Matt Bagley (Petrichor.mb) | Photographer
Growing up in a small fishing town called San Remo, situated on the South East tip of Australia, Matt (Petrichor.mb), much like the ancestors before him, had salt water in his blood from a young age. Over the years he has searched for a balance between city life and being true to where he feels most at home, Phillip Island.
Photography has long played a part in Matt’s life, often used as a means of escapism after a long week in the city. His encapsulating work reveals the incredible beauty and magnificence of our underwater world. He has a unique way of allowing us into a moment of his precious time, which often results in reminding us of what we stand to lose if we do not protect what we love.
“When you slip below the surface it feels like a different world, sometimes more alien than human. Dark, deep, and unpredictable … whether you fear it or are fascinated by it, you can always feel its presence.”
What is a typical day like for you?
I’m a father so most days start with a small child climbing into my bed asking questions about random animals so it’s a never ending self discovery. This is usually followed by a quick check of the wind and weather conditions. I have done this since I was old enough to understand what way is offshore. I often plan things around the tide and fingers crossed my work hours and daily commitments work with mother natures schedule. My thoughts are clearer in the morning so anything that needs a high level of brain power happens then. I only edit or review shots in the evening as I find it relaxes my mind and I can get lost in it. It’s a great way to end the day.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
As a kid growing up in a small town you always want to experience the city life. It feels like you are missing out on things, like your location is holding you back. When school, work and life finally took me to that city all I wanted to do was get back. Like a fish out of water, you soon realise where your heart lies. It's easy to look back on things that you once took for granted.
We need to learn to live alongside nature and find the balance so we all can thrive in this world.I want everyone to have the chance now, and in the future, to experience these feelings; the beautiful connections with the natural underwater world. If my work can help you appreciate this, that’s all I ask.
When did you first pick up a camera and start shooting underwater?
I first picked up a camera many years ago. I've experimented a great deal and through trial and error I taught myself how to capture moments through photography and this has since become somewhat a passion, even an obsession. When you are looking at perfect waves and all you can think about is, how do I capture this moment, and not, what board should I be surfing, that was the time that I knew something had changed in me. To me, it's the perfect creative medium to compliment my urge to experience nature and life, but in underwater photography terms I’m a new comer to the art and I will continue to learn.
What/who currently inspires you?
I am influenced by the people more than their art. Their passion, drive and hunger for experiences. You meet people throughout life with common interests or an appreciation for something and it might be as simple as a passing comment "Tuna has been schooling 2km off the windmills at low tide, we should swim with them". Migration patterns, animal behaviour, marine ecosystems, this is what influences my shots. There is so much to see and so little time to do so.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I chose a very windy one. I finished school with no idea what direction I should head in, not overly academic and I hadn’t experienced a lot the world had to offer. After traveling and seeing more of the world I honed in on not only what I was good at but also something that I had been doing for a very long time without even realising that it was a possible profession. I studied as a Designer but soon branched out to the wider business strategy. It has become a very valuable skillset that has allowed me to work with some amazing people and business' that are doing good for this world in many different ways.
What do you value most in life?
I value life itself, the experience, the moments, the interactions. The small moments that can sometimes pass us by without noticing. I know what it’s like to appreciate life, for it all to be taken away in a second. Once you feel that, you learn to appreciate the little things and put life into perspective. You realise that the corporate fast paced lifestyle you are living might not hold as much importance as it once did.
“We are all capable of compassion and once we are more aware we can achieve balance to coexist with this natural world.”
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
I won’t go all beauty pageant on you and say world hunger but there is a lot of change that needs to happen in the world. If I could click my fingers and make it happen, self-awareness and a better understanding of our actions as humans would be at the forefront. To end this human superiority complex! We are all capable of compassion and once we are more aware we can achieve balance to coexist with this natural world.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?
My information intake is so varied and my attention span is limited so I could be half reading 5 things at once. The Science of Sleep, Guns Germs and Steel, Connectome, The Art of Looking Sideways, anything that makes my brain tick really.
What brings you the most joy?
Sun on my skin and salt in my hair. Sand between my toes. Fresh home grown food. Family time. Just the simple things.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
Do what you do because you enjoy it, not for likes or comments. Find something you love and lose yourself in it. If you’re lucky enough for that to be the ocean then bring awareness to the importance of it. It's the heart of our planet, let’s protect it so our generations to come get a chance to experience life like we have, salt in our hair and sand in our beds and the longing feeling to grow gills and live under the sea.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
