When we returned to Huzzas after a break to change batteries the wind had gone nuclear. This is the bottom of Australia, completely exposed to the fury of Antarctic storms and weather here can have a mind of its own. This wind direction was predicted for the whole day, but was absent in the morning. It turned the jetski was being blown like a sail in towards the impact zone, the relentless spray was blinding, trying to keep my port clear a challenging experience, refractions from the channel further shifting us towards the danger zone. If I was just sitting on the back as a passenger it would be easy but to drive and shoot in this. Hard. There is an interesting battle that goes on amongst the sensory experience of it all and the understanding of the priveledge of the moment. to be able to be here. Witnessing the wind blow the barrels open creating radical sculptural volumes that dont look real.
Even though waves are relentless, special moments only seem to present themselves a few times in a session. To create, as you know, im locked into the viewfinder while the jetski drives itself. trusting everything that Ive done in the moment, Im seeing glimpses of this through the viewfinder as the shutter does its thing. Its almost surreal in the moments after, you sit back down with disbelief at what you've just witnessed. The shear of this lip folding and the almighty volume of water hurtling towards the barnacle encrusted slab below, while the jetski is being blown like a sail towards what feels like a sheer cliff... Its so insane. You are completely alive.
