Before Auto-Focus and Digital Cameras

Early 90’s saw the introduction of Auto focus cameras and lenses, prior to this it was manual focus which focusing and exposure was an art in itself. When digital cameras arrived film became almost obsolete over night.  No more changing rolls after 36 exposures now you could shoot as many surf shots as you wanted which was a huge bonus for water photographers.. Below Chris Stroh shooting Shark Island with one of the first 600mm auto focus Cannon  lens.

Popout

Gerry Manion, Shark Island pioneer late 70’s

Gerrale Street, Then and Now

Then & Now.Gerrale Street, One thing’s for certain, the roads are now choked with cars. Tim Vanderlaan Photos

Peter Garrett

Peter Garrett Midnight Oil at Sylvania Hotel 80’s

Gavin Thoms

Gavin Thoms was another Shark island underground charger in the 80’s.

 

Peter Clarke 9ft 6in

Original Peter Clarke Surfboard 9ft 6in by 22x 3in with Rolled bottom,pinched rails and 12in Flex fin.

The Sand Dunes

A Wanda peak goes untouched while the dunes behind are not so lucky late 70’s.

Benz Bikinis

Benz one of the most sought after Cossies in the 80’s and grew out of Max Garlings surf shop in Cronulla street.

Bob Hansen

Well respected shaper the late Bob Hansen who lived at Kurnel worked at G&S in the early 70’s and eventually moved on to produce his own label “Hansen Surfboards Cronulla”. Bob influenced many shapers from the Southside and was always offering advice to the new kids on the shaping block.

Winter ’80

Winter 1980  Shark Island.     Before jet skis, internet surf cams and high-performance 3 fin boards, anyone that even caught a wave at the Island was a deadset “hero”   Tim Vanderlaan photo