Imagine capturing what some are calling ‘the best surf photo’ from Good Friday’s big swells – then imagine hearing the surfer in the shot is actually two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll!
That’s exactly what happened to well-known local photographer Richard Hirst. We chatted with Richard about his incredible surf images…
Did you know it was going to such a big swell on Good Friday?
Yep I’d been watching the surf forecasts and could tell it was going to be a very big day but to be honest, on the morning I completely forgot and had to rush out at the very last minute when I remembered! So I was actually very lucky to fluke a few decent shots.
People are saying the surfer in the shot is Tom Carroll. Did you know you were photographing him?
I was just shooting at Avalon and had no idea it was Tom. And in fact, I only realised a few days after taking the shot that it was actually Tom in my photos when someone commented on my photo on Facebook. Pretty cool as he was a childhood idol of mine… way back when ; )
Where was the photo taken?
I was up on the south headland near the carpark at Avalon. I love shooting from up there, especially when it’s big because there’s such a buzz. It was packed with cars and people everywhere. When Tom caught that wave there was a very loud cheer! I just assumed it was because it was an awesome barrel but maybe others recognised who it was!
Why did you decide on Avalon on the day?
I always check the webcams and as soon as I saw the cam at Avalon that day I literally grabbed my keys and raced out the door! It was a perfect offshore breeze and just amazing light, with some absolutely monster sets rolling in.
How long was the photography session in order to get that incredible pic?
Not as long as I would have liked! With 3 young kids, things are always a little hectic so I actually only had 30 minutes to shoot as we had to get to a family get together. It was real tough having to rush off from the beach on a day with such epic, rare conditions…. but, hey, family comes first! Love ya Janie, Sammy, Eliza, Tommy x!
Did Tom come out the other side of the barrel?
He sure did. Hey, he’s Tom Carroll! That was just a training wave for him ; )
You’ve captured some of the Northern Beaches’ best photos – is this one of your favourites?
Yes the Northern Beaches are just incredible for photography. I used to live in the east and spent a few decades capturing the sunrise at Bondi, Bronte and Coogee but there’s definitely more variety on the north for photographers. This shot is up there in terms of favs, but I’ve been lucky enough to see and capture so many amazing spectacles, it’s real hard to compare.
Out of all your amazing images, do you have a favourite?
That’s a real tough question! I’ve seen double rainbows, massive storms, whales, dolphins, massive surf, Milky Ways, full moonrises, incredible sunrises and sunsets, crystal clear water and so much more but if I had to choose I would say it is when I captured a very powerful Aurora over Narrabeen Lake. It’s extremely rare for an Aurora to be strong enough to reach as far north as Sydney and to be able to see it, it has to also hit on a night when there is no moon and no cloud. All those conditions lined up one night. I was all alone by Narrabeen Lake at around midnight. It was dead quiet, not a breath of wind, nor a human in sight. After a few hours of patient waiting with nothing, I was just about to pack up and head home when suddenly these amazing bright pink lines rose over the sand dunes and lit up the sky and mirrored lake below. It was an experience I’ll never forget and one I may never see again.
Has Tom ordered prints of the epic pic you took of him?
Nah, I tried to reach out to him on Insta but I don’t know him so he hasn’t responded. If you know him, let him know he’s welcome to a free print. Actually, maybe I’ll swap a print for a surf lesson ; )
The Northern Beaches offers so much scope for incredible images. Are there any local photography subjects/locations/circumstances still on your bucket list?
Yes you’re right, I feel like even though I’ve captured most of the Northern Beaches, I’ve really only scraped the surface and there is so much beauty still to capture. As I live in Bayview and am super busy, I tend to just rush down to Mona Vale Beach or Narrabeen when the conditions are right but I do need to make more effort to get to beaches like Manly and Freshie in the south and up to Palmy and Whaly in the north. I guess that’s the beauty of it – it’s a neverending pursuit as the conditions are always changing and that’s what keeps me inspired.
You can follow Richard’s photography, or order prints of his work via:
Instagram: @hirstyphotos
Facebook: Hirsty Photography
To order prints, e: info@hirsty.com.au or go via Richard’s website: www.hirsty.com.au
For more on Richard’s incredible capture of the Aurora over the Northern Beaches, see here: https://northernbeachesliving.com.au/local-photographer-captures-rare-aurora-lights-over-narrabeen/
