Interview

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I have always loved photography, especially nature – landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna. I have spent most of my life working outdoors as an archaeologist and a personal trainer. I like to spend most of my leisure time outdoors too. I really began my photo journey during Covid. During Sydney’s lockdowns we would head to the beach at dawn, to be outside while we could. I fell in love with the sun rising over the water, the colour of the sun skipping and tripping across the water. I love how the sun glows through the waves 20 minutes after it’s risen. I found myself drawn to the closer and closer to the water. Most mornings, I would arrive home, drenched, drying my phone and seeing what shots I got. I then bought a cheap water casing for my phone. I was knee deep by this time, capturing little shore breaks becoming increasingly fascinated with the foam and the shapes of the waves, slowly beginning to understand the little patch of beach near my place on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. During those Covid years, my mum died suddenly and it made me really painfully aware that life is fleeting and there’s no time to waste trying the things you love. So, I invested in an Axisgo water housing for my iPhone and fully immersed myself in the ocean and fell deeply in love with it. I’m in my late 40’s, so beginning my ocean photography journey sometimes seems foolish but it brings me such incredible joy and fills me with wonder that I forget I’m out there with my mum bod and wrinkles and I fall in love with the natural world and its incredible beauty.”

What inspires you?

“So many things inspire me, but mainly my children. I want to show them that there is still so much joy and beauty and wonder in the world we live in. In today’s society noticing beauty and experiencing pleasure are rebellious acts, so I’m inspired to capture and create rebellious beautiful moments. I am especially inspired by the ocean and the mountains. Different day to day, hour to hour. Sometimes, the water is calm and clear, other days it’s fierce and angry. But there other moods of the ocean that draw me in and compel me to photograph it – dark, slick, sleek and sexy or barreling perfectly with a glassy jeweled green that you want to touch, waves that break with rainbows illuminated in the sea spray, or the unbelievably exquisite vortex underneath a wave.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I’m looking for moments, moments that you might miss in the day to day rush of life. I’m looking to find moments that people who don’t spend time in the ocean may never see. There are so many extraordinary moments that are breathtaking. My underlying message is that there are so many extraordinary moments in nature, so much beauty and pleasure that we rush by and don’t see. My message is to pause and take in an intimate natural moment.”

“My message is to pause and take in an intimate natural moment.”

How would you describe your work?

“Natural intimate moments. Never to be repeated. Exquisitely wild. Beautiful. Unique.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I am inspired by so many artists! I absolutely love the work of Warren Keelen and Ben Thouhard. Their work is incredible and Ryan Pernofski for his incredible talent and work ethic. Each and every one dedicated to getting up early and getting in the water most days, each seeing the same ocean with a different perspective, but all brining the love of the water to their work.”

What is your creative process like?

“Currently, I set my alarm for 4am, pour a coffee then wax my port and check my gear. Then, while it’s still dark, I head to the beach. I like to take a moment to do some breathing exercises then work out what settings I’ll use depending on the conditions. I click my Canon R6 into my Aquatech edge waterproof housing and into the water I go. The continuously moving water can be quite a challenge, some days more than others. There’s a few different phases of shooting a water sunrise. There’s the pre-dawn colours, which last up to about 20 minutes. Then, there is a lull, which allows you to get ready for the low surface shots at sunrise. These are some of the most magical images. The way the light dances through the water is unbelievable, delicate and fleeting, joyful and bright. The next phase are the backlit waves, which are divine in those 30 minutes after the sun has risen. I usually only have 30-60 minutes in the water, so I shoot what I can and head home to download and edit. To be honest, I’ve spent the last few years editing exclusively on my phone as I need to edit in and around the other responsibilities of my life. Lightroom, Snapseed and Camera+2 are super fun to use. I’m just now learning to use Lightroom on my computer, but I still love the ease and convenience of editing on my phone.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I think an artists role in society is to express their truth – to speak it to the world. To highlight a part of life that other’s do not see or experience. It is by sharing our own experiences and truth that we can connect with the world at large. For me, each of those moments from pre-dawn to just after sunrise are precious, rare and something that must not be taken for granted. The ocean is this incredible natural resource, this magical realm of nature to behold. Artists help other people see what’s magical or painful or heartbreaking about the world. Artists communicate what is deeply felt by many – and it wakes us up. It evokes a response in each person, asking them to pay attention, to care, to take action.”