Joel Sharpe – Surf, Film and Photography

Joel Sharpe, a Photocircle photographer is also an award winning documentary film maker, currently in production with a new feature film. Sharpe spends his time immersed in different cultures traveling around the world exploring and documenting the world of surf, nature, the arts and helping NGO’s tell their stories.

He has an ability to capture excitement in a photograph but also at the same time there’s a feeling of serenity and peacefulness. As an original Aussie, Sharpe is now based in Central America. He has a beautiful eye for underwater and surf photography and with a growing collection of photographs on Photocircle we were luckily able to catch up with him and ask him some questions.

How did you first discover your love of photography?

I came to photography from a background in documentary filmmaking. I never thought too much about photography until I packed my bags to travel the world early last year. It was on the road that I began taking pictures. While working on my feature surf film ‘Las Olas’ I began taking photos on days when the waves were smaller, but it quickly grew into something much more. I even found myself swapping my photos of surfers for coffee, meals and accommodation.

See Joel’s feature film production page on Facebook!

What’s the most important type of equipment for you, especially when photographing in water?

My most important piece of equipment for photographing in the water is my SPL Waterhousing. It took quite some time to build up the courage to spend money on such an expensive item, but looking back I can’t believe I even debated the decision. Having control over a decent camera all while ducking surfboards and dodging waves is exhilarating, and it is rewarding to be able to sit back at the end of a day with some images that really make you smile.

When you go on one of your travels, what do you take with you? Why?

I am a travelling filmmaker so I have everything that I can practically fit and carry on my back. The places I’m going are harsh on electronics and the crime rates are high so it means sacrificing nice gear for functional multi purpose equipment. My kit includes:

• Canon 7D
• Tokina 11 – 16mm
• Canon 24 – 105mm
• Canon 70 – 400mm
• Tripod
• Sennheiser Wireless Lapel Mics
• Rode Shotgun Mic
• SPL Waterhousing
• Macbook Pro 15”

How do you feel inspired?

Sometimes the world just throws inspiration at you, like a beautiful sunset, a turtle swimming past or an incredible community of people. I have been on the road now for 15 months so I often lose perspective and forget to capture interesting things that now have become normal to me. In these times I have to go searching for it, camera in hand, eyes open to the world, hunting it down even when I don’t feel like it.

Among your works, which one is your favourite? Why?

I like ‘Lip’ (see above) because it captures a special moment in time for me. I took the photo in Guatemala where I began filming the surf film. I sat still in a beach village for a good month or so really getting to know the local guys and the community. The wave itself is weird and warped unlike many waves I have ever seen, it’s a unique split second now captured forever. To me that sums up the place that I took the photo, it is such a unique and special part of the world.

Whose work has influenced you most?

I grew up watching surf films by Woodshed Films. I thought they always did a remarkable job of capturing the feeling of all the places they explored around the world while surfing. I think that in many ways those films inspired in me a desire to see more of the world and to scratch below the surface. There was a time when I was younger when I was listening to a lot of Jack Johnson, surfing whenever I could and watching loads of films that it all just clicked and I knew capturing surf was something I wanted to pursue.

What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting to take photos?

Because of my filmmaking background, my knowledge of how to create an image has always been tied to the moving image. I really had no idea how to control the camera to capture still images the way I imagined them in my head. It is really only now that I’ve started reading up on photography that I’m beginning to learn to see with the camera. There are benefits to picking up a camera and just going out and taking photos, but at some point it is worth spending the time to learn the theory. You’ll end up with more control, you’ll make better photos and even see the potential in things you never had before.

Thank you so much Joel for your words and your insight. Be sure to check out Joel’s latest film project on his website and for his photography, you can buy his prints on Photocircle.