To be fourteen, is to have every door of life open to you, and not a worry in the world (with exception to the odd bit of homework). Jax Richards, son of Scott Richards (who we profiled last week), lives a life in the water, enjoying every moment of his free time surfing and exploring Newport Beach's alcove of waves. With nothing but a Gopro in hand, he's also amassed a collection of photos that capture the magic of his home, his youth, and the humble beginning of what looks to be an incredible photographic journey.
1. Who are you?
My name is Jax Richards, and I am 14 years old. I live on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California, and I love to surf and take pictures.
2. Describe your medium & process for your work…
I take photos with my Gopro at the beachbreak in front of my house. I normally wake up early in the morning to find good lighting and check how the conditions are. I look for the cleanest empty barrels, ideally usually around sunrise and sunset. After that, I go home to check the photos on my computer and edit them.
3. How did you find your passion? Who/what influences your work?
I found my passion of of photography with both my friends and through my dad. All the photographers who shoot clean empty barrels like Clark Little have influenced my work.
4. What excites you about your work? What do you struggle with?
Being in the powerful waves and the beautiful lighting excites me most when shooting. Waking up early when the wind is calm, thats always great. I struggle with finding what to do when the waves are flat, choppy, or poor conditions... so that’s when I edit my photos, but not until my homework is done.
5. What are your goals? Where do you see yourself going?
My goals are to become a better photographer on land and in the ocean, and become a better surfer. I see myself as a lifeguard, surfer and a photographer in my local neighborhood.
You can see more of Jax's work on his Instagram