THE EYE OF ANDREW SEMARK

Welcome to our inaugural The Eye Of feature, highlighting some of the best unseen work from photographer Andrew Semark. In recent years, Mr Semark has established himself as one of Western Australia’s most prolific surf photographers, providing a vibrant take on the light and colours of his home state. Always positive, he embodies a sense of wonder; something we think draws viewers into his work. We got in touch to get a better sense of who Andrew is and he gave us some background on a few of his favourite images.

Photos and words by Andrew Semark.

To me, photography means being able to capture moments that you can remember for a lifetime. To look at the world in a different way and experience moments from a different point of view. I shoot because its an expression of what I see around me and a creative outlet that I enjoy. Photography gives me the opportunity to take home experiences around me that I can enjoy over and over again.

This image is one of my favourites. It was summer down south, I spent the day at the beach with my family and had the camera and housing setup with me. Jumped in to cool off and this was the result: perfect summers day, not a drop of water out of place and not a soul in sight.

In Iceland, this is just what you see on the side of the road. You can go through 4 different seasons within an hour. Cliffs and mountains that just rise up out of nowhere. This was a trip just to enjoy and shoot landscapes and it didn’t disappoint.

I am influenced by my surroundings. I like to feel small amongst big landscapes and large oceans. I love winter, love the cold because of the moods winter produces. I am also influenced by the photographers around me. I love to see creatives succeeding in what they are doing and pushing themselves harder and further to develop their craft.

I believe the best thing about being a photographer in Western Australia is the diversity in the surroundings. From the desert up north to the cold south, the amazing coastline and pumping waves – there’s so much to cover. I’ve been blessed to call this home and I still have so much more to see. It’s a rad place to develop your skill in photography.

Iceland has glacial lagoons, northern lights and the most incredible landscapes I’ve ever seen. We sat on the bank of this lagoon waiting for our nutella to defrost because of the sub zero temperatures and watched the ever changing faces of this particular lagoon.

I am currently battling a creative rut now and sometimes its hard to know which direction to take with your work. I’ve spoken to others around me and everyone goes through them, it’s just in these moments remembering why you’re doing it and taking a step back is not a bad thing. I used to fear failure but embrace it now with a change of mentality and a push for a new direction. I love what I do and always try to remember that.

I’ve been working on the idea behind “scale” – people amongst a large landscape that draws people in and makes people appreciate the enormity of their surroundings, it’s a work in progress. Standing on the edge of oceans that are so big, people are so insignificant and this is addictive for surfers and photographers alike. This was a six-metre swell at home in the south-west where the coast gets battered and Jarryd Foster was the only one crazy enough to show the depth of the landscape.

A dream assignment would be to travel to remote, cold climates and shoot surfing in harsh and hard to reach elements. Showing the lengths surfers go to to enjoy experiences others would find crazy. Showcasing surfers in landscapes that bring scale to images leaving the viewer intrigued.