Spotlight Series: Chris Kincade

For this week's Spotlight Series we are featuring photographer, Chris Kincade. One of the many things we enjoy about the Spotlight Series is that we get to go a little behind the scenes of what a Photographer is thinking when taking a photo or what a wave rider may have in mind when selecting boards. Please enjoy the feature on photographer Chris Kincade and for more on Chris and his photography add him on Instagram: @chris.kincade

 

Name? Chris Kincade

Spotlight Series: Damian Davilla

Name? Damian Davila (Instagram: @damiandavilaphoto)

Where are you from? Born and Raised and still living on the same house in Rosarito Baja California, Mexico.


What got you into becoming a photographer? I think when I was a teenager seeing my friends getting barreled I was like, "wow! I wish I had a camera so I can take a picture of you getting barreled it looked so epic!"  Back then in the 90s, it was so hard to own a camera especially if you're just a kid with no job and money. So every time I had like $10bucks, I went to Walmart and bought those disposable water proof cameras and tried to shoot. Then I went to develop them and some came out "cool" and the rest came out really crappy, haha, but we were really excited  because we had water shots!


How long have you been shooting/doing wave/wave riding photography? Started playing music, then I got back into the photography around 2008 and then I finished school, and I started again around 2010. Ever since, I've been trying to do it full time for a living, but its so hard! 


What is your ideal set up when shooting? I like SPL housings for water photography because they resist "bombs" but man they are so expensive! I like to use the fish eye for barrel shots and also 50mm for more "flat" images with sharp objects and blurry backgrounds... and for land sometimes I use my 50mm for landscapes and my 70-200mm for action shots.


What cameras are at your disposal? I use canon 60d for water and land, and I also have a canon 7d (cant afford housing for this one)

Favorite breaks to shoot?(Can choose not to share the exact name of the break, but please just be general i.e. Baja, Mexico, Hawaii, South San Diego) My favorite spot to shoot is right here in front of my house in Rosarito, its the heaviest around the region and lots of action going on when its big. I also love Cabo Shorebreak i get to go every summer for CABO FREAK FEST with Manny Vargas to work with him. So I guess anything that is Big and Barrels its my favorite spot.


Shout outs? Yes Thank you to all the people that has been involved in my photography and my career and believing in me and my work. In no particular order some of these beautiful people are My Family, My wife Lisa, Manny Vargas, Mark McNaught, Eric Mehlberg, Big Tony, Justin Cote, Steve Sherman, Fernando Robles, Henry Rodriguez, Javier Valenzuela, Chris Corona, Tony Wodarck, Peter Taras, Steve Sawitz, Joe Foster, Norma Gruel, Marcela Montemayor, Benito del Aguila, Grant Ellis and if I forgot about a few you know you are in my thoughts! Haha and of course all the surf photographers in the world I owe it to you! 


Sponsors? I don't have like real Sponsors but some brands have helped me out on this journey like Hurley, BBR Mag, Volcom, Super Brand, and Body Glove, I would love to have a real sponsor if anyone would like to help me out :) 


Any words of advice when getting in wave/wave riding photography? Go Big!! I'll be there to capture the moment! If you don't go you would never know what would happen! 

Spotlight Series: Marck Botha

 

Name? Marck Botha (Instagram: @marckbotha)

Where are you from? Born and raised in sunny Durban, South Africa.

What got you into becoming a photographer? I have always been aware of the unique perspective that you get when wave riding. I always imagined trying to capture it and share its beauty with people. Then a friend of mine got a cheap hp water camera, had so much fun playing with that in the shorebreak, I was hooked, and soon after that acquired Gopro.

How long have you been shooting/doing wave/wave riding photography? I have been a wave riding for over 20 years, but only seriously got into water photography in the last 6 months. My elder brother, Andre, is one of the best wave riders in the world, and about 2 years ago I started shooting him from the shore. While I enjoyed the photography side, I didn’t like missing out on the action in the waves, so now I am able to combine both.

What is your ideal set up when shooting? My Gopro, in conjunction with knekt trigger. The very small set-up allows you to capture the most unique angles and perspectives and for shooting action shots its hard to beat the frame rate of a Gopro.


What cameras are at your disposal? I have an old school Canon but for water photography, which is my main passion, I only use my Gopro.

Favorite breaks to shoot?(Can choose not to share the exact name of the break, but please just be general i.e. Baja, Mexico, Hawaii, South San Diego) For photographing shore breaks, my favourite spot is right in front of my house as it probably has the heaviest shorebreak in Durban. I really enjoy shooting my friends and older brother, or even just shooting empties of the waves when it’s big and smashing on the dry sand. Up the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal also has some pretty amazing beach breaks, with some amazingly clear water.

Shout outs? To anyone who has enjoyed my pictures or supported me on my journey thus far, - even if it’s just people letting me know they like my work, or that it inspired them to start surfing or be in the ocean more. A big thank you to my parents and family who have always given me amazing support and believed in me. And a special mention to my older brother, Andre and his wife, Trish, who both have endless support and belief in me and have always, pushed me to do more. Also to my mates Jamie Whitson and Nick Smith for the early morning missions and sharing ideas and tricks of the trade.

Sponsors? Haha! Can I say my parents, and older brother (Thanks Andre!) ?

Any words of advice when getting in wave/wave riding photography? Just get in the water and shoot what you love. Enjoy and absorb all the beauty and it will show in your work. Try to capture your own view, not one you have seen before.