4.00PM Speaker Session
Russell Ord
Surf, Ocean & Lifestyle
A journey shaped by mistakes, injuries, near misses, and a bit of luck — and how it all changed the way I approach photography and storytelling.
This is a candid look at the journey that has shaped my career — not just the highlights, but the missteps, injuries, near misses, and the unexpected moments that redirected everything. I’ll share how those experiences, and a fair bit of good luck, taught me to slow down, see differently, and find more meaning in the quiet, honest moments behind the lens. From chasing waves to capturing life as it unfolds, this is about the lessons that changed how I shoot, how I work, and how I see the people and places around me. It’s a story about resilience, creativity, and finding clarity when things don’t go to plan.
Biography
Russell Ord is an acclaimed Australian photographer renowned for his striking surf and ocean imagery. Initially, Ord was deeply involved in playing Rugby League, surfing, and working as a firefighter. He began taking photography seriously in the early 2000s and quickly gained recognition for his intense and dramatic images of big-wave surfing and ocean landscapes.
Ord’s work is regularly featured in prominent publications such as The Surfer’s Journal, Tracks, and Australian Surfing Life, and he has received multiple awards for his photography. He is particularly noted for his willingness to take risks in pursuit of the perfect shot, often placing himself in dangerous situations to capture the ocean’s power and beauty. One of his career-defining achievements was documenting a violent twist of the Indian Ocean known as ‘The Right,’ which became the focal point of his celebrated documentary, ‘One Shot.’
Beyond his photography, Ord has collaborated with organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and serves as an ambassador for SurfAid, helping to improve the health, well-being, and resilience of remote communities connected to surfing. Along with his wife Catherine, Russell now dedicates himself to providing education, mentoring, and training in photography to young people facing location, financial, social, and health disadvantages through the Desert Light Foundation.