Portfolio: Gary Parker

Photographer

Community

$It’s always offshore in parts of Nicaragua - not a bad thing to have. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

It’s always offshore in parts of Nicaragua - not a bad thing to have. Photo: Gary Parker

$Imagine this was your bedroom window. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Imagine this was your bedroom window. Photo: Gary Parker

$Mexican beach breaks take a lot of commitment, but the reward is well worth it in the end. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Mexican beach breaks take a lot of commitment, but the reward is well worth it in the end. Photo: Gary Parker

$The Central American Kirra doing its thing on one of the bigger swells of the year. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

The Central American Kirra doing its thing on one of the bigger swells of the year. Photo: Gary Parker

$The first day we arrived to the Mexican pacific coast we were greeted by an absolutely thumping south swell. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

The first day we arrived to the Mexican pacific coast we were greeted by an absolutely thumping south swell. Photo: Gary Parker

$Where the mountains meet the sea. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Where the mountains meet the sea. Photo: Gary Parker

$A day I still think about very often. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

A day I still think about very often. Photo: Gary Parker

$We spent a good couple of months waiting for this wave to fire up. Local Rasta having the time of his life. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

We spent a good couple of months waiting for this wave to fire up. Local Rasta having the time of his life. Photo: Gary Parker

$Dancing under one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen in beautiful Nicaragua. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Dancing under one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen in beautiful Nicaragua. Photo: Gary Parker

$Nothing better than a setting sun and an offshore breeze, it is the in-between moments that make surfing so special. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Nothing better than a setting sun and an offshore breeze, it is the in-between moments that make surfing so special. Photo: Gary Parker

$When everything aligns. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

When everything aligns. Photo: Gary Parker

$Another photograph that reminds me of home – Victoria, Australia. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Another photograph that reminds me of home – Victoria, Australia. Photo: Gary Parker

$Playing around in the crystal clear waters of Kauai, Hawaii. A truly magical part of the world. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Playing around in the crystal clear waters of Kauai, Hawaii. A truly magical part of the world. Photo: Gary Parker

$Sometimes living in a van can be hard work but the rewards far outweigh the negatives. A beautiful place to call home for a night in the amazing Big Sur, California. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Sometimes living in a van can be hard work but the rewards far outweigh the negatives. A beautiful place to call home for a night in the amazing Big Sur, California. Photo: Gary Parker

$A storm rolls in from the Pacific lighting up the sky. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

A storm rolls in from the Pacific lighting up the sky. Photo: Gary Parker

$This was home for a few months. No power or running water. But plenty of wood and amazing times. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

This was home for a few months. No power or running water. But plenty of wood and amazing times. Photo: Gary Parker

$It took a while to get the feeling in the fingers back after this session. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

It took a while to get the feeling in the fingers back after this session. Photo: Gary Parker

$Exploring the Wild West. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Exploring the Wild West. Photo: Gary Parker

$This is actually an old shot I like as it reminds me of home when I am away for long periods at a time. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

This is actually an old shot I like as it reminds me of home when I am away for long periods at a time. Photo: Gary Parker

$A look back across a mirrored ocean from Canada to the States. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

A look back across a mirrored ocean from Canada to the States. Photo: Gary Parker

$Being from Australia it is not every day (well not ever!) we get to surf when its dumping snow and -10 outside. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Being from Australia it is not every day (well not ever!) we get to surf when its dumping snow and -10 outside. Photo: Gary Parker

$Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. We spent around a week hanging around Mexico City which was a truly mind blowing experience. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. We spent around a week hanging around Mexico City which was a truly mind blowing experience. Photo: Gary Parker

$Part of the experience of surfing in Canada is the adventure and beauty involved in actually finding a way. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Part of the experience of surfing in Canada is the adventure and beauty involved in actually finding a way. Photo: Gary Parker

$Empty waves unloading on a hot Mexican day. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Empty waves unloading on a hot Mexican day. Photo: Gary Parker

$Winter\'s here. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Winter's here. Photo: Gary Parker

$Mexican visions. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Mexican visions. Photo: Gary Parker

$We stopped to visit an indigenous village in Panama on a sailing trip down the Caribbean and were greeted by the most beautiful people. The kids loved their picture taken and followed us around for hours. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

We stopped to visit an indigenous village in Panama on a sailing trip down the Caribbean and were greeted by the most beautiful people. The kids loved their picture taken and followed us around for hours. Photo: Gary Parker

$We worked with a charity organization (The Latitude Project) in Nicaragua and helped out on a project called \"To See the Sea\" where we took a group of kids to the ocean for the first time ever. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

We worked with a charity organization (The Latitude Project) in Nicaragua and helped out on a project called "To See the Sea" where we took a group of kids to the ocean for the first time ever. Photo: Gary Parker

$This photograph was taken on one of the furthest northwest beaches you access in the states. The swell was filling in but so was the storm. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

This photograph was taken on one of the furthest northwest beaches you access in the states. The swell was filling in but so was the storm. Photo: Gary Parker

$The magic of Hawaii. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

The magic of Hawaii. Photo: Gary Parker

$Pelicans known how it’s done. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Pelicans known how it’s done. Photo: Gary Parker

$Taking some time away from the coast up in the Mayan hills of San Juan del Pacifico. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Taking some time away from the coast up in the Mayan hills of San Juan del Pacifico. Photo: Gary Parker

$Surfing here makes you feel really insignificant. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Surfing here makes you feel really insignificant. Photo: Gary Parker

$Another shot from the fun day with the Latitude Project in Nicaragua. I have never seen kids so stoked to be in the ocean before. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

Another shot from the fun day with the Latitude Project in Nicaragua. I have never seen kids so stoked to be in the ocean before. Photo: Gary Parker

$For me this sums up what living in a van is all about. Simplicity. Photo: <a href=\"http://www.gaz-art.com/\">Gary Parker</a>$

For me this sums up what living in a van is all about. Simplicity. Photo: Gary Parker

It has been close to two years ago now that I decided to leave home for a while. With no real plans, I quit my design job, packed the boards and camera gear and bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii. Since then, my girlfriend and I have had some of the most amazing experiences of our lives. Stepping into the unknown, for me anyway, is a real freedom and is also something I feel I need from time to time. The good, the bad and whatever else comes along makes me feel alive inside, and the experiences I hope I will take back with me and grow as person.

The following are some of my photographs from the past two years along with a couple to remind me of where home is. Thanks for taking the time to check them out.

See more of Gary’s work on his website and Instagram: @gary_parker

Contribute

Join our community of contributors.

Apply

Portfolio: Gary Parker

Newsletter

Contribute