Photo: Brian Nevins
Nick LaVecchia

In recent years, East Coast photog Nick LaVecchia has grown to become one of surfing's most recognizable lensmen. While his talent is inherent in each of the images he captures it's the location of his portfolio that makes his work so readily apparent.

Based along the southern sea coast of Maine, LaVecchia (along with fellow New England photog and frequent co-hort Brian Nevins) has established himself as one of the premier surf photo journalists in the Northeast. Capturing in detail and subtle beauty the deep allure of New England's rugged coastline and brutal winters.

Be it chasing a hurricane swell or standing toe-to-toe with a ferocious Nor'Easter, Nick takes pride in photographing Nature in her most animated states and has a penchant for doing so in cold environs.

His imagery is regularly featured on Surfline.com, ESPN.com, and in most all the top surfing magazines, including a 2009 nomination for Photo of the Year by Surfer.

For this installment of Lensmen, BNQT had the chance to catch up with Nick in between storms and time spent working with his brother Mike at Grain Surfboards.

- James Sullivan

LENSMEN: Nick LaVecchia

Age: 34
Hometown: York, Maine
Equipment: Canon, Leica and Polaroid
Years shooting: 14
Biggest creative influence: Family and close friends

What inspired you to get into photography?
Traveling and wanting to capture moments in time so I could relive them.

New England is known for its volatile weather. While most are bundled up inside, you're out shooting...what is it about the elements that draws you?
I really like being in situations that are cold, raw and not possible without the right gear. This always seems to be when my most memorable images are made.
Along with Nick, Sam Hammer is constantly on the
search for perfect empty waves in New England.
As a surfer, why did you choose to coast of Maine home rather than heading to Cali or somewhere better known for surfing?
For just that reason. The Maine coast is relatively quiet, the people are extremely friendly and the landscape is unreal. I'm a New Englander.

The original Grain Surfboards "shop" in York, Maine.
Tell us about Grain Surfboards?
Grain was formed in the summer of 2005 from my brother Mike's fascination with wood, boats and water. While banging his head in the basement of our York Beach home, Mike worked out design ideas for a hollow wood board. The construction methods would come from traditional boat building techniques. 4 1/2 years later Grain Surfboards is leading the way in a wooden surfboard revolution. Hand-built custom boards, Home Grown DIY kits and weeklong building classes are all part of what Grain Surfboards has become. Check out www.grainsurfboards.com.

A pair of Grain Surfboards built for Trey Anastasio.
Artwork by Randy Gaetano.
You and your brothers (Mike + Vin) spent years in VT during the 90s heyday of the snowboarding scene: discovering Stowe's woods, going crazy at the US Open... What are some of your best memories from those days and how did those experiences shape who you are today?
Mike, Vin and I grew up skateboarding and snowboarding in NJ. We were lucky enough to take weekend trips to VT. Magic Mountain became our home base where the Glebelands were formed. Following Burton to Burlington, we all adopted Stowe as our home mountain, and soon the Stowe woods would become our new meeting spot.

Nick's brother Vin LeVecchia in a classic portrait
ever associated with the US Open of Snowboarding in
Stratton.So many memorable days there, in deep East Coast powder with your best friends. I'll always remember trying to keep up with Randy, Gavin and JG in the woods. It was like the trees didn't exist for those guys. All these experiences combined made me realize how lucky we were, and still are, to have a close group friends that share similar interests. I'm confident that all the creative energy that runs through the Glebelands is what helped me focus on my direction in life.

Pro surfer Kassia Meador and her 5'4" Grain Fish.
Your work is a blend of landscape, action and portraiture...some combine all three... What, in your mind, makes an ideal photo?
Patience and being totally aware of your surroundings helps to make an ideal photo in my mind. Of course composition and the use of light are important factors as well.

Pat Millin laying it down in Maine during the
afternoon hours of Hurricane Bill.
One of your images was nominated for photo of the year by Surfer Magazine - tell us about capturing that moment.
We had just driven 4.5 hours from our hostel and I was suffering from an extreme fever, chills, aches, and ready to lose it at any moment. It was 38 degrees, the wind was blowing solid 50-60 knots side-offshore, and the waves were still overhead. Thanks to Brian Nevins, the guys were surfing whether they wanted to or not. I just remember standing there in a haze of black sand pebbles, watching Warren and Jesse get swept down the beach after each wave. Being as scrawny as he is, Warren Smith was having a tough time against the elements. It's moments like these that really give the viewer a sense of what it was like to be there. That image of Warren in Iceland sums up my whole trip there.

Surfer Mag's 2009 Photo of the Year nominee. Warren
Smith in Iceland.
You mention another photographer often associated with the New England--Brain Nevins...do you consider him a friendly adversary?
How could I not? Nevins is not someone you want to be enemies with! Honestly, Brian is an amazing photographer who I have a ton of respect for. I don't consider him an adversary, I consider him a good friend. He's a true east coaster with a passion for life and experiencing as much as possible in every situation. I admire that and I think that's why we get along so well. He's living and documenting his life the way he wants to, with no limits.

New England, 8/23/09 Hurricane Bill.
Hurricane season is often called the best time to surf back East; do you agree?
For me, the most special moments happen during our Nor'Easters in winter. This is when you see the true love of surfing.

Living in Maine in the winter has it's advantages.
Nico Evans knows this all to well.
Outside of the Northeast what are some of your favorite locations?
Obviously tropical destinations are great and comfortable to surf and shoot in, but I really prefer the colder more raw destinations. Anywhere north of Maine. Places like Ireland, Iceland and Alaska have so much more to offer as well as the surf. The people or lack there of, the colors, and the landscapes are what keep me going back.

Where do you hope to be ten years from now?
Ten years from now if I'm still traveling, making images and seeing the world with my wife, I will be completely content. I've got a bunch of personal projects I'd like to accomplish along the way as well.

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