Contrast: How did you get into photography?
Bielmann: I woke up one morning and started freaking out because I did not know what I was going to do for a living. I thought about it for a month and decided I wanted to be a surf photographer. It took me about a month to get my first camera, but at least it made me feel relaxed that I had a plan for the future. I got into surf photography in the beginning because I wanted to find a way to keep surfing and that seemed like the obvious choice. [Laughs]

In your opinion, what is a good photograph?
I like anything that sparks some interest. I don’t care how hard or how easy it was to take. Some photographers gauge a good photograph by the difficulty level it took to get it. Like, I was shooting fisheye, sitting in the pit of a ten-footer and it was heavy. For me, I don’t care if you took from a boat, on the beach, out of a plane as long as it’s interesting.

What type of equipment do you use?
I use all Canon cameras, SPL water housings, and Hensel strobe lighting for all my portraits. I think those are the best three products for the job that I’m doing.



What has been your most satisfying photographic experience?
I would have to say it was in Teahupo‘o, Tahiti. We had two days of big tow-in swells. I honestly can’t imagine it will ever be better than that. It was just really blue, really beautiful, the best surfers in the world were out and it was exciting.



Are you currently focusing on any particular aspect of photography?
I really enjoy shooting underwater stuff. That would be the thing that I am trying to push more than anything. I finally seemed to find something that not a million people are doing. There are people doing it, but not as much. It’s my own little unique something that I have been able to find.

I see that you have an awesome record collection, what are your three favorite records?
Bruce Springstein: Born To Run.  Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland. The third one would have to be one of the Beatles albums. I can’t tell you which one though.

That’s cool. What is Bielmann’s favorite subject to shoot?
My favorite subject to photograph, for sure, is waves. My favorite place to shoot is Pipeline in the late afternoon from the water, backlit Pipeline, like 8-to10-feet. I love that more than anything. That is definitely my most favorite subject in the whole world.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to up-and-coming photographers?
Know that you have to work really, really hard and you have to love it! If you don’t love it get out right away. Right now there is less and less money and way too many guys doing it. Even though there are more places to sell your photos it seems like it’s harder than when I started with just a few magazines out there.

So, when did you first move out to The Country?
I moved out to the North Shore in 1975 when I was about 17-years-old. I came from the East Coast of Virginia. Right out of high school. I just basically wanted to surf. All I could think about was surfing. I had an older brother that lived here to help me out and show me around. He picked me up at the airport and gave me a place to stay. Eventually, I got my $3.50 an hour job, caught the bus to Pearlridge and still managed to surf everyday.

What is your favorite thing about the North Shore?
My favorite thing about the North Shore is that it has managed to stay the same even in this world of constant change. I see the Mainland and how things have changed since I was a kid. It has changed here on the North Shore, but we’ve managed to sort of hold back a bit and keep things very similar to the way things were when I first got here. The people are pretty much doing the same things. The water is more crowded now and a house to live in cost a lot more than it used to be. Besides that things really have not changed that much since I moved here in 1975.