THE WINTER OF A DISLOCATION
A planned father/son surf trip for photographer Russell Ord delivers some photographic gold but one ill-timed late drop brings it to a abrupt end
Words and photos by Russell Ord
Every winter, 90% of the Margaret River surfing community become migratory birds, leaving the cold, stormy and rough southern Indian Ocean waters for The North West Of WA. With COVID restrictions on Indonesia and overseas winter destinations, the NW has gone to another level of busy, every bit of red desert dirt pegged with swags, tents and offroad caravans. We couldn't handle the ongoing winter fronts and joined the mass exodus, destination spot X (my all-time favourite spot). Staying with fellow photographer Mike Riley, Mike is always good to shoot alongside, pushing the boundaries of water photography. My first trip away from the Margaret River area with interstate boundaries open, the timing could not have been better weather-wise with sunny conditions and a solid swell running for the whole week. Shooting for The Coastline Magazine, I was working directly with my son Kalani Ord and all-time North West legend professional surfer and cockle fisherman Ry Craike.
I always travel with no expectations; however, I do have a shot list in mind, lifestyle, water shots, action, portraits, I try and tell a story to the best of my ability. The conditions dictate what to focus on first and in this case that was easy, with pumping surf on arrival which stayed the same for the following five days, water and action shots quickly ticked off the hit list.
Three days of rain and small onshore conditions followed which allowed a catch up on computer work, editing and emails – not my usual happy place but in this case a nice break after hours every day swimming in solid conditions. With a perfect day predicted for the end of the week, this gave me ample opportunities to catch up on anything else image-wise that could complete the task. Both brand and magazine would ideally be happy with the results.
Mistake number one, get overly excited and go surfing myself, this is not usually a problem, but being sidelined for the last 12 weeks recovering from a dislocated shoulder, it quickly becomes one. Waves 1 to 4 were pretty good for my standards; then overconfidence turned into another shoulder dislocation. I will skip all the details of the boat trip, four hours in local hospital, two more hours in the ambulance to Geraldton and get straight into the trip within the trip. My last hour of the eight-hour ordeal as I can recall was bloody amazing, psychadelic waves, an out of body experience to say the least. My spiritual journey was rudely interrupted by a body that hated everything about having Ketamine and two days of violent vomiting followed, but at least the shoulder was back in.
Hindsight is such a lovely word. I vividly recall saying to myself "take it easy in the surf”. Spinning around late on a bomb was not in that conversation, and just like that the father and son photo trip over. I need to listen to my own advice in the future. Those planned shots to complete the task now off the list, what I already have will have to do. Mistake number two, mental note; no such thing as a lay day, make it happen.
LINKS: RUSSELL ORD | RY CRAIKE | MIKE RILEY | KALANI ORD
SHOT ON: FUJIFILM