Lens Masters

INTRO - Scoring the job as staff photographer for one of kiteboarding's biggest brands is definitely an envious role. It helped being in the right place at the right time of course - working as chef for one of Best's founders, Alex Shogren. The rest is history and Gavin is for sure one of the fastest and most efficient providers of stunning photography that we work with. Check out more of his work at: www.sailfishimages.com , but for now kick back, park your pointer over the first image of Shannon Best attacking Taiba lagoon in the dead of night and let this travelling Aussie kiting-marksman entertain you for a couple...

Where did you grow up?
Newcastle, Australia

How old are you?
33

What was your first camera?
Nikon D60

What is your current set up?
Canon 1d mark2, Canon 1d mark3, 15mm, 16-35mm, 70-200mm, 1.4 ext, 550ex Speedlite, ST2 remote flash, SPL water housing.

How did you get into photography?
Through travelling. I spent a lot of time working, surfing and travelling through southeast Asia and started to really get interested in capturing moments of time in the world through my travels.

When did you become a professional photographer?
I became a professional photographer in 2004 when Best first started. I jumped at the opportunity that arose from the creation of the company and it’s been amazing watching Best and the sport grow from there, especially the level of photography. In the past year or two kiteboarding images have definitely improved. It's great!

When did you get into shooting kiting and how did it come about?
I got into shooting Kiteboarding in 2003 when Alex, Scott Harwood and myself started to kite. At that time I was working as a chef for Alex Shogren who started up Best with Shannon and Jeff Beige. I had enrolled in a photography course to learn more skills as I was getting bored with the chef gig just shortly after Best was formed. It was more of a right time, right place type of thing, Best needed a photographer and I was getting more and more into it. Things fell into place.

Can you remember the first shot you got published?
Not specifically. I think my first shot was in Kiteboarding Magazine in 2004. It was funny, there was so much animosity towards Best when they first started. Several magazines wouldn’t really run our shots or ads, though some did take our ad money just for fun. I think the first shot was in Kiteboarding when Tom James was in charge.

Which is your favourite ever shot?
Shannon’s butter slide down in Brazil at night. We went to shoot the early season sunset with the remote flash. I love doing sunset flash shots. The sky was full of these tiny pink cotton candy clouds. Such a beautiful sunset so we tried a bunch of shots and they looked good in the camera. As it got dark we decided to try some night shots but it's really hard focusing in the dark. It turned out that the sunset shots weren’t super crisp but last shot of Shannon doing the butter slide was prefect. Nice and sharp for a flash spray shot.

Who is your favorite rider to shoot and why?
I would say Shannon. We have had our moments on the road, but Shannon has a creative mind when it comes to shooting. He has great ideas and loads of experience so we always try different angles instead of the same product style shots. Bill Kraft is also great – he is ready to go anytime, whether it's 5am or 8pm. Everyone is fun to shoot with.

Where is your favorite place to shoot and why?
Not sure, I like Brazil because the wind is a given but the brown water doesn’t cut it. Probably the Caribbean with Los Roques being a stand out for sure. Anywhere where the water is blue.

What’s the most terrifying place you’ve ever shot?
I was kind of scared shooting in front of the Statue of Liberty, only because I thought we might get arrested and I could lose my visa. But I guess shooting back in my hometown. Shannon, Stuey Martin and myself shot this outer reef a couple of years ago about a mile offshore. I used to surf that reef when I was kid and it’s a sharky place. People see them out there all the time. I spent about two hours in the water and the whole time I was awaiting the chomp!

Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?
Take your time. Communicate with your rider. Lining up certain backgrounds or shots takes a lot of work and you need to be on the same page as the rider. Have a plan and work the shots you have in mind. Once you get it, move on…

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