[PERSONAL] SALTWATER SUNDAYS IN YZERFONTEIN

POSTED ON 18 MARCH 2015 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

Being a weekend warrior means weekend hours are like gold to me. Most people at my 8-to-5 are shocked when I tell them "oh I'm usually up by 5:30 on a Saturday", responding only with a "but Saturday's are made for sleeping in!" and a somewhat confused grin. Not in my world. I live in a world of chasing sunsets, seeking adventure, dreaming and exploring (all with some sort of camera in hand). Last weekend there wasn't much swell around but the weather was beautiful, and the ocean relatively warm (by Atlantic standards). A group of us traded in the city bustle for a day of out-of-town saltwater adventures in the small seaside village of Yzerfontein. This is just a personal recount of the day. Thanks for the fun times Tarryn Chudleigh, Paul Chudleigh, Cameron Coetzer and Frank Pey.

[WEEKEND ROUND-UP] A LONG WEEKEND

POSTED ON 26 FEBRUARY 2015 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

After quite a drought on the surf front across the Cape Peninsula recently, we finally got a weekend of waves. Here's a round-up of some recent action at Long Beach, Kommetjie.

Surfers: Ethan Fletcher, Max Elkington, Jarred Veldhuis, Frank Pey, Unknown

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[J-BAY OPEN 2014] 15 MEMORIES MADE IN JEFFREY'S BAY

POSTED ON 21 JULY 2014 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

Believe it or not, I don't follow the World Tour to watch or shoot surf contests. I go for the moments in between the competition surfing; the moments that aren't often shown on the webcast or in the galleries on surf media. This past week in Jeffrey's Bay during the J-Bay Open 2014 was a trip filled with many such moments. When I look back on the week, I won't be thinking about Mick Fanning having won the title or the mass crowds on the beach; instead, I'll be remembering the insanely beautiful sunrises that greeted us on all four consecutive lay days; the lone longboarder who enjoyed a small dawn-lit surf in an empty supertubes line-up; the anticipation of standing in the dark waiting for first light to see what the day would offer; waves booming down the point in perfect synchronicity against the backdrop of sunlit wind turbines on the horizon; hundreds of dolphins surfing 6-8ft sets at Supertubes as current world number 1 Gabriel Medina paddled out; and the endless sunrise boosts performed by Kolohe Andino every single morning no matter how big or small the surf. Here are 15 of my personal highlights from the past week. Thanks for the memories J-Bay. Until next time...

P.S. Check out my instagram feed for more pics from the week (@clairebutlerphoto)

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[J-BAY OPEN 2014] GOING FOR GOLD - FREESURF SESSION

POSTED ON 13 JULY 2014 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

Woke up this morning in Jeffreys Bay to a layday for the 2014 J-Bay Open; the pros weren't put off by the smaller conditions - Kolohe Andino, Joel Parkinson and friends went to work in a sunrise that only J-Bay can turn on. Jeffreys Bay really is a surf photographers dream, and I'm looking forward to an inspiring 10 days here and catching the guys in action during the remainder of the J-Bay Open. Here are 8 of my favourite shots from this mornings freesurf at Supertubes.

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WINTER WINNING

POSTED ON 2 JUNE 2014 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

The only thing that gets me out of bed before sunrise on a super stormy Winters day is a swell chart promising an epic surf adventure. While the rest of South Africa was off in Namibia chasing the swell to Skeleton Bay (FOMO), we decided to look for something slightly more local. We weren't disappointed.
Surfers: Phil Nel, Nick Engelbrecht, Tommy Kruger, Neil Havenga and Brad Coetzer.

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