PHOTO ESSAY
Brandon DiPierri The
Visual Story
48
DEEP SURF MAGAZINE February 2014
hat’s what photographers present when they’re putting together a diverse body of work to show to an editor who’s looking to splash their images across the pages of a publication. It’s nice to see that balance while pouring over images on the screen. It makes the job enjoyable. At 29, the self-taught Central Coast surf photographer Brandon DiPierri’s photos caught my eye a while ago, but I gave it some more time and as his images kept coming in we tucked them away in a folder until there was more than enough to display his work. Accumulating a body of work began at an early age for DiPierri, who was firing away with disposable cameras until his dad bought him an old Nikon at a garage sale. “I wanted to start documenting the events in my life in a creative format,” said DiPierri. “Like most kids, I had pictures on my bedroom
walls growing up. Those pictures served as constant inspiration and came from people like Bruce Weber, Flame, Ron Stoner, David Pu’u and Aaron Chang, along with many others.” There are a lot of lenses on the beaches these days, so how does one separate himself from the rest of the pack? It’s not easy to do, but the most creative photographers are finding a way. DiPierri seems to have a knack for that in and out of the water. “It’s hard to stand out with so much talent around these days, but it starts with respecting your own work and the work of others,” continued DiPierri. “I believe each photographer has a voice and should stand for something. Personally, I try to have my voice stand for something or someone I believe in by showcasing that talent through my imagery.” To see more of DiPierri’s images visit facebook.com/BrandonDiPierri. - Chuck Graham