70 PROFILE JAMES JAGGER
UK weather
I work for a company called ‘Alamy Live News’ who are
the biggest image provider in the UK. I photograph
anything to do with the UK weather, which fits in really
well with windsurfing, and have to date had photos
published in the Times, the Telegraph, the Express, the
Mirror and the Sun. I also get commissioned to do
various other shoots, including portrait shoots of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, cup finals for the local
football team, family portraiture and weddings. Being
outdoors and capturing the elements however is
definitely my favourite.
I was raised in a family who were 100% into watersports
and if I didn’t join in I would have been sat bored on the
beach. I very quickly fell in love with windsurfing,
waterskiing, surfing and more recently SUP.
West Wittering is a firm favourite as it’s got the
beautiful beach, and South Downs backdrop. It also
gets a huge amount of visitors who regularly form part
of the composition for my images. I also love South
and West Wales as locations for photography, including
Newgale and the Gower, as the scenery is just stunning
and the windsurfing action can be amazing.
Originally, Ansel Adams was a photo hero of
mine for his black and white photography
Outside the UK, Fuerteventura is right up there as one
of my favourite photography locations with perfect
beaches, crystal clear waters, wind and waves.
Originally, Ansel Adams was a photo hero of mine for
his black and white photography, and more recently
David Noten for his landscape images. In watersports,
I love the work of Thorsten Indra who has a real talent
for watersports photography.
In terms of people on the water James Dinsmore is
always great to work with. I went to school with him and
he’s a Hayling Island local so is more often than not out
training off the seafront. Tez P has provided some great
looping sequences recently. He really works the camera
and isn’t afraid to go for the big moves (thanks! - ed).
I’d like to organise a shoot with Chris Audsley as I used
to sail a lot with him and he’s really talented.
Windsurfing is such a colourful and dynamic sport that
it lends itself to being photographed. It’s not just about
the radical jumping/looping shots but also about
capturing people having fun whatever their level. I’ve
had images published of beginners/intermediates at
uk
WIND
SURFING