It took David Fairs quite a while to discover his love for photography. When he was 10, his mum gave him a camera but, with no real idea how to use it or how to frame images, it all felt too much. An underwater disposable camera to capture photos of his friends surfing was also a bust, with the cost prohibitive and the results poor.
Yet the artist and designer kept coming back to the art form. And now not only is he the creative director of his own video production company, New Light Visuals, but he has just been awarded Highly Commended in the Siena Drone Photo Awards, a prestigious competition attracting more than 9000 entries from around the world.
David grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and his love for the ocean and its inhabitants is evident in his work. His Instagram page is a collection of aquas and turquoise, rolling waves, cruising whales and surfers. “I was naturally drawn to capturing the waves and sea life as well as the beautiful coastal scapes at sunrise and sunset,” he said.
But it wasn’t always that way. “It wasn't until I purchased my first videography and photography setup for my own business that I really fell in love with the art of the still and the moving image. I initially bought my gear to focus on video including my drone but it led to a passion for photography as well.
"I am now fortunate enough to do it for work and as a creative artistic outlet.”
Moving to the Illawarra has allowed David to get to know an area he already loved, in a way that only a photographer can.
“I moved from Sydney to Wollongong in 2021 and have always loved the area so it has been a joy getting to know the beautiful places here even more,” he said. "From the ‘Gong to Jervis Bay, this is my favourite stretch of coast to visit and document.”
One place in particular has become a real favourite and it's where his award-winning shot ‘The Breach’ was captured.
“I am proud that the image was taken locally at a popular whale watching spot in the Illawarra," David said. "It has become a favourite place of mine to watch whales, to surf and to create images. It has given me a real boost of confidence in my work and I am looking to hopefully winning the Siena Drone Award and more competitions one day.”
The image itself captures the awe-inspiring moment the huge mammal crashes back into the ocean, just one of 14 breaches he photographed that day.
In summing up that day for his SuperRare followers, David said, “When I finally plugged in the drone and went through what I had captured, this was the jewel in the crown of all whale images I have captured in my five years of documenting their migration. I have shot many whale breaches before … and have never been able to time the shot this perfectly.
"For me, this shot is as rare as it gets and is a once in a lifetime photograph.”
Read about how 'The Breach' was captured here. If you'd like to learn more, including how to buy one of David's prints, head to Twitter, Instagram or the New Light Visuals shop
Want to see the whales? Discover three great local vantage points in Whales and Where to Find Them
