Jem Cresswell grew up with the ocean captured by his eyes; eventually, he would capture the ocean through a lens. “Growing up along the beautiful coast of South Australia, I have had a camera in my hand for as long as I remember,” he says.
His first mentor was his father who was a keen landscape photographer. Cresswell was always encouraged to explore the medium of photography, especially on family holidays where he would compete with his father, capturing the same landscapes.
Cresswell developed a love of the ocean from his childhood and his teens surfing. It was this love that had the strongest impact on his photography. “My absolute love for the ocean has translated itself in my photography career and I am now a specialist water photographer,” he says.
Cresswell went on to experience success as a finalist in the 2013 Travel Photography Awards and the 2014 Head On Portrait Prize and 2014 Head On Landscape Prize. Both of his final images for Head On were influenced by his current direction in exploring all the ways he can work with water.
Moving to Sydney in September 2008 to work as an assistant/digital operator, he has spent the last five years honing his craft. ”I am fortunate that my passion for photography and surfing has also allowed me to shoot surf travel features for several surf magazines alongside my assisting gigs,” he says.
In 2013, Cresswell joined forces with FLIPP Production & Management in order to extend his commercial career, focusing on advertising and editorial with a specialisation in water photography. He is currently working on personal series of humpback whale portraits due to be exhibited in early 2016.
www.jemcresswell.com
Instagram: @jemcresswell
