Thirroul ocean photographer’s underwater world has surfaced beyond gallery walls in Kiama

From toothy encounters with sharks to serene snaps of sea turtles, Thirroul ocean photographer Brodie Whalan’s captivating work has surfaced in public spaces in Kiama and Jamberoo.

At just 21 years old and originally from Ulladulla, Brodie is one of the artistic talents featured by Kiama Council in its Art in Unseen Spaces initiative, showcasing art beyond gallery walls in a paid opportunity for artists and designers.

Outdoor bin shelters in Kiama and Jamberoo have been transformed into unique exhibition spaces, allowing artists and other creatives to showcase their work in unexpected places, with Brodie the first artist.

Encouraged by others to submit his work, Brodie felt his eight photos fitted well, being ocean-based and taken within Illawarra waters.

“I was very excited because there’s not a lot of underwater photographers around here,” he said.

“There’s a couple, but underwater work isn’t featured enough in our local areas. Not many people know what’s beneath the sea locally.

“I was pretty stoked to be able to have those up and around Kiama and Jamberoo, knowing people are going to get a taste of the other world that we have right at our doorstep.”

Brodie’s collection is made up of photographs from Jervis Bay to Wollongong, apart from three images.

“One of my favourite featured photos in Kiama and Jamberoo is the grey nurse shark looking dead on at the camera at Bushrangers Bay,” he said.

“That place has definitely created some really nice shots for me.

“It’s such a hotspot for tourists, but for divers it’s also one of the best places to get in and experience diving with sharks.”

While he’s spotted a few of his photos in the main street of Kiama, he admits he hasn’t been able to find them all yet.

“I’ve actually gone for a drive and I’ve found a few in Kiama,” he said.

“Every second bin has almost got one of my photos on it, so it’s pretty cool.”

Growing up in Ulladulla and moving to Thirroul two years ago to start a trade, Brodie has spent most of his life around the water.

“My family are very big into the ocean, and especially my pop,” he said.

“He is my biggest influence on getting me in the water.

“When I was younger, because he loves his fishing, he’d always talk about when he used to go diving, what he used to see and all the stories.

“Growing up, I was always surfing, diving and fishing and as I got older and more aware, I wanted to get a camera underwater because I wanted to show people what there actually was to discover down there.”

Brodie said underwater photography wasn’t being done in the Ulladulla area at the time.

“Growing up down the coast, I used to dive a lot and it was never crowded,” he said.

“Everything was so full of life, which it is up here but in a different way.

“The marine life down there weren’t used to people like they are up here, so it made shots a lot more challenging down there.”

Brodie said he now spent every spare minute diving with a mate who runs a free-dive school, and he takes two overseas trips a year to develop his passion for photography further.

He recently returned from three weeks of diving at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, where he was spending six hours a day underwater.

“That trip really opened my eyes to what there is out there, and I’m about to head off to the Maldives to dive with tiger sharks next,” he said.

“These overseas trips now allow me to push my potential.”

He said he also had a stint in the Cook Islands, where he met a family who took him under their wing.

“I ate with them, stayed with them, and dived with them – they showed me their island ways of doing things,” he said.

“Being my age and heading on trips, it also just cultures me a bit and makes me a bit more educated on what’s around you.”

Brodie now works with companies as the photographer on expeditions and with scuba-diving clubs, but hopes to eventually run his own expeditions and open a gallery.

Kiama will further celebrate talent beyond traditional gallery walls with artist, illustrator and art therapist Sally Conwell’s work being featured in October and artist, painter and designer Alexander Strong in December.

Funded by Kiama Council’s Cultural Development program, it is part of its Community Strategic Plan to provide “a strong sense of community belonging where social and cultural life flourishes”.

You can view more of Brodie’s photography on Instagram.