Wanderlust doesn’t have to mean travelling the globe. So many of us have beautiful places close to home and over the next few months Charlotte Pieper will share some of her fave spots in Byron Bay – the place that she now calls home. Charlotte is a surfer and photographer whose work has appeared in Pretty Poison Mag, SurfGirl Mag and Golden Ride Mag and has been a part of numerous art exhibitions here and overseas.
How did you get into surfing?
Me and my family moved from Berlin to the coastline (Baltic Sea) when I was a kid and I got my windsurfing license at a young age. When I was 16, I started working in the surf camps down the French Atlantic Coast every summer and started surfing. It just came good when I moved to Bali though…
And photography?
I got given analogue cameras at home, from my parents and my grandparents. When I was younger, I wasted heaps of film rolls I think. It was an internship during my studies that got me thinking that I wanted to be a photographer – but with a way different idea about what I wanted to shoot.
What inspires you?
Everything around me. My life is based on coastlines with surf, skate & art cultures. There are so many sources of passion and inspiration around me. I’m obsessed with light, water, reflections, music & literature.
Who inspires you?
When I was writing my bachelor thesis about the aesthetic in underwater video in 2013, I was following people like Hans Hass, Sarah Lee & Mark Tipple.
Since then the amount of water photographers spread so wildly & there’s so much good content coming from around the globe. All the many amazing female surfers inspire me the most.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity comes in so many different forms. It’s sharing your passion through your passion. Look into it deeply and you’ll see its about what the artist is longing for most.
You have lived in a few beautiful places in the world. What does home mean to you?
Home is what you feel & what you create for yourself. It is also the place with family & friends you love most. I’d say I have many homes even though Bali is keeping a special place in my heart and I feel good when calling it home.
What are your favourite spots in Byron Bay?
This place has so much beauty all up and down the coastline! There’s these lovely hidden gems in the hinterland with amazing views and all the shades of green around. But my favourite spot to be would be up on some rough cliffs overlooking the crystal-clear ocean.
When you need to get away from it all but you can’t travel far for one reason or another what are some things you do?
Surf does always help! More fun with your friends but such a cure if you go by yourself. A walk in the rain does wonders for me every time. In this moment the world seems to be more quiet and to have slowed down – that helps me sort all my thoughts & feelings freely.
We love to create recipes at Cocobella. Is there a favourite food you have discovered on your travels?
I love the Asian kitchen even though it can get a little unhealthy over time. So, I like to go & grab an acai bowl loaded with nourishing goodies for breakfast when in Indonesia. And maybe a mocktail to treat yourself while working.
Charlotte is taking pics for Cocobella for the next few months which we are so excited about. Follow Charlotte on IG @lotta_and_the_waves.
