Reigning The Waves

Q. How did you venture into surf photography and how would you define the transition from being a fireman to a surf photographer?

- Russel Ord

A. I injured my knee while surfing in 1999, and instead of just sitting on the lounge, I picked up a camera and started taking photos of mates surfing. The passion grew from there, and as surfing had become quite competitive and crowded, being reunited with that feeling of freedom, especially when your swimming out alone, was more of an incentive than jostling for waves. The learning curve was steep, especially at the start, because of being self-taught and I was using film. I gradually progressed with my camera skills and was lucky enough to have 20 years of ocean experience to call upon which, I have always said is the hardest skill to learn regarding surf photography. The transition from letting go of the fire brigade to a full-time photographer was an extremely tough decision and took me a number of years to make, as letting go of a secure job to pursue a creative career has its own ups and downs.

Q. How would you describe the Mavericks Surf Break and how important do you think it was in your life?