Leroy Grannis – Surf photography of the 60’s & 70’s

The latest offering in top quality coffee-table surf photo books, this is a look at the work of one of the most prolific photogs of a bygone era. Grannis began surfing in 1931 at age 14, but it wasn’t until he reached 42 that he picked up a camera and made a career out of it. Aside from capturing the action, Grannis was a pioneer in shooting what have become known as ‘lifestyle’ shots, from surfer stomps and hoards of fans at surf contests to board-laden woody station wagons along the Pacific Coast Highway at a time before the surf stars and celebrity endorsements began to dictate subject matter.

The forward is written by SE correspondent (and one of the most accomplished surf journo’s in the business) Steve Barilotti, who adds, “Granny was the photo-man 1960-67 and he did it basically as a hobby. He really caught all aspects of the infant surf lifestyle, which makes the photos like looking at a vanished tribe. He used good film and cameras and the Kodachrome-25 colour transparencies of Sunset and Waimea, circa mid-60s, can be blown up room size with little degradation. The photos are priceless and I wrote the forward. Bottom line, I’m pretty stoked on the results.” Available through Taschen Books in English, French and German this spring. more info: http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/books/photography/work/facts/01048.htm