60s 70s photographs

Greg Woodward surf photographer

In the 50-60s WA’s pioneer surf photographers were John Budge, Brian Cole and Jim Breadsell. The next wave of surf photographers in the 60-70s were Tom Collins, Dave Condon, Rod Taylor (West Australian Newspapers), Trevor Burslem, Greg Woodward and Ric Chan.

Greg Woodward is holding an exhibition of his 60-70s surfers and beaches photos. The exhibition titled ‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ will be held at Nyisztor Studios, 391 Canning Highway Melville/Palmyra from 6-21 May 2017. Gallery open Wed. – Sat. 11am -5pm, Sunday 2 – 5pm.

There are approximately 80 images in the exhibition, about a third of which are guys surfing. The rest are beaches, waves, bikinis, sunbathers and a few portraits.

It features the following surf riders: –

  • Murray Smith
  • Greg Laurenson
  • Peter Bothwell
  • Peter Dyson
  • Ian Cairns
  • Ron Waddell
  • Howard Taylor
  • Brian Hood
  • Ian Taylor
  • Norm Bateman
  • Jim King
  • Steve Cockburn
  • John Pawson and Charlie Bartlett in Victoria….and some unknowns.

There are one or two pics of the guys listed.

Greg’s reason for calling his photo exhibition “The Dazzling Young Riders” follows:-

“When I first saw surfers riding waves as a young guy at High School I was bedazzled by this new ‘sport’. These tanned and handsome young men and women were literally walking on water –dancing across the waves. It was a new sporting activity so different to football and cricket.

 Now; surfing viewed from my landlocked armchair seems more frenetic and hysterical than dazzling”.

Images: 2017 The Dazzling Young Riders exhibition invitation by Greg Woodward.

Profile on surf photographer Greg Woodward.

Greg Woodward was a West Australian surf photographer and writer from 1966 to 1974.

He photographed in Perth, Mandurah and Cape Naturaliste sending photos and articles to the then brand new OZ surf magazine called ‘Surf International’.

Image: ‘A Place of Surf’ article by Greg Woodward appeared in Surf International Magazine in 1968.

Photos: 1966-67 WA surfers riding metro waves. Greg Woodward pics.

Left: (Top) 1967 Ian ‘Spydor’ Taylor surfing Trigg Island. (Bottom) 1966 Brian Hood surfing Scarborough Beach.

Right: 1967 Jim King surfing south side City Beach groyne.

In 1968 Greg was called up to do two years of National Service in the Army. On his Army leave he visited Bells Beach and met the Torquay surfing crew. He also checked out Coolangatta and Noosa Heads and couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the great point and beach breaks in Queensland.

Photo: 1968 Greg’s first leave from Puckapunyal Military Camp Vic. Greg Woodward pic.

In 1970, out of the Army, he returned to Melbourne to study photography. He hitchhiked to Torquay on the weekends for a surf and to spend time with the Torquay crew.

Photos: East Coast travel snaps. Greg Woodward pics.

(Left) 1969 unidentified surfer Noosa Headland Qld (Right) 1970 Greg at Bells Beach Vic.

1971 saw him back in Perth photographing around Perth beaches, doing more documentary pics and newspaper work rather than surfing photos. He worked with Ric Chan at the Independent Newspaper for six months. Doing roving jobs and on Saturdays taking pics. Greg remember Ric coming across very stylish and confident but never realised he was an avid Surf photographer and writer.

In 1974, Greg started work as a photographer at the Art Gallery of W.A doing exhibition catalogues and recording the art and exhibitions for their files.  He retired from there in 2007.

Photos: 1970s Cottesloe Beach. Greg Woodward pics.

(Left) 1972 unidentified body surfer leaving the water. (Right) 1974 day at the beach with an esky.

In 1982 he stopped surfing due to ill health, the crowds and inconsistent beach breaks. He found he was spending more time driving around trying to find surf, instead of being in it.

Greg misses the waves and is still interested in the freedom and natural beauty of surfing. Two items on his bucket list are to see Yallingup bay closing out and Meelup Point breaking again.

SDS will feature images from Greg’s ‘The Dazzling Young Riders’ Photo Exhibition in a future blog.

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