We at Sea Chapel understand the delicate nature of sharing images and videos of surf locations. We understand there are varying opinions and beliefs on how this should be done. We also have no desire to engage in pointless debate about these opinions online. Below is our policy to photographing and videoing and sharing these digital assets publicly.
1. We aren’t locals, anywhere. Between 2023 and 2024 we have photographed 113 beaches across Australia. We also don’t believe in the idea that any human owns the ocean, yet we are all responsible for where we are. This responsibility breeds pride and a desire to ensure places are kept excellent. This at times can manifest negatively as “localism”. We don’t condone the negative behaviour of “localism” in any shape or form. Have pride in your home, but please understand this “home” is to be shared. No one owns the beach, the ocean, or surfing. Greed and surfing don’t belong.
We ensure that we never leave a place worse than we found it, and in turn, at times pick up others trash to make a place better. Our desire is to carry the same pride in a place we would call home, anywhere we go.
2. Tourists should respect locals. There are common sense guides in and out of the water that should be adhered to.
Locals should respect tourists. There should be common sense understanding of how the local economy works.
3. If you don’t want your photo taken, please let me know. This has happened twice in 14 years of shooting surf, but i will always respectfully adhere to your desires as a surfer.
4. When posting videos or photos online, we share generalised locations (town names) and nothing else. We also delay our posts to ensure, on the rare chance that mass amounts of people follow us in a location, that we don’t influence the number of surfers at a location. This isn’t something we have done in the past and understand the impact we have had on rare occasions, but are committed to from here on out (2024).
5. We currently don’t charge surfers for high resolution photos of themselves. We don’t judge those that do, but it isn’t something we do. If you want any digital assets of yourself, please let us know. As a surf photographer I pride myself in playing a part in the surfing community.