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Billy Kean, Sumatra. This beachbreak in mainland Sumatra was a rare find. It picked up a lot of swell, and was only rideable when the reefs in the area were tiny. The rips were heavy though, and this hook up with Australian, Billy Kean, was the result of a couple of hours of toil. Image: Sparkes
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Nias. This image, of a reefbreak on Nias, is one that really makes me want to go surfing. The wave is perfect, conditions are still, there is no one out. How quick would you be out there? Image: Sparkes
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Marshalls. This is probably my most satisfying image. It is, even if I say so myself, a landmark photograph, original, new, unique. Looking at this shot, I feel as though I've made a contribution to photography. The surfer wiping out is Andre Sickinger, chef from the Indies Trader 1. Image: Sparkes
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NSW. Local, Mick Moltzen pulling in. This beachbreak, near my home in Northern NSW, lights up under certain conditions to provide spectacularly luminous tubes. I love the refracted light at the base of the wave, a combination of time of day, whitish sand, clear water and west wind. Image: Sparkes
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Dave Rastovich posing for a portrait with a marram grass seed pod. These spoked balls of grass seeds are driven by sea breezes, and roll at high speed along Australian beaches like tumble weeds. They drop seeds as they go and are chased with by delighted Aussie groms up and down the East Coast. Image: Sparkes
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Dean Brady, Telos. Dean is a huge human, and at 6'5" needs a bit of wave to get going. He utilises his bulk well though, attacks thick, wedging barrels like this one with gusto. This is the same beachbreak as the Bruno Santos shot, and there is something so exotic about finding breaks like this in the middle of sharp coral reef zones. Image: Sparkes
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Mainland Sumatra. Depending on the break, the paddle out can be anything from a dry hair cruise through an easy channel to a gnarly mercy dash across surging foam over sharp reef. This surfer is facing the latter situation, and must be patient to avoid a good thrashing. Even then, it is still a possibility. Image: Sparkes
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Bruno Santos, Telos. Another beachbreak find during the Rip Curl Tip to Tip project. Bruno is a Brazillian, and a phenomenal tube rider. He's also the most laidback character you can imagine, rare for those hot blooded latinos! Image: Sparkes
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Northern NSW. This beachbreak is quite well known to East Coast Aussies, and can get crowded. This day was empty though, and I spent 15 minutes shooting line ups, then surfed it alone for 2 hours. Fun doesn't even come close to describing that day. Image: Sparkes
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Joe Haddon, Nias. Joe is from my area in Northern NSW, and has one of the most pleasing styles around. His timing is amazing, and as this shot shows, he can hit the lip too. Image: Sparkes
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Telos Islands. This beach in the Telos Islands would have to be one of the most stunning I've ever seen. Many surfers travel there with their girlfriends, as the beautiful beach charms the girls and helps a surfer's chances of a leave pass to some of the great waves in the area! Image: Sparkes
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Dean Brady, Sumatra. This day at a legendary offshore island was solid 10 foot and pouring rain. The current was fierce too, and to nab a picture like this despite all of those obstacles was very satisfying. Dean waited for this wave for an hour, and I waited with him, labouring against the current and cursing. Afterwards I was cheering. Image: Sparkes
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Indonesia. This righthander in Northern Indo needs a big west swell and just the right wind. It is hard to score as good as this day, but when it is on it is one of the best rights in the archipelago. Image: Sparkes
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Marshalls. This type of split shot, or over and under, is my specialty. I'm trying to make my name by capturing these bisected wave images, and this is one of the better ones. The crystal clear water of the Marshall Islands helps. Image: Sparkes
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Lagundri Local. Many of the locals at Lagundri Bay, on Nias, have quite a bit of attitude. This young punk, around 8 years old, had all the genes of his warrior ancestors. He'll be one of the pack leaders out at Lagundri within a couple of years, and woe to any who drop in on him then. It's always a pleasure to shoot Indonesians, they actually love being photographed which makes life very easy for photographers. Image: Sparkes
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Tom Curren, NSW. Tom recently stayed with me for a week, and I had a ball shooting him surfing my local breaks. At 47 years old, he still has the most exquisite flow and style, and his dry humour is also as sharp as ever. Image: Sparkes
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Trent Munro would have to be one of the most underrated surfers ever. Pound for pound, he is as powerful as Pancho Sullivan, but his tube riding skill is also a suprise to many who see him surf for the first time. Image: Sparkes
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NSW. This wedging right hander breaks on sand, and only happens when the bank is just so, with sand heaped in the corner of the headland. When it is on though, it can get crowded, as everyone in the area wants a crack at nabbing one like this. Image: Sparkes
David Sparkes was born in 1962 and grew up in Bondi Beach, moving to Blueys Beach, on the NSW mid-north coast, in 1998. His first published photographs appeared in the Surfing World Photo Annual in 1984, and he has since had photographs published in publications all over the world. He has been a full time professional surf photographer/journalist since 1996, completing assignments worldwide for Tracks, Waves, Surfing World and ASL magazines. As well as Rip Curl clothing, Billabong clothing and numerous other clients. Dave has traveled to many countries for commercial and editorial shoots including Hawaii, Tahiti, Indonesia, Chile, Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Tonga, Fiji and South Africa. He has shot covers for magazines from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UK, France, Brazil and the USA, including the 2005 cover of the highly prestigious US Surfer Photo Annual.
Dave also covered the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, in Indonesia, in words and photos for Tracks, an unforgettable experience.
For the past 5 years Dave has focused increasingly on “splitshots”, also known as “over and under” photographs, which feature a simultaneous dual point of view, both above and below the surface of the water. Dave designs and constructs his own waterproof camera housings, purpose built to implement his passion for capturing and conveying this amphibious vision. The application of his original techniques in photographing “bisected”, or cross sectional, views of breaking ocean waves is uniquely intimate, creating a rarely seen, dual portal into these spectacular yet ephemeral natural forms. No digital manipulation or Photoshop treachery is used, the images are all captured on camera.
Recently, Dave’s first book, “The Wave: Tales From The Impact Zone” was published by Hachette.
Dave is 49 and now lives in a timber loft at Smiths Lake. Much of his work takes place right outside his back door at the local beaches, as the amazing water clarity and spectacular white sand in the area lend themselves perfectly to the continuing exploration of his over and under work.
