Shearer’s shining new tribute to the coast

THE Surf Coast’s orange cliffs, the bush meeting the sea, the Southern Ocean and the quietness of winter are just some of the simple pleasures that continue to inspire Anglesea photographer Katey Shearer.

The Surf Coast creative pays tribute to the region’s rugged beauty in her new book Cold & Alive.

The 250-page coffee table release brings together striking images of the coastline with poems and reflections that deepen the visual storytelling.

 

Thoughtfully produced, the book reflects Shearer’s deep connection to the ocean and aims to inspire others to step outside and experience it for themselves.

“This was a huge project I had in the back on my mind for a couple of years,” she said. “It took months of designing and planning.

“I wanted to share my work in a tangible way and only photos of this coast. This coast has really shaped me, so I feel like it’s an ode to home here.

 

“The writings happen in quiet moments. I am no prolific writer, but I do love writing. It’s rare I go a day without scribbling something from my mind onto paper.”

For Shearer, it is “the story of it all” that defines her work.

Surfing, she says, isn’t just about barrels and 6-foot offshore rides, it’s about driving to the beach on the 10C mornings, putting on a frozen wetsuit, the anticipation before heading out.

 

“The search. The frothing energy after a perfect session. The heart of surfing is the story of it all,” Shearer said.

“It’s an otherworldly experience in the water. You’re capturing a surfer up close in their ultimate state of bliss.

“There’s also so much more going on in the water. You’re at mercy to the elements. You’re dodging surfers. You’re managing settings.

“To capture the feeling of all that is a real blessing. Being on land you don’t have that same connection to the sea and the surfer.”

 

Emotion is another thread running through her work, shaped by photographers Woody Gooch, Nick Green, Bea Ryder and Hayden Richards.

“They capture emotion. A feeling of a place. Which I think is so special,” Shearer said. “It’s true artistry what they do and are impeccable photographers.

“I was and still am always drawn to photos that you couldn’t really logically explain – it was just a feeling you felt when looking at it.”

From local legends and surf icons like Michael February, to shooting the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, Shearer has captured it all.

“The ocean is unpredictable. Especially the Southern Ocean,” she said.

 

“I’ve had precarious swims out at Johanna and Bells that have gone sideways from a spontaneous spike in the swell. I’ve been stuck in a hailstorm in the Otways with hail the size of golf balls coming down on me with a 500m swim back to shore.

“You honestly just have to surrender to it all, embrace it…and obviously capture it.”

Shearer continues to be inspired by the growing number of local women taking on roles in the surf industry. The support of the Surf Coast community, she says, has also been integral to her success.

“This community is so special. I have never experienced anything like it,” Shearer said. “The support I have had from everyone has played a huge part in my journey of getting to where I am now.

“Without the surfers getting up at the crack of dawn in the middle of winter, or the pure encouragement from everyone, there’s no way I would have been able to capture the moments I have. People really do make a place.”

And her parting advice for photographers wanting to avoid the instant digital content world?

“Switch it off and go shoot without the online influence for a few weeks and see what comes from your soul, not a screen,” she said.

Cold &Alive is available now on the Katey Shearer Photography website.