ONE LIFE: A Photographic Journey - Chasing Swells & Following My Creative Instincts. 2023 was a great year to be alive, to be free to travel the world, to attend events, explore new locations and experience all the magic this life has to offer.
Travelling to all seven continents in the one year was a first for me, also being the first time I have visited Antartica, more about that trip later on.
ASPIRATION: My aim as a photographer is to create the best images I can possibly take of the subjects that I love to shoot. And to share these moments through Fine Art prints, Editorial magazines, Web media and Commercial clients. The goal as a stills photographer is: to create in a single image that evokes an emotional impact that resinates beyond what is literally in the image. Something that relates on other levels. This may be different for each individual, it may be spiritual, philosophically or artistic.
ACTION INTO ART: These prints featured are available as Art Prints on my web site. Others are larger bodies of work to be revealed in the near future. Included in these genres that I have a deep passion for are:
Extreme Action Surf - Beautiful unique Fine Art Portraits
Fine Art Ocean Images - Interpretive Travel Images
SURFING LIFE: As in life it can sometimes just be the small differences that separate us that drastically affect any given outcome in life. Only a few paddle strokes separate these three incredible watermen, yet the out comes are so dramatically different.
January commenced with a raid to Hawaii to score the Best Big Wave Surf Event ever witnessed. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay, where the best paddle surfers in the world pay homage to the late Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian lifeguard whom died attempting to rescue others off Molokai, back in 1978. The image I captured that day that stands out to me is “Caught Inside” as I believe reflects a lot about “Life” in general.
It is a massive wave with three surfers paddling up the face.
On top of the wave is Ian Walsh, experiencing a sense of jubilation - relief of survival.
In the middle is Grant “Twig” Baker in a no man’s land of “May Be - MayBe Not” with a slight chance of staying alive.
And the third surfer, elite waterman Jamie Mitchell experiencing a living nightmare and a battle for his own life is very real.
‘CAUGHT INSIDE’ is awesomely beautiful in a terrifying way with an endless variety of metaphors that can be applied.
BACK HOME: At home in Australia I spent time with family in Victoria. During that period I managed to capture some beautiful Seascape images at a local beach called Undertow Bay while utilising the superb optics of a Leica lens.
B&W FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY: I have been spent time in Bali during 2023 creating images that utilises my skills in water photography and my passion for unique portrait images. Working with a variety of stunning models, creating a body of work from many years of experimenting, refining - all will be reveal later in 2024.
ANTARTICA: March, I had an Epic Journey assigned to document scientists and marine biologists studying whales in Antartica courtesy of Intrepid Travel.
It’s not just the conditions that make photography challenging. I believe it is the sheer awesomeness of the experience that is almost impossible to express.
Whilst in the neighbourhood I went for a drive around god’s finest handy work “Patagonia”. An area that straddles two countries Chile and Argentina. The region has some of the most 'gobsmackingly' stunning scenery on the planet.
It is indeed an experience
EPIC SURF AT TEAHUPO’O: May 2023 was a revisit to Tahiti where the previous year I had mixed blessings. Documenting one of my best ever action images of a lone surfer going over the falls backwards at massive Teahupoo.
“End of the Road” is a beautiful nightmare.
This image made the finals of the prestigious ‘Red Bull Illume’ Photo Awards in the category of “Master Piece” for 2023. Ironically three days after that swell it was myself and several other colleagues whom were in a similar predicament. Ejected from a boat into the impact zone as we were caught inside during a huge swell. No physical damage from our wipe out but at a loss of thousands of dollars worth of photographic equipment.
Awesome Power: This year things went smoother with very similar swells almost to the day from the previous year. With Guests stars like Kai Lenny making an appearance against the awesome power that is Teahupoo.
MALDIVES, INDO, NZ & NAMIBIA: A visit to the Maldives to shoot a celebrity surf event, back to Indonesia and short visit to the stunning South Island of NZ.
Skeleton Bay: Then a massive southern hemisphere swell lured me to the world’s longest most perfect left hander “Skeleton Bay” in Namibia. However, I did get to witness one of the biggest swells at this phenomenal location from above in an Ultralight.
Photo conditions were less than perfect.
HUMPBACK WHALES: As a personal treat to myself; a return to Tonga to swim with the Humpback whales and document their majestic beauty. A life changing event for many whom are privileged to experience it. The close up interactions with these creatures is difficult to put into words.
It was a form of photographic ecstasy
NEXT LEVEL SHIPSTERNS: The frequency and power of the southern hemisphere storms was relentless in 2023. This was highlighted with a trip to Shipsterns Bluff on a swell deemed more powerful than anything that had previously surfed.
A crew of hard core local talent and the odd guest surfer saw extreme surfing taken to the next level. A rocky trip out through backwash and rough confused seas, saw me being as seasick as humanly possibly. But I believed my position was much more tenable than the surfers who launched in to some of the biggest Shipstern’s ever surfed whilst confronted by a boulder strewn cliff face on a remote Tasmania coast.
It was one of the most spectacular surfing sessions I’ve ever witnessed.
Ironically the same day, professional surfers are showered with thousands of dollars for surfing in a three foot wave pool on the other side of the planet. The above image of local legend Jimmy McKean, bottom turning in to a twenty five foot monster, won the category of 'Energy' in the prestigious Red Bull Illume awards.' The prize which I was invited to Austria to receive, just a few weeks ago.
Another stand out surfer that day was Russell Bierke, a fearless, technically excellent extreme athlete - You can see this Massive Surf Print WV#52 along with the entire collection of Classic Surf Photography Prints HERE >>
SURF EXPLORATION: Recently, more travels in more remote areas of Indonesia aboard Martin Daly’s “Indies Trader 3” with Martin’s son Walker at the helm. It’s pretty special to spend intergenerational exploration with the greatest surf explorer on earth in Martin Daly - and the tradition continues.
FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY: When the world feels distracting and you’ve lost sight of your last great adventure. When you’ve forgotten what it feels like to have a dream. When you need to remember that the ocean can restores your spirit.
Photo Art: To evoke an emotion - daily
Big Amazing Art Prints to display on your empty walls at home, in the office or anywhere that needs to be filled with inspiration, energy, beauty and colour - ART.
Yes. Twenty Twenty Three has been big in more ways than one.
It’s my privilege to be in a position to share my photographic journey with you and look forward to continuing to do so in 2024. Thank you for your continuous support and generous comments on Instagram. Ted
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