A chat with Gold Coast Photographer, Blaze Parsons.
My name is Blaze Parsons, born and raised here on the coast. I Love to surf, travel and take photos. The ocean has always been a part of my life. I love that it is ever-changing, with its mix of beauty and power. Each day brings a different natural work of art with new and exciting ways to capture these moments. I’m a full-time concreter which takes up most of my time. But when I’m not working, I try to be at the beach as much as possible. I’m such a kook at speaking about myself. That’s why I’m a photographer; my photos can do the talking haha.
Why did you start with photography? What was your first camera?
I think I got my first camera when I was 11, it wasn’t anything special just an old second-hand film camera, but I loved it! The last couple of years I’ve just been using GoPro’s. I love how handy and tough it was for traveling, surfing and everyday adventures. It wasn’t until the start of last year that I bought a decent camera and starting learning how to use it. A few months after that I bought my first drone, experimenting with different things and learning from there.
You wake up on your day-off and the surf is pumping. Do you grab your camera first or a board?
Both ! I always leave the house with all my camera gear and a couple of boards depending on the swell. I normally try to be up for sunrise so I don’t really know what I’m gonna get until I’m there. It’s a constant battle between paddling out first or shooting photos. Normally surfing is the priority but I almost always do both! I will take some shots, then paddle out and then take more photos after.
What other photographers and artists do you admire?
There are so many! I love Sean Scott’s ocean photography of the coast and his travels around Australia. It constantly feeds my goal to road trip around this beautiful country one day! Also one of my close friends Marc Gardner! All of his ocean and travel photography. He’s kinda been my go to support for everything photography while I’ve been learning. He definitely inspired me to want to take photography more seriously.
What is your most favorite photo you have ever taken?
I have so many favorites but I think my drone photo of the swirl in the surf just off Burleigh headland is my favorite. It was such an epic morning of swell and I’d been taking shots of perfect barrels for a while and then I started to see this whirlpool forming underneath the drone. I was so stoked with it, it was something you couldn’t see without that unique perspective from using a drone.
Who is your favourite surfer to watch?
Definitely Rob Machado! Dude has just got style on anything he rides. Watching him surf wooden Alaia's inspired me to make my own and he changed the way I surf.
Favourite spot to shoot at?
Burleigh headland and Tallebudgera creek. I’m at Burleigh almost every weekend for sunrise and it never gets old! Tallebudgera creek has been my favourite spot on the coast since I was a kid.
What’s in your camera bag?
My bag consists of a Sony a6000 , with a 16-50mm kit lens , a 55-210mm zoom lens and a meikon waterhousing. I also use a Gopro hero 4 with a knekt trigger and dome. And finally a Dji Mavic Pro drone.
Favourite piece of gear ?
Definitely my Dji Mavic Pro. I have wanted a drone for years but they where too big , expensive and the technology just wasn’t there yet. Now I have a portable, flying, high-quality camera that’s small enough to put in a back pack and take anywhere.
What do you love about the Gold coast? What do you hate about the Gold coast?
I love the Gold Coast’s blend of city , beach and the hinterland. I hate how busy it’s getting these days though, but that’s why I start my days early! I get a few hours in at the beach before the rest of the Coast wakes up , then still have the rest of the day for whatever you want to do.
Are avocados overrated?
Definitely not overrated but definitely overpriced , but always worth it for with breakfast food and Mexican
Bacon and Eggs or Acai Bowl ?
Either one ! Depends if the surfs pumping I’ll have an açai bowl , it’s light so I can go back out after ! If it’s not then I’ll get bacon and eggs then have a nap on the beach
Check out more of Blaze's work on his Instagram and portfolio:
Salty Soul Surfwear - Made for the Sea
Tell us a bit about yourself
My Name is Priscila, I am a Graphic Designer and I love surfing. Originally from Brazil, I am now, after 10 years living in this magical place, very proud to have become an Australian Citizen. My sister Luiza lives here on the coast too. She also studied Graphic Design and together we created Salty Soul first Collection. We are always in the water surfing together. The ocean is probably one of our biggest inspirations. ;)
Why did you start Salty Soul Surfwear?
I always dreamed about working for myself. I love surfing and I love swimwear. I am also very passionate about our beautiful planet and it was always very hard to find a brand that would consider better and greener alternatives to make good quality swimsuits that would last… so I decided to create my own eco-conscious surf wear line that would embrace all the qualities I have always looked for in a bikini - durability, sustainability and stylish ;)
Where is everything made?
The clothes are designed here in Australia and made in Bali. We traveled to Indonesia once we had all the designs and prints ready so we could find a place to produce the bikinis. We tried to keep it local but our budget was really small. So we found a family owned business over there and met the people involved with my bikinis. I think it’s important for every business owner to know what the work conditions are when manufacturing products overseas.
Can you tell us a bit about why you chose ECONYL, XTRALIFE LYCRA and to do the #buy1get1tree?
Econyl has a very innovative way to create products from waste. Its regeneration system can be endlessly repeated. They have different initiatives and projects to keep our oceans clean and transform all the waste collected in something that are not only entirely made of regenerated material, but are fully and endlessly regenerable. I just think it’s brilliant!
The buy 1 get 1 tree project came up from the idea of reducing our environmental impact as much as possible. I started looking for initiatives and projects around Australia and came across Carbon Neutral Charitable fund in WA. Then I learned that over the past 50 years, about half the world's original forest cover has been lost and I knew I had to do something to help change that!
Trees are the world’s single largest source of breathable oxygen and play a vital role in addressing climate change. It’s very important to do something about it now before its too late!
What are your plans for the future ?
We are planning on starting up our wetsuit range very soon. All sustainable, using the best quality neoprene and beautiful prints. I am super excited about that! I cannot wait to wear my first Salty Soul wetsuit.
What are your thoughts on the swimwear/fast-fashion industry?
Did you know that second to oil, fashion and textiles is the most polluting industry in the world? Every stage in a garment’s life threatens our planet and its resources. It can take more than 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton, equivalent to a single t-shirt and pair of jeans.
That is why consumers need to make better choices and this industry urgently needs to evolve. Fashion companies must get to know every step in their supply chains and be transparent with consumers. By being transparent with our supply chains, we start to take responsibility for them, including the safety of our workers and the impact we have on the environment.
Photography credit:
Izzy Hobbs: isobellahobbs.wix.com/izzyhobbs
Olivia Nachle: www.olivianachle.com
@saltysoulsurfwear
The Gem of the Indian Ocean
The Gem of the Indian Ocean
by Daniel Chafer
From a young age, I’ve been fascinated with this teardrop-shaped island and its endless possibilities…
Sri Lanka was the ideal country to experience and document its unique cultural hidden beauty. The balmy waters of the Indian Ocean and offshore trade winds made the sea conditions flawless for barrels. With a combination of picturesque coastlines and forest scenery in a tropical climate filled with fascinating natural treasures, I found myself surrounded by people that believed happiness was the vital key in life. The sole driving reason behind this journey was to escape real life duties. To pursue the goal of searching for what lies beyond the fences and encouraged to go beyond the horizon! It’s difficult in our modern day living to find yourself, in a destination free from rules or restrictions. So we tend to grasp the guidelines and only live through our Social Media.
We aimed to beat the Christmas crowds and arrive in Sri Lanka at the end of March to catch the last of the South West swell season. After discussing with 4 good friends in different time zones around the world, they too were searching for something different. We came up with a date and all arrived with the anticipation of finding a car that was up for the Sri Lankan road trip. We found “Betsy” not far from Colombo airport. It was an old beat up Jeep that was used in the Civil War that lasted for 18 years between the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankans. If you’re not used to driving on skinny roads with the potential for head on collisions, then stick to the Tuk Tuks. It was nice to not rely on IPhones or navigational systems to get around, as getting lost with maps lead us to some of our best experiences!
It was time to go searching for waves. That’s what we were here for!
The only plan at this point was to head south to Hikkaduwa. The drive was far from boring, as the windy roads took us through a maze of villages, only to arrive to a tropical paradise of palms along the coastal road. Throughout the next week we experienced such a cultural shock, beauty, kindness and the graciousness from the Sri Lankans. Dinner was always a highlight! Throughout the day most of the Banta in the surf was either about how fast it left your body, or how good the aromatic spice-rich food tasted without eating with a knife or fork! The cuisine typically consisted of Beautiful spices, Fresh seafood, coconut rice, and large bowls of vegetables. The roti’s dipped in their Mango Chutney were to die for!
Pumping waves and picturesque coastlines aren’t the only thingSri Lanka has to offer. Its mountainous interior has amphitheaters of lush green Tea fields that are usually crammed with locals filling bags or hampers of Sri Lanka’s finest tealeaves. Exploring the hillside country never made you feel alone because you would always bump into someone that was always happy to guide you in the right direction.
One of the highlights of our trip was arriving at Coconuts Beach in Midigama one afternoon. We had driven down on to the sand to catch the sunset. While getting out of the car, loads of street dogs surrounded us. We all looked at each other in shock as to what was going on. One of the dogs had something in its mouth but couldn’t see clearly as it was covered in sand. All the locals started coming out of their village to witness a true moment. Baby turtles started hatching from a nest under the car and the dogs where trying to eat them while making their dash to the ocean. With so many people there we were able to form a wall and watch over a 100 turtles take their first step into the Gem of the Indian Ocean.
After covering more then 1000 miles, our journey was coming to an end. It was time to give our lacerated reef cuts a break and head back to Australia. We were unhappy to leave but our memories of the island still get told around a good campfire today!
The best thing about Sri Lanka is it leaves you speechless. Then it turns you into a storyteller.
Words and Photography by Daniel Chafer