Greg Douglas

Inside the Mind.

Below the Surface.

[or Under the Surface.]

…with the volume at 11

CCP asks Greg Douglas the questions about his craft

1. What gets you out of bed every day? 

    The Love of Photography! Knowing that today you could find something special whether it is something that you have been planning for or something that unexpectedly comes your way.

2. Who is the photographer that has inspired you the most?

   There are two, the first bloke is Dan Merkel. Surfing magazine staffer & freelancer who is one of the best water photographers around. He won an Emmy award for his work on American Sportsman doco & was a water photographer for Big Wednesday. The second bloke is Walter Iooss Jr. who at sixteen had his first photo published in Sports Illustrated & has had countless covers, swimsuit issues & books published. They both have the ability to go beyond the raw action & capture the build up, the emotion, the agony & the humanity of the sport.

3. Have you changed the equipment you use?

    I am currently using a Canon EOS 1D Mk3, Mk2, Mk1. Also have EOS 1, 1n, 1nRS & 1V for film.

4. What is the music you are playing these days?

Water & chocolate gets me through! You have to be aware of your surroundings & the ambient noise of which helps you get into the Zone & that is where you need to be!

5. In the digital world how important is the print?

Print is still the best medium to showcase your work. There is something about the physical, touch, smell & visual experience you get from it.

6. B/W - Colour - Analogue - Digital.

    Put these words in your order of preference and tell us why.

  In my eyes they all are equal meaning they all have their place. If you start putting them into preferences, you are limiting yourself to the one medium

7. Have you exhibited your work, and other than the print, how important was the framing process to you?

No, I hope this is the launching pad for my retrospective exhibition in which I am working on. The framing process is especially important when exhibiting by the way they are mounted, framed, sized & type of frame.

8. What defines a great image?

  An image that draws you into it, by that I mean it gives you the sense of place & makes you feel like you are there in the moment. Also keeps you going back to it again & again.

9. Have you got a new favourite photo? Why?

  Bells Beach 1981 of Terry Richardson, the whole experience of driving all night & then on the Saturday capturing Terry on possibly the biggest wave every ridden in a contest in Australia. The swell kept building through the day & I had to move from the beach to the cliff top to see the waves behind. He took the drop (the photo) but never made it to the bottom because of the amount of water underneath him.

10. What is the best photography advice you have been given? Tell us by who if you can or want to?

When on assignment or spec shooting always shoot the shit out of it. Use different angles, lenses & point of view. You are trying to get that one great image but if you do not you will have lots of good ones. Have taken this advice from Walter Iooss Jr..

11. When you are not taking photos, what are you doing?

Taking photos, just kidding. Surfing, mount biking in the great outdoors, good food, drinks with family & friends & exploring this great planet of ours. 

High Point in career?

Having six photos in the Olympic Bid Book that won Australia the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Having Terry’s photo inducted into the Australian Surfing Museum in Torquay.

Low Point in career?

In 2004 getting a brain tumour & losing everything.

Greg Douglas - Nov 2026

BIO/CV

EDUCATION

Randwick Boys High School 1975 School Certificate

Randwick Boys High School 1977 Higher School Certificate

Sydney Technology College 1981 Photography Certificate IV

CAREER

Courier Newspaper Group Head Photographer

Eastern Express Newspaper Photographer

Eastern Herald Newspaper Photographer

Cumberland Newspaper Group A Grade Photographer

Fairfax Community Newspaper Photographer

City of City Times Head Photographer

Freelance magazines, Inside Sport, Volleyball Monthly, Tracks, Line Up, Golf Digest, Triathlon Australia, Bicycling Australia, Pro Beach Volleyball Photographer, Soccer Australia, etc.

I have been fortunate to have photographed Prime Ministers to homeless people, sports, celebrities, places, events & travelled to many locations across the world. All because I choose this career, passion & love that is Photography.