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Biography

Barrie Sutherland

photographer

Barrie Sutherland began surfing in the 1950s at Torquay in the state of Victoria, Australia. He was inspired in 1956 when the Californians, Greg Noll, Mike Bright, Tom Zahn and Bobby Burnside visited Torquay for the Melbourne Olympics exhibition surf carnival. When they paddled out and rode malibus for the first time at Torquay Point, Barrie was captivated for life, he wanted to surf like they did.

Barrie's work is noted for its strong tonal quality and exquisite composition, reflecting the quality of surf produced by the power-laden ground swells of the Southern Ocean. Throughout the 1960s, Barrie worked with the major Australian surfing magazines of the time. His coverage of the Bells Easter contest is renowned for its historical significance, capturing a special time and place in the evolution of Australian surfing. Easter Sunday 1965 was the biggest, most dangerous and heaviest swell ever experienced in an Australian Surfing contest. Barrie Sutherland’s collection houses some of the only quality shots of Victorian pioneer Peter Troy and as testified by the opening shot in this book, some vintage Wayne Lynch images.

Today, Barrie Sutherland still surfs and shoots film, he also has his own Gallery space in Torquay, called ‘Watermarks.’ These images are a selection from an archive that contains thousands and to this day more images are being uncovered, repaired and scanned. Barrie still chases the light.