Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’re doing is a waste of time, if it means something to you and you believe in it, then keep going
Name: Cal Foster
Occupation: Photographer and Filmmaker
Hometown: Melbourne, Hampton
Current Location: The shaka shack
When I was a kid…I so wanted to be a stunt motorbike rider for some reason, which is weird considering, I have never been on a motorbike, but as I grew older being behind a camera became more important for me.
My earliest, fondest memory is…Probably spending those camping trips with the old man, love a good adventure.
The studies I took to get where I am…I went to a film university in Surry Hills in Sydney for a bit before coming back to Melbourne to explore what I wanted to personally. I created a lot of films in my spare time and just took photos of literally anything. But just a lot of practice, I went through a stage of taking my camera to every place I went no matter how uneventful to see if I could find something interesting to shoot out of the normal.
Before this phase of my career/life I was…A drawer, I was very much into my drawing and still do from time to time. I always found that I was creative no matter what stage of my life I was in, but I was more into capturing a moment rather than sitting at a desk and drawing if that makes sense.
I’m most creative when…Probably when I am just hanging with mates and we’re hanging or going for a surf and I see something that just looks sick and I need to get a shot of it.
The tools I can’t live without…I’m going to say something other than my camera to spice things up, ahh probably my guitar too be honest. Playing music and just letting whatever it is I’m feeling flow just comes as a stress relief if ever I feel stuck or even if I am in a good place, music and my guitar, just helps me in those moments.
I’m inspired by…Surfing and skate culture. I just froth everything about it. I tend to lean more towards surf lifestyle, but I am inspired by the greats that really knew how to live and breathe that shit like Stacy Peralta, Bob Mctavish, Jay Adams est. They really knew how to live it and it wasn’t a forced aspect of life but something that they loved and were themselves. Which for me is something that I really am inspired by.
I’m currently reading...‘Into the wild’ by Jon Krakauer, such a good read, highly recommend.
The website I hang out on the most…Etsy or Big Cartel and scraping the barrel for some vintage threads.
I’m currently listening to…Matt Corby’s new album is a killer, other than that Ziggy Alberts is a gem.
The last film I watched was…Chasing Mavericks
Travel is…For me travelling is always something different, but had some pretty sick trips over the years to Europe, Japan, est.
My travel essentials are… my headphones, phone, camera and sketchbook.
One thing I would like to do but haven’t got around to it yet…Surf waves in Hawaii.
The challenges of doing what I do… Any art form is subjective so you can’t really appeal to everyone. So coming to terms with that and not being discouraged,
The highlights over the past 12 months have been…I went through a pretty big change half way through the year where my life flipped, but I think for me that was what I needed so probably that, but specifically probably chasing waves around the coast of Spain and Portugal.
Advice to share to those who want to follow in my footsteps…Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’re doing is a waste of time, if it means something to you and you believe in it, then keep going.
Do What You Want… and stick it to the man, believe in yourself and create.
Photography: Tom Terlaak