Photographic proof, compelling argument, in ongoing IG battle with Steve Sherman…
“What a cruel thing war is. To fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors.”
The great confederate commander Robert E Lee’s words still ring true, even 150 years after the south’s capitulation. Yesterday BeachGrit reported on the ongoing Instagram feud between surf photographers Steve Sherman and Mike Balzer, both Californians, over who shot the cover of Focus (it was Balzer).
Mike Balzer was keen to clarify the record today, and included photographic evidence of his claims.
From Mike:
“Not really wanting to continue the social media pissing match but let me lend some facts to this fire. The reason I call “Fraud” on this is the quote by Steve himself see below. “He then used it for his Focus video cover”.
Is that a true statement? Is this photo the actual photo used on the Focus video cover? No is the answer to both. So why is Steve lying about this? Is it because he wants his T-shirts to sell at any cost? Will he say anything to sell those T-shirts? It appears so. Why else would this start off with “Decisive moments in T-Sherms history #8”. It’s bullshit.
The real Cover of FOCUS has a photo of Shane Dorian @ Puerto Escondido, Mexico doing a backside air. Did Steve shoot that photo?
No. All I am doing is calling bullshit on him with facts and proof. Go ask Steve yourself about this and ask him if he was on any of the New School trips. He wasn’t. And by the way Taylor never employed me I gave him the photos to use back then. So if you want to find out any more truthful info about those times let me know. I am not hard to find.
And for more proof that I was there to document the New School/Momentum crew my photo of Slater on the Cover of MOMENTUM.
I also shot the defining New School photo on the North Shore 1993 that showed who was in the movement. (Front page shot.)
As with all things like this the Editor, YOU, have the last word and can make a person out to be a jackass. I hope you can see that my attempt here is to suss out Sherman and make him tell the truth and not bullshit at the cost of his integrity to sell some T-shirts.
Hope you understand.
Mike Balzer the less sexier human than Steve as you like to put it.”
So who did what again? Not that I’m pretending to give a fuck because I don’t. I take it both of them are skint and trying to find ways of funding documenting Laird on his next waterman challenge?
A better fight would be over who has the most notches on the belt in regards to juvenile pro-surfer knee sitting.
So, was Sherman’s the back cover? Wait! I don’t give a shit!