From Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i, I’m incessantly glued to camera viewfinders, DaFiNs, and the sea. My passion for photography, particularly underwater and surf photography, was shaped by a childhood where I was constantly playing in and around the ocean. As a long-distance swimmer and surfer, I’d say my strength as an athlete in the ocean and tide allows me to capture swimmers and surfers in the special way that I do beneath the sea.
Lately, I have been involved in shooting photo and video content for Alison’s Adventures. Go check it all out on www.alisonsadventures.com.
“My aim in making photos is to capture and accentuate the beauty in what surrounds me. Photography to me is a mode of visual problem solving and a way to perpetuate the stoke, whether it be above the surface or below.”
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The Inertia: What’s your gear of choice?
Sarah Lee: It’s a mixed bag, depending on the occasion: iphone 5, gopro 3+, DSLR in an outex water cover or a kobetich surf housing with a 10″ dome port.
Who do you look to for inspiration on Instagram?
@aloha_bigmike for his sense of humor.
@surfkooksurfclub just because.
@nikonos_project for their 35mm water shots.
What do you look for in a photo?
I like to make photos that accentuate the beauty of what already exists which inevitably creates a surreal quality to the photo itself.
Your favorite filter?
Any of the black and white filters (above are willow and inkwell, from top to bottom)!
Your favorite image of all time? What’s the story behind it?
It reminds me of those surf missions where you spend the whole day looking for waves and end up right back where you started. I was photographing some friends around the Big Island and, after hours of driving and hiking, we ended right back up at the beach where we started. This is the first photo I posted upon joining Instagram.
Favorite location to shoot?
There’s this magical spot in Fiji I can’t wait to return to someday, though I’m headed to the Maldives with @alisonsadventures in a few weeks, so I might have a new favorite spot very soon!
Read Sarah Lee’s recent feature on Instagram’s blog and check out more of Sarah’s beautiful work on Instagram: @hisarahlee.
