Yes there are always spectacular shots of boats crashing through waves or windsurfers in the air but if you can capture the human side it can elevate the shot to something truly magical .
22PROFILEALEX IRWIN
At what point did the lightbulb go off and you decide to combine photography and water ?
We became members of the local sailing club in Burghfield and my father enjoyed taking photos and had a rather nice camera – a Canon 30D then a 5D MK II with a 70-300 lens . One day thought I would bring the camera down to the sailing club and photograph sailors going round the buoys . This then led on to some sailors asking for the images .
You ’ ve been involved with some significant shoots . What ’ s been your fave to date and why ?
I have been involved in many significant shoots ranging from the Queen ’ s Diamond Jubilee parade down the Thames , capturing the pageant from the top of a 120ft mast , to the London Olympics . That said my favourite so far has probably been the Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary where classic J- Class yachts raced around the Isle of Wight . We were probably the only media RIB that ventured south of the Island and it was pretty extreme .
Where ’ s your ideal location for capturing awesome images ?
There probably isn ’ t one location as such , it is more dependent on the conditions . Bring sun , wind and waves to almost any location and it is transformed into my ideal work place .
What about subject ? Describe your ideal .
For me the ideal subject is the interaction between sailors and their craft . Yes there are always spectacular shots of boats crashing through waves or windsurfers in the air but if you can capture the human side it can elevate the shot to something truly magical .
You ’ re fairly new to windsurfing photography but have been working with WSUK ’ s Simon Winkley . How did this partnership come about ?
Simon Winkley , oh where do I start ? He taught me everything I know ! I am joking , sorry Simon . I met Simon six or seven years ago now whilst photographing at Queen Mary Sailing Club where he windsurfs and owns a boat repair service . He is always extremely helpful whenever we have a problem with our RIB and we have also helped Simon with the odd photography question . He asked if we would work with him on some windsurfing projects and we jumped at the chance . Don ’ t get me wrong I cannot windsurf to save my life – a blind monkey drunk would be a better windsurfer than I am . I love windsurfing , SUP and surfing shots though and was wondering how to capture those amazing moments . Now I feel I am one of those people on the cusp of capturing awesome windsurfing images .
Any funny moments for the two of you whilst on a shoot ?
Snow , rain and -8 wind chill . Right , so this is when I thought I ’ d get some great windsurfing shots wrapped up nice and warm . Well that was wrong wasn ’ t it ? I saw dogs walking past warmer than I was ! I drove down in snow , got to West Wittering where the weather worsened and then whilst photographing we had the whole lot : wind , snow and rain . We got some cracking shots out of it but it was BLOODY freezing ! But with the help of my Zhik Kiama Coat , a few coffees and a good old bacon sandwich we were all back to a normal functioning human beings soon enough . What a cracking day ( honest !).
Plan on doing more windsurfing photography ? If so , anything specific you can tell us ?
I would love to do some more windsurfing photography . I actually own a water housing so some wave shots or beneath the sea shots with the windsurfer above would be awesome . I also really enjoy the lifestyle shots so capturing the windsurfer looking out to sea or warming up in their van and so on would be cool . I feel doing a photoshoot isn ’ t just about capturing the product , it ’ s also about capturing the story of the day , so if you have a puncture on the way back from the photoshoot , photograph it , as it ’ s part of the story . Wait did I just say that ? That never happened on a photoshoot with Simon did it ?
Talk us through your tools of the trade . You ’ ve shelled out for some costly equipment .
Do I have to ( crying sad face )? It ’ s a hefty investment ! With technology constantly changing and quality of video and photographic equipment getting better and better it ’ s a profession that you have to keep up with the times on . For example the drone market is booming and clients are wanting that aerial perspective whether it ’ s photo or video . We are fully qualified and CAA approved . So without going into too much detail equipment is costly but we are completely self-sufficient . We have a 6.5m rib configured for videography and photography with a fully commercial advanced powerboat driver at the helm : David aka my dad .
How ’ s working with your dad ?
Really beneficial , he is a sailor , knows how to work a camera and as mentioned is the RIB driver . With his sailing experience he can put us safely in the best position for shots . For close up drone work he flies the drone and I operate the camera . This means that 100 % of my attention goes into the imagery .
Yes there are always spectacular shots of boats crashing through waves or windsurfers in the air but if you can capture the human side it can elevate the shot to something truly magical .
WIND
uk
SURFING