Moments of Magic

Photography By Bryanna Bradley

Cold water mermaid Bryanna Bradley talks about shooting in the rapidly changing coast of Western Canada, the fun game of trying to avoid hypothermia, and following the ocean’s lead.

Tofino, Canada

What is your history as a photographer?

Usually I say “I started photography when I went to college for photojournalism out of high school in hopes to become a National Geographic photographer”… but the more I think about it, I am not sure that is an accurate answer. Although I had no training, and I was taking photos without any purpose; I always loved having a camera in my hand from a young age. It started with a disposable camera with my friends in elementary school, then my parents point and shoot for Myspace purposes in high school, and then eventually a DSLR in college where I studied photojournalism and went on to work for daily newspapers and news wires here in Canada.

It wasn’t until I moved to Tofino in 2015, after a long break from photography, I realized that I wanted to continue to evolve my passion for photography to the place I felt the most at home, which was the water, with my friends.

How did you start surfing?

I grew up very very far from the ocean in rural Canada, where surfing was considered an exotic sport, but after a passionate teenage obsession with the movie Blue Crush, I obviously had to follow my dream. I went to college and started working as a photojournalist, until one day I booked a one way ticket to Hawaii in the middle of the night so I could learn to surf and hopefully one day become a surf photographer. It sounds dramatic, but at 20 I didn’t know how to walk away from a career and this seemed like my best option.

When I landed in Hawaii, I put down my camera, and picked up a surfboard and fell deeply in love with the sport. Although my stoke levels have ebbed and flowed in the last decade, it was those first moments of surfing that still fire me up to capture moments in the water.

What do you enjoy most about photographing surfers?

To me, there are so many moments in the water as a surfer that just don’t translate into words once on land. I feel that with my camera I have an opportunity to try to share those moments of magic.

What are some struggles you have come across as a surf photographer?

Being dependent on coordinating with other people, surf reports, and weather conditions can make everything challenging.

Especially as a cold water surf photographer?

I don’t like being cold. In the winter, swimming is a constant brain freeze and a fun game of trying to avoid hypothermia, unfortunately I am just too much of a baby to not complain about it. Despite the physical pain, swimming in the winter can be the most magical, especially when it snows.

In your experience, what makes cold water surfing more preferable than warm water surfing?

The challenges from cold water and warm water surfing are so unique, they truly feel like two different sports. Cold water is a mental and physical challenge being here in Canada, it can take some serious self motivation and determination to get to remote waves especially when the weather is against you. But despite the chaos that can come from cold water surf adventures, there is a magic. It constantly feels like a feat to get into pounds of neoprene and freeze your body to the point of no return for the day. But the attractive attribute of cold water surfing here in Canada is no doubt the mood of the cold coast and how it is rapidly changing - there is no denying that it is incredible intriguing for a surfer and photographer.

Tell the story behind your favourite photograph.

It feels almost impossible to narrow down my favorite image, however, this was one of the most memorable moments I have experienced with my camera and friends. It was one of those uncommon times when things all came together, it was new years eve, the surf was small, and it was full moon. We decided to paddle out to full moon surf and catch the fireworks from the water. As for capturing the image it was pretty straight forward, I put on my thickest neoprene because it was the middle of the night and the middle of a Canadian winter, I put my camera and water housing on a surfboard and hung off the board while convinced I was about to be Orca bait, regardless it felt all worth it.

You have shot for brands such as Volcom, Billabong, and Redbull Canada. What was your experience like shooting for them? What did you learn?

My experience with each brand, athlete, and project has always been unique, which I am certain is why I love what I do. I love working with new people, going to new places, and getting to shoot different things. I love observing how different brands work and what is expected of me as a photographer.

In addition to shooting surfing, you also photograph weddings. How do you approach wedding and surf photography similarly and differently?

I was trained as a photojournalist and I believe my approach to shooting all things has stayed consistent to what I have learned in school. It is always about a story that is captured by a fragment of time, the combination of capturing an aesthetically captivating moment and evoking emotion is what I am always striving for.

What makes your perspective unique?

I truly feel like most days I am just pointing my camera and pressing a button.

I don’t know if I have a unique perspective, it might be an illusion that the ocean makes as it is constantly changing and I am just following her lead.

If I could narrow it down to anything it might be that I am terrible at hiding my emotions, so however I am feeling that day will 100% influence how I photograph.

How has photography changed your view of the world?

I feel so privileged to get to use my camera to capture moments and slices of reality. It has made me develop an extreme addiction to beautiful light and human reactions, and I am constantly composing real life situations into photographs in my mind. For this reason, I know the importance of experiencing life and surfing without my camera at times, without it I can be in the moment and those days are vital for bringing new perspective to my photography.