Life Around the Sea: Capturing the Heart of Australian Surf Culture

What first inspired you to create Life Around the Sea?

I found more meaning in capturing what was already happening – those quiet routines, the raw beauty, the way the ocean quietly shapes people over time, often without them even realising it. It felt more real than chasing the big, action-packed moments.

How did you choose the surf communities and individuals featured in the book?

It was never a checklist or a plan. It was more about following connections and being
welcomed into people’s lives. I’ve met a lot of people through surfing, photography, and just travelling the coast over the years. The ones that ended up in the book are those who felt authentic to the story – people who live and breathe the sea, without needing to say it out loud.

Many of the people in the book seem deeply connected to place, how important was location in shaping each person’s story?

As surfers and ocean dwellers, the locations where we engage in our ritualistic activities become extensions of ourselves. The water’s edge, a boundary between land and sea, is far deeper. The surrounding rocks, reefs, sand dunes, points, and coastline’s nooks and crannies not only mark seasonal changes but also form the backbone of how we adapt and navigate an ever-changing environment. We become anchored to a location, which can be a place of healing, solace, joy, or sadness depending on our experiences both in and out of the ocean. This bond often profoundly shapes who we are and how we live our lives.

What does ‘Australian surf culture’ mean to you, and how did that shape your storytelling and photography?

There’s history, there’s grit, and there’s a deep respect for the coastline. What shaped the book was my attempt to portray culture honestly. Not just the clean lines of a wave, but the families, the early mornings, the storms, the quiet work behind the scenes. That’s surf culture to me.

Were there any moments during the making of the book that completely surprised you or shifted your perspective?

Yeah, a few. One that stands out was with Talon Clemow, a filmmaker from Tasmania.
He’d moved his whole life down there to live closer to the wild coastline. No fuss, just pure commitment. Watching him work reminded me how personal this connection to the sea is. It’s not about the camera or the shot. It’s about the place, the people, the respect.

How do you think surf culture reflects broader themes of Australian identity and lifestyle?

There’s that laid-back image of Australia, but beneath it lies hard work. Surf culture mirrors that. You’ve got to be patient, you’ve got to be present, and you’ve got to respect what’s bigger than you. I think that speaks to how a lot of Aussies live – grounded, adaptable, and often shaped by the land or sea around them.

What challenges did you face in capturing the more intimate, everyday aspects of life around the sea?

Trust, mainly. You can’t just walk in with a camera and expect people to open up. You’ve got to show up without an agenda. Sometimes the best moments came when the camera was down, and I had to find ways to capture that when I picked it back up. It’s not easy capturing something quiet and personal, but that’s where the real stories are.

Was there a particular story or subject that really stayed with you after the project wrapped?

Honestly, I find everyone’s story inspirational in its own way. Each person brought something unique – whether it was their connection to the ocean, their way of life, or just how they carried themselves. It’s the collective of all those perspectives that stayed with me.

If you could revisit one profile and spend more time with that person or community, who would it be – and why?

I’d love to spend more time with author Jock Serong in Port Fairy, Victoria. The depth and purity of Jock’s writing are qualities I aspire to. To outsiders, much of his deep connection to the coastline he calls home goes unseen. But spend time with him and he reveals stories of colonisation, wild explorers, and waveriders who – under a cloak of anonymity – have lived rawer, wilder lives than most could imagine. In a noisy world, tuning in and listening to a place’s heartbeat, understanding its rhythm, reveals more about ourselves, where we’ve come from and offers fresh perspectives born from that stillness.

Life Around the Sea: Capturing the Heart of Australian Surf Culture is available now at book retailers throughout Australia. To keep up to date with the latest work from Russell and Alex, follow their journeys online.