David Sparkes was born in 1962 and grew up in Bondi Beach, moving to Blueys Beach, on the NSW mid-north coast, in 1998. His first published photographs appeared in the Surfing World Photo Annual in 1984, and he has since had photographs published in publications all over the world. He has been a full time professional surf photographer/journalist since 1996, completing assignments worldwide for Tracks, Waves, Surfing World and ASL magazines. As well as Rip Curl clothing, Billabong clothing and numerous other clients. Dave has traveled to many countries for commercial and editorial shoots including Hawaii, Tahiti, Indonesia, Chile, Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Tonga, Fiji and South Africa. He has shot covers for magazines from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UK, France, Brazil and the USA, including the 2005 cover of the highly prestigious US Surfer Photo Annual.
Dave also covered the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, in Indonesia, in words and photos for Tracks, an unforgettable experience.
For the past 5 years Dave has focused increasingly on “splitshots”, also known as “over and under” photographs, which feature a simultaneous dual point of view, both above and below the surface of the water. Dave designs and constructs his own waterproof camera housings, purpose built to implement his passion for capturing and conveying this amphibious vision. The application of his original techniques in photographing “bisected”, or cross sectional, views of breaking ocean waves is uniquely intimate, creating a rarely seen, dual portal into these spectacular yet ephemeral natural forms. No digital manipulation or Photoshop treachery is used, the images are all captured on camera.
Recently, Dave’s first book, “The Wave: Tales From The Impact Zone” was published by Hachette.
Dave is 49 and now lives in a timber loft at Smiths Lake. Much of his work takes place right outside his back door at the local beaches, as the amazing water clarity and spectacular white sand in the area lend themselves perfectly to the continuing exploration of his over and under work.
