Today a top of the range 600mm f4 lens for surf photography from either Canon, Nikon or Sony will set you back north of $13,500 and as much as $21,000.
That’s before even considering a teleconverter to achieve 800mm and a camera body to set you up for shooting from a shoreline. A lot of coin, and certainly not within easy reach of the majority of people living in emerging world economies.
Shooting from the water is a cheaper alternative, but to maximise income by getting as many shots as possible of a surfer’s whole ride, a water kit just doesn’t cut it. Especially on long winding Indonesian walls that an Indonesian friend was requesting help to photograph.
However with the advent of digital camera technology in the 2000’s and new competitors in the digital camera market, there were some interesting alternative kit options out there 10 years ago at interesting prices. (Today the options are even better)
So when Danny came to us with a recyclable small business loan ready to purchase gear. We researched the kit for him to purchase, and provided the training to start his photography journey, courtesy of a few photo and editing sessions at Keramas, Bali.
The standard price for a surf photo in Indonesia, 10 years ago was 100,000 Rupiah. Which may not sound like a lot of money to westerners, but for the average Indonesian, it’s a decent amount of coin. Which was helped by the fact Danny would be the only one photographing on his beach when he got back to his home beach.
Once back at home though, it was not all smooth sailing. Danny needed to improvise a little at his local break to maximise the number of shots he could get. The problem he faced, was that the line of sight between himself and the surfers he was photographing, was often blocked by a wave breaking in front. Courtesy of the long winding waves at this particular reef. So to get over this problem, pun intended, Danny began using a step ladder on the reef at low tide to get a clearer view of the surfers.
Which is not without it’s own hazards!
Notice Danny’s assistant stabilising the step ladder from being washed away from beneath them!
Fast forward a fews years and Danny has paid off his recyclable small business loan, and added doing some ding repair work which and is now supporting not just himself, but a wife as well.
Stoked for you Danny.
Danny on Instagram.
Danny Profiled on Magic Wave Bali
