My latest trip provides a glimpse of Bali life and the surfers that keep coming back year after year. Anyone who has been to Bali knows it’s an extremely special place. The following interview was conducted by Jennifer Schmeer.
Born and raised? Where do you call home?
Born in Sacramento, California. My first memory is of living in the mountains between Carson City and Reno. My dad was a ski racer from Switzerland and the school let you ski a few times time a week. I was at that time one of four kids and was the only one that liked skiing. We moved to Huntington Beach at age 12, and I’ve been a surfer every since. However, Hawaii is my home. I moved there in 1969 and have been going back and forth ever since.
How old were you when you first picked up a camera?
I first picked up a camera in junior college (Leeward Community in Pearl City, Hawaii). I got a dark room and I knew I would be doing this lot. I didn’t start shooting surf till much later when digital cameras came out.
How many times have you been to Bali?
This is my fourth trip to Bali. First was for two months. The next was for four months. The next was for five months. This time will be four to five months. When I got too sick to surf and couldn’t stop going to the beach, I started shooting. I would just be at the beach. The first people who showed me enough to make it real fun was William Sharp from the Ventura area, Greg Hoover, and Sean Hayes. So much love out to those guys for all my dumb questions.
What do you love about Bali?
Bali just has so many spots to surf. Some are challenging to get to and the beauty of the place. The more I come here, the better it gets. This year Raymond King (surfer) hooked me up with a local family to live with. That may have turned the corner for me going native. The Yes family is my Bali family.
With photography being so competitive, what inspires you to pick up your camera and do what you do every day? What advice would you give someone who wants to be a professional photographer?
That is easy. The hope of getting that sick shot and the hunt is pretty cool. If you want to became a photographer, you better like being poor. If you can find a job in life that makes you happy with travel, then you might like this job.
Who have you been shooting with lately?
I traveled with Adam Bennett last year and he is an amazing surfer. This year I think more of my friends from Hawaii are traveling with us and a few from the East Coast. I’ll shoot anyone who rips a good wave.
For more of Terry’s photography, check him out on Instagram and Facebook.
