This was published 9 months ago
His great-uncle is Max Dupain, but Dean captures life on the waves
12 ImagesAustralian photographer Dean Dampney captures exquisite everyday moments but with a focus on the world of surfing. Having grown up on Sydney’s northern beaches, he has long been struck by the sense of community that the sea inspires.
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Oahu, Hawaii, January 1999: onlookers and a lone paddler take in the majesty of a fresh swell as it hits the first reef of the infamous Pipeline. The viewing platform is so close that it can feel almost as immersive as being in the water. Credit:Dean Dampney
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This is my friend Mitchy at Meroo Head, on the NSW South Coast, in May 2016. Each year here, The Fire Pit Initiative sees the gathering of some of my favourite photographers and friends. Camera talk, sitting around the fire, early surf checks and fishing are top of the agenda.Credit:Dean Dampney
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My then wife, Naomi, and sons Arlo and Leif in Vanuatu’s Port Resolution in 2012. Volcanic rocks and chunky grains of sand (throw in fire ants and wild pigs) are a textual, gritty contrast to the calm water.Credit:Dean Dampney
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Arlo with Albe in 2016 at Tabourie, near our NSW South Coast home. The area is a backyard, crash mat and source of adventures for our sons and pups. Credit:Dean Dampney
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Mother and son at The Pass in Byron, 2014. I’m pretty sure Arlo’s grip was a reinforcing notion that Naomi wasn’t surfing and that she’d like to be.Credit:Dean Dampney
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This was a not-so-carefully orchestrated, leap-of-faith backflip at Bawley Point, NSW, by my kids and their mate in 2020. Don’t try this at home.Credit:Dean Dampney
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My friend Korvo not holding back at the Magic Bay reef break near Ulladulla, NSW, in 2010. I’d love to say he made it but I’m pretty sure he got smashed. Credit:Dean Dampney
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Being the father of three boys means loads of adventures for me – and the underwater world is a constant source of nurture for all of us. Arlo and Leif, pictured here in Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia, in 2012, are as multicoloured in their rashies and boardies as the fish they’re swimming among.Credit:Dean Dampney
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Dummies is a local surf break on a shallow reef near Lake Tabourie, NSW. Moving into the bay, the wave loses its force but is still exciting enough to bring smiles to any young kid’s face. Here are my sons Mali and Leif experiencing one of their first dips in the ocean in 2011.Credit:Dean Dampney
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As a 10-year-old, I attended Mark Warren’s surf school on the northern beaches. A teenage girl with long blonde hair was introduced to participants as Pam: she was a ding-fixer extraordinaire and future world champ. I never learnt how to fix surfboard dings but, to this day, I’m infinitely inspired by Pam Burridge, pictured here at South Mollymook Point, NSW, in 2023. Credit:Dean Dampney
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My friend Bones and his big pup in The Bombie car park, Ulladulla, in early 2023. The car parks are where we celebrate the cherished swell events and commiserate over days that aren’t so pristine. As a tight surfing community, we savour the opportunity to come together with the rhythms of the ocean. Credit:Dean Dampney
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