Hailing from Tasmania but now truly a citizen of the road, Nick Green has travelled the map capturing the familiar faces and places that we admire from afar. Coming off his acceptance of the 2019 Larry Moore Follow the Light award, Nick has become a hot commodity. We caught up with him recently while he was in Hawaii and explored his introduction to photography, his favorite lens, his future travel itinerary, and a few other choice topics. Enjoy some of his words and imagery below in an all-new Photo Credit. – What Youth

WY: How were you introduced to photography? 

Nick Green: It began when my parents actually bought me a little waterproof camera one year for Christmas.

WY: Do you remember the first photo you ever took?  

NG: I remember the first photo I took that I thought was half decent! [Laughs] It was shot at the local surf beach, swimming in the water with mum and dad. I think it shot one photo every five seconds or something, so I was just stoked to capture something while swimming.

WY: Who or what inspires you? 

NG: This is a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s a tricky thing to answer because it’s something that I’ve kind of only really started to understand myself. I guess mental health both past and present have played a pretty significant role in my work and how it’s kind of progressed. Whether it be literally showcased in my photography or more by the motivation to get out and shoot. I have an incredibly strong connection to Tasmania (my home) and I draw a lot of inspiration from there. Not just from a creative perspective either,  but I guess as a reminder of the types of people I like surrounding myself with and how I see the world. 

WY: Favorite camera?

NG: Whatever I have on me to capture something that is happening.

WY: What helps push you outside your comfort zone?

NG: The desire to achieve more I guess. I kind of struggle to be comfortable at the best of times so a better question could be what helps me get in my comfort zone [laughs].

WY: What makes a good photograph?

NG: I think the easiest way to tell if a photo is good or not is to ask if it’s going to still be good in a month’s time,  a year’s time, in 20 years’ time. Is it timeless? Or is it just a photo that’s going to get lost amongst all the other shit? For me, it has always been trying to find a unique perspective on something. 

“Fuck, I want to go everywhere…”

WY: Other interests outside of photography? 

NG: Life’s pretty simple! If I’m not taking photos, I’m surfing, skating, hiking, camping, travelling, having beers, watching gigs, all of which I’m super lucky to share with the amazing friends and family I have in my life. 

WY: Where is one place you would like to travel and capture?

NG: Fuck, I want to go everywhere… I’d love to go to Ireland and shoot some of the slabs. It sounds kind of similar to Tasmania, super dark and raw.

WY: What are you working on now? 

NG: I’m currently on the North Shore of Hawaii with the Vans surf team.

WY: Why do you take photos? 

NG: It’s a creative outlet that allows me to express myself and maintain a healthy mental state. It’s also introduced me to so many amazing people, places, experiences and allowed the freedom to live life the way I want to live it.

For more of Nick Green’s work click here