Morgan Blog

KANOA IGARASHI GOPRO HERO 2 HAWAII

2012-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Test video on the North Shore of Hawaii shot with my new GoPro Hero 2 and supergrom Kanoa Igarashi.

iPHONE 4: THE SAGA CONTINUES...

2011-09-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

i made another iPhone video. i hope you enjoy it.

IPHONE JAN-JULY 2010

2011-08-08T11:12:00.001-07:00

Very random footage from my phone. Ha.

BOBBY MARTINEZ x RINCON

2011-07-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE SQUIRRELS

2011-07-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

BRANDON SMITH x RINCON

2011-07-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

UPDATES

2011-05-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

Please visit and "Like" my Facebook page for updates.

VVV

facebook.com/morganmaassen

2011-04-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

If i watch this one more time i might go mad.

KORDUROY: PHOTO BASICS x MM

2011-03-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Cyrus Sutton is one of the most inspirational humans i've been fortunate enough to meet. He runs a wicked cool website called Korduroy TV where he curates a plethora of stoked videos. Recently he came up to Santa Barbara and we geeked out so much over cameras that this little video was born. It's a quick but broad glimpse into how i take photographs. I hope you enjoy it, and please make a cup of tea and investigate the brilliance that is Korduroy.TV!!

JUSTY

2011-03-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

a short film by Blake Myers

FOREVER DOLPHIN LOVE

2011-03-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Blake Myers turned me on to this wicked cool video & song.

FAKE IT!

2011-03-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

ALRIGHT LETS GO

2011-02-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

In Nicaragua, we met Sterling's friend Bryan, an amazing photographer.
He snapped this photo of Me, Sterling, Victor & Nate.

SNOW?

2011-02-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

Driving to Los Angeles early yesterday morning, i was passing Rincon when i saw... snow? Bizarre, to say the least. (iPhone photo)

CINEMATICA EXTREMA

2011-02-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

Between "That's It, That's All" and now this, Snowboarding cinema is going next level. Wow.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

2011-02-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

Irina Werning recreates childhood photos, so cool... CLICK

NEW ARRIVAL

2011-02-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

I am elated to have finally acquired a Hasselblad 500cm. I've shot several rolls on it so far and am enjoying both the challenge of the camera & format as well as the quality of image it produces. I'm excited to travel with it, as the system really has you slow down and exert patience to achieve a good photograph. I'll be posting photos soon!

ENTER THE VOID

2011-02-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

I watched this movie while on the airplane yesterday and all i can say is that I am gob-smacked.
It's definitely rated R for a reason though.

SCOTT SCHUMAN

2011-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

exquisite short film on one of my favorite photographers.

JUNGLE WOMAN

2011-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Past Teahupoo, up the river, around the bend, into the trees....

PARADISE LOST

2011-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

80˚ water, a sharp wind and not a cloud in the sky.

A LOT OF GOOD THINGS

2011-01-27T10:47:00.000-08:00

A lot of amazing things are happening right now, more info soon. I'm firing up the ole' Flickr for some photo blogging action. Living life at the speed of sound and loving every second of it, but man i could go for some Tahiti bliss right now.

CINNAMON CHASERS

2011-01-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

i've been watching this video a lot lately. I think it's a beautiful.

NEW WEBSITE

2011-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

I've updated my website quite extensively. Almost 70% of the photos on it are brand-spanking new, taken within the last 6 months. Please have a look... CLICK HERE

BLOGS, BEGGARS & BERBERS

2011-01-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my Blog, 2.0... I'm still kneeding out the kinks in the code, but design & function-wise, this is it. What you can't see now is the coming wave of variety in content; I want my blog to now be far more immersive. I would love to receive your questions, comments, concerns, and constructive feedback, so feel free to comment or email me! - Morgan

Morocco in Super 8, Fall 2010.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

2011-01-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

It turns out that sorting my website & blog has been a far larger undertaking than I initially imagined. Coupled with a wild imagination and exciting distractions, things have been moving pretty slowly on the digital front. But need not worry, for the re-launch takes place on Monday, January 17th. I'm kicking things off with some fresh videos, so.....

CHANGES AFOOT

2010-12-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of postings. I have been traveling non-stop and am currently revamping my website, blog, flickr, and facebook for a relaunch over New Years. This blog will be receiving a major overhaul with a new format and lots of interesting additions. Check back in several days for the relaunch and exciting news!

Happy holidays,

Morgan

A SEAGULL'S TALE

2010-12-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

MONDAY MOVIE

2010-11-29T07:07:00.000-08:00

SKATEBOARDING IN SUPER 8

TRENT MITCHELL

2010-11-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

My favorite photographer, Trent Mitchell, just launched his new website. All i have to say is WOW. Have a look through all his photos, and you will surely be amazed.

TAHITI, PT. II

2010-11-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

this was simply the most amazing moment of my life.

our first morning in Tahiti for a Billabong girls trip found us speeding across the channel in from Papeete to Moorea. Several miles off Moorea, we spotted Humpback whales and dropped the boat into idle, and slowly followed their sporadic surfacing trail. when we were within several hundred feet, we jumped in, and Scott Soens and i raced to where we last saw the whales. Low and behold, we were met by a 15 foot calf, who swam circles around us while investigating our strange bodies and waterhousings.

Looking down into the deep blue abyss, a larger, darker shape that was barely visible followed us as we lazily drifted in the open ocean current. after about 15 minutes, the calf dove down to the dark shape, just barely visible while easily 75 feet below us. The now 2 dark shapes swam parallel to us for several moments before they began their ascent, directly before us. Lo-and-Behold, it was a 55-60 foot long mother whale, who came up and surfaced within arms reach of Scott and I.

I was so speechless that i honestly felt that i was paralyzed, and can truly claim this was one of the only moments i have ever struggled to take a picture. after surfacing, the two were off into the blue with just one swift flick of the tail. hands down the most spectacular moment of my life.

OVER DER?

2010-10-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

PinchMySalt

UNGU

2010-10-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

genius.

BOMBAY

2010-10-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

So quirky but so good. I found this really inspiring.

BODYSURFING IN FIJI

2010-09-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

I forgot I made this video! filmed on the Canon 7d.

DRIZZLING DARKNESS

2010-08-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I did a run down to a dark and drizzly left on what was supposed to be a sunny July day. Some summer! At least there was a dark mood out in the water to tinker with through the lens.

MONKEY MAGIC

2010-08-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

A skunk trip down south, a monkey mask and 1 roll of 35mm =

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS

2010-08-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Please watch this; he says so perfectly what a waterman lives to feel.

INTO THE NIGHT

2010-07-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

3 photos from a warm evening~

DRENCHED

2010-07-15T09:35:00.001-07:00

Marissa, spring storms on the pier.

THE MUSIC SCENE

2010-06-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Watch this fullscreen with a good pair of speakers.

STORMS OF MIDNIGHT

2010-06-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

DOWN TO THE SOUNDLESS SEA

2010-05-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

HAIL TREVOR!

2010-04-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Trevor got the cover of the Patagonia Spring 2010 catalog as well as the front page of the Patagonia website. Needless to say we are both really stoked... and boy does he deserve it, such a talented yet humble guy.

blogpost about that day: The Eastside

HIDING FROM COMFORT

2010-04-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Australian Sponge Cinema has long captivated me, cranking out some of the most gritty and extreme films capturing those crazy speed bumps going to town in shark-infested death slabs no stand-up surfer would ever dare touch. Needless to say, this new film by professional bodyboarder Mitch Rawlins looks nothing short of insane. Check out this trailer to "The Road" too.

THE BIRDMAN OF LISBON

2010-04-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

freaking amazing.

SINCE I LEFT YOU

2010-01-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

Such an amazing video... the ending is beautiful.

SUBAQUATICA FIJI

2009-12-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a clip I made of some underwater randomness in Fiji last month. Brandon and Trevor star in some peculiar shots, filmed when there weren't any waves during our stay in the north eastern part of the country. Man how I miss that water....

CRAY

2009-12-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

RINCON AMIGO CLIP

2009-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Me mates surfing Rincon last week, enjoy....

BRAZIL SUPER 8

2009-11-06T06:53:00.000-08:00

FUNKY FRESH

2009-11-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

On a recent evening surf session just south of SB i grabbed an old, rusted 35mm camera out of the back of my car and decided to snap a couple evening shots in the dumpy shorebreak. I loaded a roll into it and swam out, rocking just a 50mm (rusted at f/1.8) with no waterhousing. At first I exerted some effort to keep it dry, but after several trips through the barrel i decided it wasn't worth the effort to fight the water. And so I dunked the camera, swished some water into the lens and opened the film back several feet below the surface. I developed the film at Longs and did not apply any additional funkery. Here are the photos, pretty strange eh?

A GLORIOUS DAWN

2009-10-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

ODDITY

2009-10-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

In Brazil, i mostly shot digital photos and Super8. I found this to be my favorite combo; I love my Nikon D700 like I imagine I'll love my son, and my Bolex 155 super8 rarely leaves the grip of my fingers, anywhere. I did however shoot one roll of Kodak Gold 200, which i deliberated to be a thoughtful and miscellaneous collage spanning the entire trip. I don't think I've ever made a roll last so long, traverse so much distance, and expose to so many non-sequential subjects. Needless to say, while my appendage of a D700 enjoyed Brazil extensively, the un-mysticalness of dumping a day's worth of photos to a computer only fueled the daily increase of my excitement to see this hodge-podge roll.

Well, here is what I got back, basically a roll of Bubble Wrap. 90% of the photos are illegible. The upper three are what pulled through, and the bottom is just to remind you of what lines a UPS box. X-ray machines 1, Morgan 0. I'm not angry, just... befuddled.

HELLO 7D...

2009-10-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday i purchased a Canon 7D to shoot video, and so far I'm very impressed with it's ability.

UNREALEST OF UNREAL

2009-10-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

I think this is my favorite photo.

It's so powerful, raw, intense, yet so soothing and majestic.

A moment i would do anything to be able to witness, to feel the mist and hear the roar.

photo by Sam Ellis.

BEGINNING & END

2009-08-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

the first and last shots on a roll of film of Ryan shaping his flexspoon.

HOW WE ROLL

2009-08-04T06:54:00.000-07:00

Don't mess.

HALFWAY HOME

2009-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

a brilliant super8 movie by david luraschi

RINCON SLURPING IN SUPER 8

2009-07-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Trevor Gordon (ridding the red nugget) and Chadd Konig (on the alaia), enjoying rincon this spring...

SURFBOARD CRAFTING IN SUPER 8

2009-07-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

Ryan

STRECHING THE CANVAS

2009-06-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

We met Chase Burns in Byron Bay and spent a fair bit of time hanging with him.
i am pretty convinced he is genius...

MY FAVORITE BALLET

2009-06-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

is the free one on Cabrillo blvd on warm weekends.
super8, april 2009.

BOARD ART, ROUND 2

2009-05-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

To make a week off of work more productive I bought some paint pens and demanded some canvases from Brando. He entrusted me with his lovely CI T.Knox (1, 2, 3) and told me "be careful Morg". I don't have the slightest clue as to what I created, but I think it captures the mystery of how we roll.

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view it super large

TUESDAY'S ART

2009-05-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Something a bit different finally...
Here is some fart I did yesterday on a board Brando decommissioned to my room awhile ago...

view it super large

AUSTRALIA IN SUPER 8

2009-03-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

Not really reflective of the waves we/i surfed, but retro nonetheless!

ZUMA WATERHOUSING SHORT

2009-03-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Found old footage, Trevor Gordon & Brandon Smith.
first session with my old waterhousing... May 2008

RAP BATTLE TRANSLATION

2009-02-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

HORSES

2009-01-31T22:38:00.001-08:00

One of my most sincere (and secretive) passions is advertising. A well designed, witty, honest, raw, shocking, or just plain simple ad will always capture my appreciation. Especially considering how pathetic America's advertising is, versus the rest of the planet's.

The first and last time I viewed this advertisement was in a private theater in downtown London, at the age of 10. The theater was housed in a prominent digital design firm's building, where me Mum's two god-brothers had just finished directing the CGI in the above clip. it was something else to watch that spot on a 40ft screen. And so, yesterday I was beyond elated when i was reunited with the commercial.

I love the rough, wild attitude it carries, with such profound imagery.

To me, it is not even an ad, but art.