The Australian coast, seen from above.
I moved to Bondi Beach and started watching surfers. Every morning, coffee, same spot on the rocks. There was something about the way the light changed on the water, and the way the waves moved, that I kept trying to hold onto after I walked away.
I started with a camera at ground level. It was good but it was not what I was seeing in my head. Then I bought a drone.
The first time I flew it over the water at Bronte I understood immediately why the ground-level shots were not working. From above, the coast is a completely different place. The geometry of the waves, the colour gradients in the water, the way a surfer looks like a mark on a canvas rather than a person on a board. I had found the perspective I was after.
Where I shoot
I work primarily along the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Bronte, Bondi, Tamarama, Maroubra, Coogee. And Byron Bay, mainly The Pass and Wategos. I go early, before the wind comes up, when the light comes in at an angle rather than straight down.
The work is seasonal. Winter swells produce different water and different conditions to summer. Some of the most graphic shots come in the grey flat light of a cold morning. Others need the turquoise that only happens when the sun is at a specific angle and the water is clear.
About Ocean Line Studio
Every print is original photography. Shot by me, from the air, on the Australian coast. Nothing licensed, nothing stock.
Ocean Line Studio is the print brand built around this work. Each print is produced on archival fine art paper and ships worldwide. If you are an interior designer or stylist looking for something specific, get in touch directly. I am happy to discuss custom sizing or location requests.