Ocean Journal

Republic of Maldives - “Reethi Raajje" ("beautiful Maldives" in Dhivehi, local language) Because we are a the Blue Company and close to the ocean, all our item names come from islands, little and big Jewells in our seas, spread all over our blue planet. 

This story actually starts in 1997. I was spending a school year abroad on the island of Maui, Hawaii and my brother, who was traveling around the world, decided to come for a visit. We were in the water nearly every day and became obsessed with traveling and discovering new waves.

More or less 8 years ago, we passed on our apartment in Hamburg to my brother, totally overloaded a moving van with our furniture and set out to make our dream come true in the Basque Country.

This year, Joel Tudor’s Vans Duct Tape Invitational Camp; Festival was held in the north of Spain, in Zarautz (Basque Country). The last time it had been held in Spain was during the Salinas Longboard Festival, in Asturias, back in 2011. It’s been a long wait since then, but it was well worth it.   

In this little spot guide, I wanna present you four really nice beaches, that I have fallen in love with,  Lutz Schwenke, TWOTHIRDS Founder

After producing in Portugal for many years, it was almost an obligation to get to know the Southern Tip of the country. When our Sentinel Concha joined TWOTHIRDS, the pressure was on. We had to go.  

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”– Alan Watts

Every morning, after reading the avalanche report, we took our split-boards and touring skis, and decided which mountain to climb. For the steepest parts and most exposed slopes, we had to take snow profiles for deciding whether to continue ascending or not (the chamois didn’t care too much about it, though). To learn to read maps according to avalanche reports and to learn to read the profile of the snow for decision making was a very informative and interesting part of the whole thing.

It has been very special for me having surfed during my pregnancies. Catching a wave whilst having one of the most important people in my life inside my tummy is one of the most regarding feelings I’ve ever had. I think about the times when I'll be telling my sons when they are older, that the first waves they rode were inside “mummy’s” tummy.

At Twothirds, our sentinels are part of our brand. A sentinel is an informal ambassador, creating awareness for the Ocean in a series of subcultures such as art, fashion, surfing, and activism. Representing our leitmotif “We are Ocean”.

Shooting coastal images on film, for me, there is no better medium than dated old film to capture the essence of what makes surfing in Cornwall so special.

Since arriving in Byron Bay last November, we’ve settled into a fairly predictable pattern. Saturdays are crêpe days and Sundays are American style, ‘fat’ pancakes.

We didn't expect such a rich landscape, the different types of rock, colours, shapes, the solid lava, the unique flora, reptiles, etc. It all made it a special place to remember. Again we couldn’t help comparing it with another part of Kauai, the Waimea Canyon, both have such a big topographical and climatological contrast with the rest of the island that make them so remarkable and unique.

What is amazing about Barcelona, is that the atmosphere in the water is generally really good — little localism and friendly faces.

Unlike many sports, surfing is an activity that our entire family can enjoy together, side by side, regardless of individual abilities.

I really enjoyed shooting this roll of film. I used Lomography and T-Max film with cross processing going on in the development process.

April 2016. All images shot with a Leica M6 35mm and Kodak Portra film.

Born and raised on the shores of a gentle Mediterranean sea. I come back to life every year at the end of summer and grab my camera, just to get some evidence of the things I truly love.