Photographer Brian Bielmann’s career spans decades, and he has delivered some of the industry’s most iconic imagery. His body of work is vast, boasting vivid blues and water-level immediacy that transports viewers. He has consistently produced photos that have captured and immortalized some of the most remarkable moments (and souls) the surfing world has ever seen. Check out our interview below for some insight into how he got his start and where his journey has taken him, and be sure to click the links after the Q&A to see more of his work. You won’t regret it.
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Q. How long have you been into photography?
BB: I Started shooting in 1978, thought it would be a great way to get to keep surfing, and back then the kings of surf photography for me were Art Brewer, Jeff Divine, and Aaron Chang.
Q: What was the first camera you bought yourself?
BB:I bought a Canon FTB and had to learn all by myself. I was too shy to ask for any help.
Q: When did you decide to make surf photography your career, and how did you make it happen?
BB:In 1978, and I bought everything I needed, which was a Century 650 a Canon FTB camera body, and I actually made my first water housing with the help from Ron Condon, who’s a filmmaker I met back then and who had made his own housings. I just made up my mind that was what I wanted to do, but the hard part was to grab my camera instead of my board.
Q: Do you surf, yourself?
BB: I do surf. Not as much as I should, but trying to change that. It seems like I say that every winter.
Q: Have you ever surfed competitively?
BB: I never surfed competitively, but actually I was on a Billabong shoot in Australia, and Jack McCoy made us all enter in the Camera Man’s Cup. I ended up winning and then Jack was mad at me. I think there were 5 of us in it. Really huge thing in my career.
Q: What’s a photo you will always remember taking? Who’s it of and where was it taken?
BB: Well, one of my favorites was of Andy Irons paddling out at Pipe, and it ended up being the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters poster. Really memorable, because he looked over at me just before I snapped the photo and said what he always said to me, which was, “Living the dream, Bielmann. Living the dream.”
Q: What would be the “shot of a lifetime” for you right now?
BB: I would like to go to Shipsterns and shoot any of those guys that surf there. It looks so beautiful and crazy, which are the two things to me that make a great photo.
Q: Name some things that make your job amazing and some things that make your job difficult.
BB: Well, the traveling and the traveling. Love it, but it can be tough. I also am trying to adjust to the internet and Facebook, etc. You have to be good at all that multimedia stuff and it’s really time consuming. It seems that some of the most popular photographers these days are not always the best (photographers), but the best at social media. It’s the way things are and I’m trying to adjust.
Q: How has surf photography (and your photography) changed since you first got started?
BB: I guess it has not changed as much as just gotten better. We had it really hard compared to nowadays; film compared to digital is crazy. We would go on a trip and not even see our photos for a month. Now you see it a second after you shoot it, adjust it and bam, got it. And of course you don’t need to focus and everything is auto. That’s of course why there are so many photographers now. You used to have to learn how to use a camera, and now it’s all about your imagination and there are a lot of people out there creating a lot of good work. It’s really a lot harder to compete now, but I’m still hanging in there.
Q: What’s your favorite WCT stop?
BB: Tahiti, of course, although this will be the first year I think ever I won’t be there, as Transworld Surf magazine is gone and so is my free traveling. But, heck, I’ve been there 20 times, so it’s kind of nice to be home in Hawaii.
Q: What is the most incredible experience you’ve had in the water so far this year?
BB: I would say Pipeline on the day of the year in backlit conditions. I’m 56 but still managing to get out there. I’m slower than I used to be but I got some great ones last year. Funny, there was a day last winter with 6 jet skis out and there were guys who had never swam out there, and I remember thinking, “No, you should not be allowed out there on a ski till you have actually swam it.” Just doesn’t seem right.
Q: Who inspires you?
BB: My favorite photog is Art Brewer, and I watch the young guys. They are getting some cool images.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?
BB: Better love it and better be good at it and be easy to get along with. Also, be respectful of other photogs, because your bad reputation will always follow you.
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