Hi Ash, tell us a little about yourself — who you are, what you do, and what lights you up creatively?
Hello hello IMBIBE. I’m Ash. I am a creative. I love photos, I love design, I love making things, I love travelling to new places, meeting new people, exploring what the world has to offer and having deep experiences. I love lots of things.
How did your love for photography begin? Was there a specific moment you knew this was your thing?
It’s always been around, but I didn’t always know its weight in what it meant to me nor what it would become. I grew up documenting all of my interests, but always for fun and never seriously. I loved capturing moments, my friends and what we were up to. I dabbled in photos for years, later in TAFE and electives in uni, but it was still always for fun and never something I considered could be more than that.
It was a full-time office job that taught me my values big time and what I hoped for my life. I wanted to adventure, love what I do, travel for a living and have my freedom. It did come in a big, kinda intense realisation moment, and that photos could allow me this life. I took a bit of a leap.
I am very grateful for that.
Where do you find inspiration — in people, places, the little things?
I live for people and real moments. It’s not so much intellectual or something I put words to. I look for things that make me feel something deep and real. I am always looking for authenticity in life - in people, places, the little things. Humans are filled with great depth and I am always wanting to go deeper into our being and trying to capture that.
You’ve just returned from some travel — any favourite spots or hidden gems that left an impression?
Back once more from the Island of the Gods. I love Bali. It means so much to me. Bali is a place where the authentic and the traditional ways of the Island need to be seeked out more and more. With so much Western contribution to the infrastructure and the cultural demoragphic, it is even more special to be in touch with the land and the ways of the people when you find it. I have a great love for Bingin cliff in Uluwatu. The sunsets there are beautiful as are the mornings. Kasia hotel in Ungasan is something special in it’s Architecture. It will leave you continually creatively inspired. Outside of that, the surrounding Islands are all so beautiful and all offer something different and special in their own way. Gerupuk in Lombok, Gilli Meno and Whale Shark diving in Sumbawa are all very dear to me.
What does self-care look like for you these days? Has that changed over time?
Self care has very much changed for me. I have always taken my skin and youth for granted, that is until you see it change and understand it’s fragility. Working with you lovely people I have been exposed to information I never would have seen, especially as a male I think too, and I’ve come to understand how much I can benefit in almost every regard from taking care of your skin. I give myself permission to care for the little things now. That’s taken a bit but we’re here. It’s nice.
As someone always on the go, do you have any small rituals that help you reset or stay grounded?
I’m a morning pages person and feel grounded setting intentions for my day. How I want to feel, and be aware moving through. I try to sit and be grateful for my eyes, my arms, my limbs, my health, my friends, my family and remind myself how lucky I am to be here. Being in Bali, I am also given so many more layers of gratitude for small things I forget about in other places around the world more fortunate in ways. This grounds me immensely.
You recently gave the IMBIBE skincare range a try — were there any products that surprised you or worked their way into your daily routine?
Hands down favourite is chocolate magnesium. I can’t sit still so I move a lot, train a lot and therefore put a lot of effort into sleeping well to recover. Your guy’s magnesium is hands down best I’ve ever tasted and put’s me into such a good sleep! Drinking it almost feels like I’m having a desert while knowing it’s super good for me. I also love the beauty renewal as it tastes good and is so easy to drink. I often put in soda water or have for an arvo healthy bevvy. When my skin is dry I’ll put some collagen jelly on my face. My skin feels happy when I do so.
Skincare isn’t always something men grow up talking about — has your approach to skin changed over the years?
Yeah not at all ha! This project was actually a really nice exploration of all the in-built and subconscious programming we tend to learn about what a man should and not do. I most definitely had some things come up that challenged my sense of self, but this is all kinda silly no? Skin is an organ, and a big one! We have no problem taking care of others in our body, or our muscles, so why not this? Working with you guys, I learned so much I had never heard before, and I am really glad I did so, as I think it’s often not until hindsight many go damn, I wish I did that earlier. Up until maybe the last year I have done almost zilch to take care of my skin. Now I am grateful to have some understanding of and utilise collagen products to take care of myself.
What does confidence mean to you — and do you think it’s connected to how we take care of ourselves?
Confidence to me is being connected to yourself, to where you are not seeking outside of yourself. To know yourself in the face of other’s judgement, or perhaps rejection, and still continue on in your authenticity because it makes you happy. To be yourself without fear. That’s confidence to moi.
What’s next for you — any upcoming projects or dream shoots you’re excited about?
Honestly, I have always been a future person and planning so many things ahead. Right now I am so happy looking to enjoy the moment and be where I am now. At the moment I am designing clothes and putting together a book on my love for Bali. These are both bringing me tremendous fulfilment and joy in the process.
Thanks team. Big love!
Ash
View Ash’s work here.
