors later, thousands of images snapped, hundreds of hours editing, downloading, writing articles, learning HTML and working on the site. Here we sit, 2010, looking forward. We set out a year ago to build a website that can showcase New York City in a different light. A light that isn’t often illuminated to many people across the world, New York City – Surf Town. A surf town with waves as good as anywhere else. Well, here’s what a year in NYC looks like if your a surfer.
This year we want to capture more of what makes New York City tick….surf wise. We decided to add a few more perspectives to our vision. NYCWATERSHOTS would like to welcome photographers Mike Spears and Eric L. Cooper. Two very accomplished artists with over 40+ years combined experience.
If you haven’t heard of Mike or Eric or know them personally, I asked them to tell me a few things about themselves and their photography careers.
MIKE SPEARS MIKESPEARS.NET
Mike Spears was born in Bloomington, Indiana and grew up in sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mikes’ work has appeared in publications such as HIGH TIMES, Thrasher, Waxpoetics, and VICE. Mike has also shot commercially with the Ying Yang Twins, Queens of the Stone Age, Futura 2000, Just Blaze, and Swizz Beats. Mike has also been linked from noteworthy blogs HAMBURGER EYES and THISISFLYDAILY.COM.
“I use everything from a canon 5D with telephoto to a disposable 35 mm watercam. for the more landscapey stuff i use a contax g1 and a konica hexar. I’m a film guy. Ive been shooting photos since college so about 18 years. been surfing about 4 years. Grew up in Puerto Rico so the water is second nature to me. Boogie boarded growing up. I tried surfing around 13 but found it physically challenging at the time. hated paddling into big waves. my dads a big fisherman scuba snorkler type so I love the beach. I’ve always admired surfing. Have lived in dumbo with my cat for about 11 years now.”-Mike Spears
Recent projects featured include photographs of Puerto Rico and the beaches of Far Rockaway Queens.
Mike’s Website MIKESPEARS.NET
Mike’s blog is called CLAM$ CA$INO.
ERIC L COOPER bigshotcoop.com
Eric L. Cooper has been capturing images for 24 years, shooting surfing since 2006. Eric has been published in Shutterbug Magazine, Photographers Forum Annual 2002, 2003, and 2007. He has worked with professional athletes from NFL players, coaches, NBA stars, Tennis majors, R&B singers, Gospel Singers, Rap Artists, Actors, Actresses, News Reporters and Broadcast TV Anchors.
“I started off shooting surfing photography with a Canon AE-1 Programm 35mm film camera along with various Canon lenses (80-200mm and a fixed 200mm lens.) I also shot with the Canon EOS 3 and the Canon 1 VHS film camera with the Tamron 200-500mm telephoto zoom lenses. I LOVE all of my film ccameras and will continue to shoot with them. I now shoot surfing photography with the same Tamron 200-500mm lens but now I shoot with digital cameras because of the turn around time to see photos, place them on the internet and for giving me the ability to edit them at my apartment on my computer. The digital cameras that I use are the Canon EOS 40D and the Canon EOS 1D Mark 3 which are both well built durable cameras that give me the results that I want. I love Canon cameras and plan to stick with them.”-Eric L. Cooper
Eric’s Website bigshotcoop.com
Eric’s Flickr Page www.flickr.com/bigshotcoop67
Eric is also on Facebook
We’re proud and honored to have these guys contribute, and we hope you enjoy the images.
You can find the images Mike and Eric contribute from some past swells and all future sessions in the galleries section.
