Let us introduce Alex Kydd and Emma Hanney, two photographers located on the Ningaloo Reef. As well as sharing a passion for both the ocean and each other, the pair have some pretty amazing backgrounds in their own fields.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Aus, Alex was an ocean lover from the beginning. As his passion for photography grew so did his curiosity for the ocean. After completing university studies in Marine Biology, Alex went on to work on the Great Barrier Reef. This is also where he first learnt to take photos above and below the water. Now, the majority of his work is taken whilst free-diving (a technique he is continually developing) and his mission is to raise awareness of our natural world and the importance of protecting it.
Emma spends almost all of her time in the ocean whether that be surfing, scuba diving, free-diving or photographing the natural world. From a background in Environmental Science and a strong passion for showcasing the beauty of the marine world, Emma focuses her time on communicating the need to protect such beauty through her imagery.
"Remote from everything else, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. With the wind blowing sand across the rolling dunes in golden sunlight it makes for something out of a dream"
— Emma
The Ningaloo Reef is located 13hours drive north of Perth, along Australia’s Coral Coast. The rugged desert bordering the turquoise water is iconic to the Ningaloo region, and because of its remote location, there is a unique abundance of wildlife. One of their favourite spots to head for sunset are the sand dunes. “Remote from everything else, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. With the wind blowing sand across the rolling dunes in golden sunlight it makes for something out of a dream” — Emma.
We got to chatting about what life is like during the dreaded winter months (if that even exsits in such a beautiful place). We learned that each day holds something pretty magical and if you look beyond the reef you can often spot humpback whales on their annual migration. Did you know that an estimated 40,000 whales migrate along the Western Australia coastline each year? Sound like a bit of a pinch-yourself kinda place!
“The mornings are crisp and on the walk down to the beach, you can see some of the local wildlife. When visiting the Ningaloo, snorkeling is an obvious must. What's unique is how easy the reef is to access. You can walk straight off the beach, swim a few meters out and you’ll be able to find dense coral gardens that offer endless exploration opportunities. However, there is just as equal beauty on land as in the water” — Alex
It's people like these two legends who inspire us as a brand to continue to spread awareness and continue to create a product that stirs conversation around conservation. And we love nothing more than seeing our hats in the wild, on the heads of rad humans!
