Comments on: Relentless Short Stories: Mickey Smith

By: Regina

Regina — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:49:51 +0000

I am utterly in awe of the courage and dedication required to capture on film the world of the surfer, and the oceans they ride. I caught myself almost drooling over the cliffs and wave actions. Catching the break just as it starts to curl…I am awestruck at what Nature creates…and humans manage to capture on film.

Thank you for creating such an awe-inspiring piece of film!

By: gabi

gabi — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:37:25 +0000

Hey lads..I couldn’t agree more. speaking as a ‘surf mom’, how would kids growing up in the Midlands and other non coastal regions ever get to see such amazing footage. It’s totally down to the likes of warriors such as Mickey that kids can have heroes to aspire to, role models to follow and are able to think ‘outside the box’ when it’s time to consider future career plans. Too true the big companies should recognise his true worth. May the man continue in his successes for a long time , but with more appreciation from the likes of Coke!

By: sean

sean — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:02:26 +0000

Al i totally agree, could not have said it anywhere as well as that. his work is absolutely amazing!!! give the man what he so rightfully deserves.

By: Al

Al — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:53:58 +0000

I’m delighted to see they finally focussed on the man behind the lens. It requires huge skill, knowledge, determination and courage for Mickey to get his pictures and he’s one of the very best in the business.

What I find sad and in fact downright shameful is that a guy like Mickey, risking life and limb to get the shot, a man who is not just a cog in the wheel of publicising Ferg and Tom (the Relentless riders) but a man who is in fact utterly indispensable – almost solely responsible for their profiles – is a man who get’s paid a mere pittance.

Now Mickey’s a positive soul and he just loves doing what he does, but what’s he going to do when his body can’t take the beatings anymore? Relentless is owned by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s richest companies and I’m damn sure they know Mickey’s worth, but apparently they can’t muster the funds to look after him financially?! Mickey is the best water photographer in the UK, probably the best in Europe and yet at the end of the year the pay he’s accrued probably equates to 12 month’s minimum wage. This could only happen in surfing and only in the UK, the industry is pure vaudeville and frankly taking advantage of Mickey’s good nature and the fact that he enjoys what he does is despicable and this is not just Relentless, this is the other companies and magazines too.

If he were one of the top photographers in the world in any other area, say fashion, weddings, products, football etc. he would own a house, a decent car and have security for the future, but hey surfing’s different for some reason. The big companies like Coca-Cola, Nike etc. are dipping their sticky fingers into surfing, they’re quite happy to extract as much money as they can, but how much of that filthy lucre actually finds it’s way back to the people that put in the hard yards? Guys like mickey make the images that allow all of us to share vicariously in that special moment… ‘image is everything’ isn’t it?

Pay the man his dues!