An Australian big wave rider and artist has unveiled her incredible new film showcasing her surfing in gorgeous world class locations while completely naked.
‘Skin Deep’ is Felicity Palmateer’s new movie which shows her riding waves in the nude in Hawaii, Fiji, West Australia’s south and northwest coasts and northern NSW.
The 28-year-old came up with the concept for the film three years ago, combining her passions of art and surfing in a bold display of self expression.
Australian professional surfer and artist Felicity Palmateer (pictured) has unveiled her new film project titled ‘Skin Deep’
The intimate short film shows the West Australian big wave rider surfing while completely naked in world class locations
The film was shot in gorgeous locations including Hawaii, Fiji, West Australia’s south and northwest coasts and northern NSW
Ms Palmateer worked with an elite small crew of photographers and filmers to compile the three year audio-visual project
The four-minute film combines Ms Palmateer’s passions of art and surfing in a bold display of freedom and self-expression
‘What began as a rather simple yet scary and exciting idea, has transformed into something far more cathartic, beautiful and challenging than I dreamed,’ Ms Palmateer said.
‘The process was incredibly empowering. By embracing femininity it helped immensely with my self-esteem and self acceptance.’
The Perth-born surfer worked with a close knit team for the project including renowned photographers Rick Rifici, Chris White and Dwayne Fetch.
The 2019 Jaws Big Wave Championships runner up said the intimate four-minute film explores her interpretation of freedom.
The Skin Deep project features footage and photos by renowned photographers Rick Rifici, Chris White and Dwayne Fetch
Ms Palmateer said the project was ‘simple yet scary and exciting’ and became ‘something far more cathartic, beautiful and challenging than I dreamed’
‘The process was incredibly empowering. By embracing my femininity it helped immensely with my self-esteem and self acceptance,’ Ms Palmateer said
The goofy-footed surfer regularly competes on the World Surf League Women’s Big Wave Tour in huge waves around the globe
Ms Palmateer finished runner up to Hawaiian Paige Alms in the 2019 Jaws Big Wave Championships event in Hawaii
‘To be able to intertwine art and surfing in such an intimate way in a project like Skin Deep has been so satisfying,’ Ms Palmateer said
The filming sessions for Skin Deep had to be carefully curated so that Ms Palmateer could comfortably surf while in secrecy
‘I use both surfing and art as forms of meditation, motivation and as escapism. I feel most comfortable when I’m either in the water surfing, or creating,’ Ms Palmateer said.
‘To be able to intertwine art and surfing in such an intimate way in a project like Skin Deep has been so satisfying.’
Film producer Johnathan ‘JJ’ Jenkins said choosing locations for the film was a tough logistical process.
‘Many of the accessible surf zones we considered are populated year-round so finding ideal locations and accounting for weather and waves was very tricky,’ he said.
‘Another big component of this production was secrecy. It was essential we sort trusted, professional operators.
Ms Palmateer rode a single fin surfboard for the duration of the film, which was shot in three different countries over the world
Skin deep film producer Johnathan ‘JJ’ Jenkins said finding empty locations to shoot the film was a tough logistical process
Ms Palmateer chose the title for the film, meaning for it to be provocative, while simultaneously challenging notions to do with beauty
‘Not only to ensure Felicity could feel comfortable performing, but so that we could travel discreetly to particularly special areas and avoid people, other cameras and crowds.’
The audio-visual art project was shot using Phantom and Red Epic cameras as well as drones, with the soundtrack by Sydney electronic outfit Rufus Du Soul.
Ms Palmateer came up with the title for the film.
‘It is at once intended to be provocative, while simultaneously challenging notions to do with beauty,’ she said.
Skin Deep is available here.
Ms Palmateer rides a clean left hander shot from an overhead drone by photographer Chris Whitey while shooting for the Skin Deep project
The full four-minute film is being showcased on Ms Palmateer’s Vimeo channel at the link above