Art Brewer - Photos That Never Made the Magazine
photos courtesy of Art Brewer
by Ken McKnight
posted 2004-05-15
Dee Why Point Photos
"Yeah, That's Dee Why, Sydney, Australia. Peter Crawford on point. Simon Anderson surfing. Actually it was a one-day period of good surf. I happened to be out there shooting with Crawford and he was showing me the ropes more or less. Pretty treacherous, the place is. It was as big as it gets. I think I shot three rolls that day with a Nikonos. Almost drowned, actually."
Photo courtesy of Art Brewer
"Peter was always the farthest one out and I ended up following him one too many times. If you see most of these photos of Peter in the foreground it was because he wouldn't let me get past him. But he ran out of film and I got past him at one point and ended up out on what they call, "White Rock." A set came. Dove to the bottom, hung on the rock, got the rock ripped out of my hand, and ended coming up all the way, probably 75 yards down the line. I went underwater the whole way. Everybody is looking for me wondering where I went. Erik Aeder was out. A whole bunch of other guys. It was in 1978. My wife was up on the beach wondering where I went. Nobody knew where I was. I ended up in the middle of the bay down the beach by the Dee Why Surf Lifesaving Association spitting saltwater out."
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Pipeline Photos
"I look at these and it was 1993. This is probably the last time I went out and shot Pipeline from the water (laughs)?" The reason I went out, there was no one in the water (photographers). So I swam out by myself and ended up with a couple of decent shots that are all right for the time."
Photo courtesy of Art Brewer
"Davey Cantrell and the other one, Johnnyboy Gomes, but nobody else there. It was just for fun, that's why I went out."
"If they're big, they're here. Even if they're sick, they have to show. For Players and hustlers, tonight's the night." - Neil Young
Like the people, waves, and places he depicts on celluloid, Art Brewer is a player. He has been there, taken it all in, and lived to tell the story. If you don't know Art then you might be a bit intimidated by him, as he looms large and ominous. You haven't lived till you've been taken apart verbally by Art. He can fillet you with a sentence and send you on your heels with the flick of his hand. But he does it with love just the same. And you just might be better off for it. If Brewer has mentored you then consider yourself lucky.
Photo courtesy of Art Brewer
I first met Art while surfing way down stream at the Cliffs one winter day around 1971. I was surfing a very secluded reef with two friends when I noticed a couple of guys hiking in along the rocks. After sharing a few waves together, we sat up on the cliff watching the tide change. I offered up water and fruit and talked surf. I asked his name and he said, "Art Brewer." I knew that name. I instantly recognized him as a new surf photog at Surfer and he nodded yes. I didn't see him again for another 8 years but brother let me tell you I sure saw his work.
