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Updated 6 January 2021
Aquabumps: The Beach Blog book
https://vimeo.com/77471555
Aquabumps is the creation of Bondi resident and famed photographer, Eugene Tan. The Beach Blog is Tan's latest book: over 280 A3 pages of uncoated dreaminess, with a focus on – you've guessed it – the beach, and by extension, the ocean. Tan's images are iconic and his passion is contagious. We chat to him about some of his snaps, his beloved Bondi, and his growth as a photographer...
Is Pipeline the ultimate surfing destination?
It's certainly one of the best waves to watch – the drop is breath-taking. It's one of the hardest and best waves to surf in the world. Kelly Slater and Jon Jon Florence all live metres away – so I would say yeah it is.
Who's in the picture, and what does it say about the surfing community?
Locals – a father and son I think. Hawaiians are very family oriented and they all grow up surfing as the culture is built around the surf and beach. They don't work very hard and if there's good waves on any given day – they probably don't work at all. I think they have it worked out better than most!
How do you capture something like this (above, left)?
I'm in the actual wave as it breaks and this is the motion of the water afterwards – it's not easy to hold your breath, swim, hold onto a heavy camera and housing and take the picture – but when you get the shot it's pretty magic.
How has your photography changed in the past 15 years?
I've always photographed the beach at sunrise – but my niche is helicopters from above and underwater – which I tend to do more of now than I ever did before. As the business has grown it's allowed me to hire helicopters and travel to beautiful parts of the world to shoot, so my catalogue of work has grown a lot.
What is your relationship with Bondi?
I've shot Bondi at sunrise for 16 years, I have a business here and my family and I live here: it's home. It's changed a lot over the years – and for the better. We have amazing fresh produce and restaurants, we're close to the city and we have waves most of the year round – I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Is there anywhere else you could/would live?
If my wife had her way North Shore Hawaii, or Byron where she is from.
For more, visit @aquabumps on Instagram, Facebook, or their website.
Order your copy of The Beach Blog book here.
Aquabumps is the creation of Bondi resident and famed photographer, Eugene Tan. The Beach Blog is Tan's latest book: over 280 A3 pages of uncoated dreaminess, with a focus on – you've guessed it – the beach, and by extension, the ocean. Tan's images are iconic and his passion is contagious. We chat to him about some of his snaps, his beloved Bondi, and his growth as a photographer...
The iconic Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Hawaii.
Is Pipeline the ultimate surfing destination?
It's certainly one of the best waves to watch – the drop is breath-taking. It's one of the hardest and best waves to surf in the world. Kelly Slater and Jon Jon Florence all live metres away – so I would say yeah it is.
Who's in the picture, and what does it say about the surfing community?
Locals – a father and son I think. Hawaiians are very family oriented and they all grow up surfing as the culture is built around the surf and beach. They don't work very hard and if there's good waves on any given day – they probably don't work at all. I think they have it worked out better than most!
Left: a wave breaking. Right: helicopter view of Bondi Beach on New Years Day.
How do you capture something like this (above, left)?
I'm in the actual wave as it breaks and this is the motion of the water afterwards – it's not easy to hold your breath, swim, hold onto a heavy camera and housing and take the picture – but when you get the shot it's pretty magic.
How has your photography changed in the past 15 years?
I've always photographed the beach at sunrise – but my niche is helicopters from above and underwater – which I tend to do more of now than I ever did before. As the business has grown it's allowed me to hire helicopters and travel to beautiful parts of the world to shoot, so my catalogue of work has grown a lot.
A collage of Bondi Beach, NSW.
What is your relationship with Bondi?
I've shot Bondi at sunrise for 16 years, I have a business here and my family and I live here: it's home. It's changed a lot over the years – and for the better. We have amazing fresh produce and restaurants, we're close to the city and we have waves most of the year round – I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Is there anywhere else you could/would live?
If my wife had her way North Shore Hawaii, or Byron where she is from.
For more, visit @aquabumps on Instagram, Facebook, or their website.
Order your copy of The Beach Blog book here.
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