A Collection We Love: Waves of Consequence

Words by Morgan Williamson | Photos by Ted Grambeau

Mr Ted Grambeau’s Waves of Consequence series is a lethal dose of frothy deviant, saltwater crystalline. From the sea-glass mutated imperfection of Cyclops, Tahitian aqua-blue beauty of Chopes to the gurgling white foam of the Waimea Shorey; the time stopped between Mr. Grambeau’s shutter and lens provokes anxiety and allure. “At the moment I’ve been researching waves around the world,” Ted tells me. “Which is my passion to seek and find waves. There’s a story behind every photo, and some of the stories I take for granted. But the they really bring a photo to life; it’s the journey of the whole situation.”

Ted’s been in the surf photog biz for some time. “I started traveling in ’81,” he says. “I was studying photography four or five years before that, I had an early midlife crisis. I was studying economics at Uni when I realised that in ten years time that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to travel so I started photography. I figured that would provide for a more meaningful existence.” The next 15 years of Ted’s life he found himself wandering, in search of new subjects to shoot, new essences to capture. By the time I got Mr Grambeau on the line he was teetering on a boat in the middle of the Pacific, plagued by spotty service, a day off a trip to Cuba; which wasn’t surf oriented he assured my bumbling mind. “Once I started traveling I just didn’t come home,” he continues, “and it really still hasn’t stopped. I end up just basing at some friend’s places when I’m around. I’m from Victoria originally, but I now live in Currumbin, Queensland. This year I’ve been away for six-eight months. But previously I’d be out for 10-11 months a year. I sold my place in Victoria, really just to finance my travels. Surf photography was a meager existence, and still is. It’s just fueled from passion. ”

Conversation slips from pasts’ travels and inspiration into the series which has piqued my interest. “It came about more recently from chasing waves,” says Ted. “From the Odyssey when we discovered Cyclops. Photographically that wave put me in awe. It’s the defining point of what’s surfable and what’s not. Cyclops is this unique, mutated sort of beast that’s so beautiful in a wave sense. But so vicious and unpredictable in a surfing sense. The most hardcore guys like Mark Matthews will go out there, grab two waves and be like; well I got two, that’s enough. It’s one of those spots that you can surf, but it’ll possibly kill you.”

“As a photographer,” Ted continues, “I’ll never ask someone to surf a wave that they couldn’t surf. I’m totally happy to shoot empty waves. Guys who surf these types of waves are serious athletes and calculated professionals. It’s a good network of guys, there’s not too many surfing these waves that are random. They’re all competing and at the same time looking after each other. It’s interesting; the way it’s evolved. Guys get hungry for it, like addicted. It’s amazing that more people don’t die out there.”

More of Mr Grambeau’s pie, right here.
Insta: @tedgrambeau
Also glimpse into Ted’s new project: Beyond.