Tom Pearsall is “more than grateful” for his South West community.
The Margaret River photographer is reeling from one of the worst experiences in his professional career in 2017, when a break in at his home led to the theft of all of his precious photography equipment.
Even worse, says Pearsall, was the theft of all his back up hard drives, including one containing irreplaceable images from the wedding of a Rockingham bride and groom.
“Yeah, it’s changed me,” Pearsall told the Mail of the burglary, and the subsequent “impossible” conversation with the newlyweds.
”You can’t really go through something like this and not take a big hit personally, it’s pretty devastating for everyone involved.”
The surf photographer, who has travelled the world under his Driftwood Photography moniker, said a portion of the $13,000 equipment value was covered under insurance.
“The remaining stolen accessories and of course the refund for the lost memories of the recently married couple have left pockets more than empty,” he said.
But he refuses to be beaten by the unfortunate experience.
“I feel like I owe it to the people who have been part of my photographic journey and who have supported me, to push forward and get back on track as soon as possible.
“I need to get back in the water and continue sharing my images, I really believe I was on the verge of being able to use photography to carve out a career for myself, but also highlight nature’s fragility and beauty in this critical time of climate change and environmental destruction.
“This has come to a screeching halt.”
Thankfully, Pearsall has the support of many of the region’s creatives and businesses – many of which are previous clients and fans of his quintessentially South West photographs.
A huge fundraiser is being thrown at The Common Bar + Bistro in Gnarabup, where friends and fans will rally around the photographer to help replace the lost gear, with support from Cheeky Monkey Brewery and The Margaret River Distilling Co as well as some pumping sets from the locally grown Dirty South Social Club.
Pearsall says there is more to it that just raising funds.
“I feel like as a community, we are really good at saying ‘Nah, f**k you, you can’t come into our town and take our stuff and force us to be scared and suspicious’,” he said.
“Rather than letting these experiences beat us, and letting those people who feel like it’s okay to take someone else’s livelihood – and irreplaceable memories – away from them, we need to go outside and talk to our neighbours and focus on building more of a community now more than ever.
“I’m not one to ask for charity, but I am so grateful to everyone who has donated time and money and everything else to help me get back on my feet and back to work.
“I feel a bit strange about asking for help so I have decided a quarter of all donations to this fund will go to the Western Australian branch of the Disabled Surfers Association.
“Hopefully this will give those with far bigger problems than me the opportunity to enjoy our magic ocean environment.”
To support Tom Pearsall’s fundraiser and find out more visit Help Tom Shoot Again.
Driftwood Photography’s Fundraiser at The Common is on Saturday December 23.
3.00pm – 5.00pm : Documentary screening ‘Chasing Coral’
5.00pm – 8.30pm : Extended Happy Hour with family focused vibes; Surf movies from local director Isaac Jones; live music, raffles, giveaways, free pool, local wine and gin tastings, local art exhibition, live art installation.
8.30pm – 12.00am : The Common’s Summer cocktail menu launch featuring Fever Tree; DJ Sets from the Dirty South Social Club.