Champ Again!

I met Carissa a few years ago and despite that meeting lasted just a few minutes, she immediately gave me a good impression. And that impression just got confirmed the following times I saw her: a wonderful person, always ready for a smile, willing to spend time to have a little chat and never refusing to pose for a photo or signing an autograph. One of the strongest surfers of the ASP World Championship Tour, she's been working hard since the very beginning breaking records and winning a lot of events.

That hard work keeps paying back and after winning the ASP Women World Title in 2011, she's been crowned champ again this year, after winning in Portugal a few days ago.

Congrats, Carissa! You did it! Again!

                                      EOS 40D – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @55mm
                                      f/7.1 1/1250 sec ISO 500

Maybe because she's one of the first professional surfers I met, maybe because she's humble and hardworker, maybe because she's from Hawaii... Carissa Moore has always been one of my favorite athlets and I am very glad she won the title. 

In her honor I am posting a selection... that was tough to pick, so in the end it turned out to be quite a big selection... a selection of shots taken during this year Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, event that, by the way, saw Carissa as the winner!

 

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/7.1 1/2500 sec ISO 640

 

                                   EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm
                                   f/7.1 1/2000 sec ISO 640

 

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/9.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/7.1 1/2500 sec ISO 640

 

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

 

              EOS 40D – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @80mm f/10.0 1/400 sec ISO 320

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/7.1 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/7.1 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/10.0 1/2500 sec ISO 640

              EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM @400mm f/8.0 1/2000 sec ISO 640

                          EOS 40D – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @105-35mm f/5-6.3 1/1250 sec ISO 500

                        EOS 40D – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @55mm f/7.1 1/1250 sec ISO 500

                 EOS 40D – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @24-28mm f/7.1-8.0 1/1250 sec ISO 500

Lighthouse

I love the mountains but I love the ocean as well, especially when we are talking about Hawai'i. After many posts about beautiful mountains, I would like to share this pic taken on the island of O'ahu. That day Denise and I decided to go and climb Diamond Head. Said like that it sounds like a serious mountain hike and... wasn't I supposed not to talk about mountains? Actually, even though you do climb one of the most iconic landmarks of the island, the trail is not technical and the most steep parts are actually geared with stairs that allow you to overcome the main altitude gaps. The climb is pleasant and you can admire the flora and fauna living there. But of course the best comes when you get to the top of the crater and admire the beautiful scenery down below, towards Honolulu and the rest of the island. But if on one side you have the skyscrapers of Waikiki, I found a nice surprise on the other side, looking down below at the shoreline and the ocean: this beautiful lighthouse.

            60mm f/8.0 1/200 sec ISO 100