Taylor Steele: The Observer Effect

If the act of looking at something changes it – an effect that holds true for people, animals, even atoms -- then what further impact does documenting have?
Over the course of the last 30 years, Taylor Steele's observations and interpretations have helped to define and redefine surf filmmaking -- and to shape the modern, California-centric culture of surfing.
In the 1990s Taylor documented a new era of approaches to wave riding through films like Momentum and Loose Change. Later, his cinematic surf travelscapes like Sipping Jetsteams, Castles in the Sky, and Proximity paid poetic justice to the beauty of an adventurous surfing life -- a creative shift inspired by the birth of his daughters.
Taylor shares stories about finding a way to do what we love, the impact of fatherhood on his creative process, his formative family surfing experiences, being the 3rd best surf filmmaker in his high school, and realising a formula for making good memories.
...
"Taylor, you’re the kinda guy who’s a real observer. That’s probably why film became your thing because you like to watch. And maybe you don’t make a strong opinion in words, but you do in the things you put out.” – Kelly Slater, on Taylor Steele.
...
Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich

Sound Engineer & Music By: Shannon Sol Carroll
Additional music: ‘Evergreen’ by Band of Frequencies: Men of Wood & Foam album www.bandoffreqs.bandcamp.com

Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast
Waterpeoplepodcast.com

Photo Credit: Taylor Steele

Send us a text

...
Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich

Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander
Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll
Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray + Ben J Alexander
Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast

...

Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.

You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox.
You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.