24-year old Zach Stadler may hail from the midwestern town of Minneapolis, Minnesota, but his work showcases a lifestyle of exploring the most unique pockets of the South Pacific. We caught up with the young photographer to find out more about the man behind the lens...
1. Who are you?
Zach Stadler, 24 years old from Minneapolis, Minnesota
2. Describe your medium & process for your photos…
Traveling to tropical regions around the world and capturing all that the ocean has to offer using my camera, a water housing and fins.
3. How did you find your passion? Who/what influences your work?
Unlike most water photographers, I did not grow up near the ocean. I grew up in Minnesota, about as far from the ocean as you can get. I took a few trips to the Caribbean with my family when I was very young and something about the color of the water there always stuck with me. From a young age, I knew the ocean had a strong impact on me. I traveled to Hawaii alone when I turned 18 and have been traveling almost non stop ever since. The more I traveled, the more I started to understand and appreciate the real beauty in water. Photographing it to the best of my ability eventually became a form of self expression.
4. What excites you about your work? What do you struggle with?
I guess the fact that it’s always evolving.. No place is the same and every trip is an opportunity to grow as an artist. I think the beauty of the ocean (and nature in general) is infinite, therefore, photographing it will never get old. As far as struggles; money. It’s definitely hard to make a living off doing what you love.
5. What are your goals? Where do you see yourself going?
I would really like to dig into the commercial side of things a bit more while still being able to inspire others with my art. The idea of shooting lifestyle for surf companies has always appealed to me. I see myself going to Panama, Cuba, Maldives, Fiji, Philippines… (If we’re being literal) haha.
You can see more of Zach's work here:
website • facebook • instagram