Luka Raubenheimer – Young, Free, Alright!
The Rad and Creative Youth of Australian Surfing
Presented by Arnette
Interview by Dan Caban
How many New Zealanders has Australia tried to claim as our own over the years? Russell Crowe, Keith Urban, Neil Finn even Phar Lap were all born on our neighbouring New Zealand but are now Australian heroes (especially Keith Urban!). Luka Raubenheimer, a filmmaker now living in Queensland, has documented a high profile list of surfers and has produced equally high quality clips, working alongside brands like Insight and surfers such as Wade Goodall. Maybe we'll attempt to claim him as an Aussie after all.
CW: As a filmmaker, you have shot such a wide variety of sports and lifestyles. How does not only shooting surfing, but other action sports and fashion and lifestyle in general, influence the way you document things?
LR: I guess I like to film not only surfing but lots of lifestyles and more capturing people and who they are, not just how they surf. So to really capture the character of a person, rather than just showing that they are a good surfer.
What about the relationship and similarities between shooting skating and surfing?
I guess with skating you can do a lot more, whereas surfing you have to get the waves. But in skating there is so much more, you can get really creative by going to different locations and stuff. But surfing is just always trying to find a wave with a backdrop.
Are there any particular waves that you do like shooting at, at home or abroad?
Well I just got back from New Zealand (at time of interview), and I saw some pretty sick places over there. Some really sick backdrops on the beaches. And at home, my favourite spot to shoot would probably be the bay, just because of the rocks and stuff.
Have you experienced many other places with your shooting?
Um not really, just around home and a couple of road trips along the east coast. A bit to New Zealand and South Africa, I’ve been a couple of times but not really to shoot surfing, though I’m going at the end of the year to shoot.
Who are you going to South Africa with?
My family and close friend Isak.
So what about some of the guys you have shot with, there has been some huge names in there.
It’s pretty good, just lucky to shoot talented people and I’ve had the opportunity to shoot with talented people. It’s been good fun.
The Young Front movie you documented was rad and really well reviewed. What was initially the plan for the movie?
It was basically me and a few mates were going to film for a year and just capture everything we did, and then we decided to make an edit along the way and do little bits. Then we had a premiere and partied pretty much (laughs).
That whole concept was presented by Insight and Runamuk Visuals, those guys must be huge for your filming.
Yeah they were so good with promoting it, and getting it out there and stuff. But I do a traineeship with Runamuk Visuals every week, just learning to and helping to film.
Young, Free, Alright! is a fortnightly editorial series presented by Coastalwatch and Arnette showcasing and profiling young and up-and-coming photographers, filmmakers, bloggers, artists, musicians, shapers, surfers or whatevers that we've been digging. The rad and creative groms of Australian surfing. Alright!
Stay abreast of the excellent filmwork of Luka, on his vimeo page of Juka Productions
To see more Young, Free, Alright! profiles click here.
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