Talk Story

Cole Barash's Talk Story is a photographic study of the North Shore of Oahu, made in close proximity to a young John John Florence at the moment professional surfing's expectations were beginning to weigh on him.

Shot entirely on film over six weeks spent wandering the North Shore with Florence, the book turns away from the noise and hype of action photography toward vulnerability, family life, and the subculture surrounding the sport. The self-published volume runs 76 pages plus cover, perfect bound, and combines five paper stocks with offset and digital printing, released in a numbered edition of 555 copies designed by Tucker Phillips.

The project marked a turning point for Barash, who came up through snowboard and action-sports photography before shifting toward documentary, subculture-driven work; the book was accompanied by exhibitions at Picture Farm Gallery in Brooklyn and Venice Arts Gallery in Los Angeles.