Full Time Passion Project by Taylor Slater

The ocean is my home.

Ever since I was a child I have been going to the beach, swimming in the ocean and breathing in the salty air. I grew up in South Florida and as a child I was lucky enough to visit places like Hawaii, Fiji, California, the Bahamas, Australia, etc. Something all these places had in common was the ocean.

No matter where I went, I could always visit the ocean. It was always my safe place. A place that reminded me of who I am and where I came from; it was healing. But it was also something I was scared of. It was something that challenged me, awakened me, and drawed me in. It can take everything, but it can also give so much. Experiencing what it had to offer stirred a change in me.

The ocean transformed my life. Photography allowed me to capture it.

As a child, I grew up watching my mom and her best friend take photos of me and of each other. When I was old enough, my dad gave me my first polaroid camera. This got me so psyched to capture everything around me. Eventually, my mom gave me a digital camera and I was taking photos of my friends. It slowly evolved from a playdate idea to a full-time passion project.

I am thankful that I found the middle ground between my home and my passion. I still have a long way to go, but photographing surf lifestyle and beach culture is something that has made me find a peace and a passion I didn’t know I could obtain.

My only hope is that this peace transcends through my images. Here’s a small collection of my favorite shots I’ve taken this year. X

Taylor

@taylrsltr