The image above is a tight shot of the crowd in the lineup at Pipeline one day a few seasons back. Pipe is located on the North Shore of the Island of Oahu.

Generally, a lineup is a pretty near perfect example of a social and cultural hierarchy, and how those tend to stratify according to ability, dominance, and-or reputation. So surf breaks in a manner of speaking, are analogous to society at large in many ways.

And just like in land based cultures, someone always seems to come along that no one gives credence to, who through persistence, talent and ability, though seemingly stuck in the middle and not going anywhere towards being at the head of the line, is actually speeding far ahead of the rest of the group.

Those are the ones to watch.

Look closely. Choose wisely. Because who we surround ourselves with, will determine our path in life.

Seth Godin describes choice in this typically succinct blogpost here.

I met Mason Van Valin at Bullfight Studio in Santa Barbara last week as Rob Dafoe and I were working. You can see what is coming right here.

My Canon 5D Mark 2 continues to outperform any other system that I have ever used for motion and stills work. In spite of having placed it repeatedly in some rather precarious locations and circumstances.