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Joli's Story

Interview by Andy Morris
Excerpt from 18 seconds Magazine.


Rather than a bible or crucifix or something to hang around his neck when he was confirmed at the age of 12, Peter ‘Joli’ Wilson was given a Kodak Instamatic camera by his eccentric God-Father. Combined with a Grandfather who was a polished photographer and cinematographer in the ‘20s and ‘30s, Joli was destined to live with a camera strapped over his shoulder and a monopod in his left hand.

By the age of 14, he’d purchased a surfboard and printed his first roll of film with his Grandfather. In the collection of photos lay a print of his board. First surfboard, first roll of film: there’s the connection between surfing and photography. Pure and simple. This is where the love affair began.

As a landlocked kid in country Victoria (Ballarat) every summer was spent down at Ocean Grove in the State’s South West. Alan Green (who started Quiksilver) would hurl him into the back of his panel van on route to 13th Beach to surf. Joli quickly established an appreciation of the ocean and its captivating lifestyle. During his University years in the late sixties he met Murray Bourton, (surfboard shaper) who was studying at the same University – Joli, a Metallurgy Degree (mining) and Murray, an Arts Degree, but their backsides rarely occupied classroom seats. Instead they’d be high-tailing towards the Coast with youthful grins of freedom and minds full of exciting ideas.

Joli’s first ‘real’ photographic job was with the Australian Defence Department at an engineering design establishment in Melbourne.

As a landlocked kid in country Victoria (Ballarat) every summer was spent down at Ocean Grove in the State’s South West. Alan Green (who started Quiksilver) would hurl him into the back of his panel van on route to 13th Beach to surf. Joli quickly established an appreciation of the ocean and its captivating lifestyle. During his University years in the late sixties he met Murray Bourton, (surfboard shaper) who was studying at the same University – Joli, a Metallurgy Degree (mining) and Murray, an Arts Degree, but their backsides rarely occupied classroom seats. Instead they’d be high-tailing towards the Coast with youthful grins of freedom and minds full of exciting ideas.

Joli’s first ‘real’ photographic job was with the Australian Defence Department at an engineering design establishment in Melbourne.

He’d been living in Torquay, VIC, satisfying his salty needs by this stage. Picture this: Joli was this long-haired coastal hippie who had to go through stringent screenings by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), because his role involved photographing teams, who were developing military guns, tanks, bomb disposal devices and even the testing of the push button telephone. Hair up in his trademark ponytail, sea salt removed from his skin, a pair of shoes on, he broke the ‘60s surfer stereotype and passed the tests.

After leaving Torquay in the pitch black five days a week, and returning in the dark, two years was enough.

Next gig was working closer to home at Deakin University in the Photography Department. Eventually Joli ended up running the show whilst continuing with side projects centred on surfing.

In the early ‘80s, Quiksilver came along requesting his services in charge of their Marketing and Advertising Department.

He walked from Deakin.

Although shooting wasn’t in his job description, fortunately for Joli, he was able to bring his photographic skills to the table on Quiksilver team trips, product shoots and advertising.

Peter-Wilson-joli-PAF61014

In 1989, Joli left Quiksilver and began freelancing. What followed is Joli Productions and a lifestyle on the road with his wife Jan, creating one of the most comprehensive photo libraries of the sport.

From World Tour events to free surfing, Joli’s collection is staggering. What’s also impressive is he was filing stories from remote places on earth way before digital cameras, email and websites.

Nowadays you’d be hard-pressed to find a stock photography site hosting more generational surf images than Joli’s. With 30 years of freelancing up his sleeve, Joli’s seen a lot on tour.

From Slater’s 11 World Titles to being invited by the pro’s to shoot a rare east swell, which lit up a Tahitian reef during the Teahupo’o waiting period – a testament to the solid relationships he’s formed with surfing’s elite. It’s access all areas for Joli – and no, there isn’t a Media pass for this.

Peter Joli Wilson circa 1964. This is the very first photographic print I ever made, (which I still have). Taken by my Grandfather, Warne Wilson of me holding my first surfboard, a Gordon Woods 9' 2".

I saved up toward most of the 45 Pounds and my Parents chipped in the rest for my 14th Birthday.I processed the roll of black and white film with the help of my Grandfather. We printed it together in the makeshift darkroom set up in our family bathroom.

first surfing image
first surfing image

This is the very first surfing image I had published. It's an image of Narrabeen’s Col Smith surfing Bells Beach during the 1972 Easter Rip Curl Pro competition.
The image was published in a Victorian Surfing Magazine called Breakout. I still have the original B&W print with the Magazine Art Director's printing instructions showing size, cropping and page number written in pencil on the back.

G-Land, Java, Indonesia. Photographer Peter 'Joli' Wilson (AUS) Working on the road or in this case in the Jungle, on his first laptop computer on the deck of his grass hut accommodation during the running of the 1995 Quiksilver G-Land Pro. The contest was the forerunner of the Professional Surfing's 'Dream Tour". The contest was won by Kelly Slater (USA) and Jeff Booth (USA) in 2nd place. Photo: Ted Grambeau

first surfing image
first surfing image

São Miguel Island, Azores, Friday October 22 2010. Lagoa do Fogo.
Joli and Jan Wainwright-Wilson aka Mrs Joli during a surf trip to the Portuguese Archipelago the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean overlooking one of Portugal's 7 natural wonders. The twin lakes are located inside a dormant volcanic crater. The Lagoon of the Seven Cities", known in Portuguese as "Lagoa Sete Cidades" The Blue & Green Lake. Two almost equally sized large lakes, the Lagoa Verde (Green) with crystalline green water and Lagoa Azul (Blue) with striking blue water are separated only by a narrow land bridge. The steep up to 300 m high crater walls overgrown with lush vegetation reflecting the green in one lake and the blue sky reflecting in the other make a picturesque and truly unforgettable sight!

Duranbah Beach, NSW Australia 2009 Peter Joli Wilson (AUS) shooting a free surf session at Dbah in the Canon 600mm lens days with sticker decals now politically incorrect for sure these days Photo: mrsjoli

first surfing image
first surfing image

PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii Friday, December 6 2013. Peter 'Joli' Wilson posing with the 2013 Surfing World Title Trophy. Both Kelly Slater (USA) and Mick Fanning (AUS) attended a Press Conference for the Billabong Pipe Masters at Turtle Bay Resort. The 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) is nearing a close and the Final Event of 2013, the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, will see a showdown for the ASP World Title between Mick Fanning (AUS), 32 and Kelly Slater (USA), 41. In addition to the battle for the throne, Pipeline will also determine the final qualification slots for the Elite 2014 ASP World Championship Tour. Photo: mrsjoli

Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia. Monday, March 1 2010.
Surfing World Magazine 300th Edition Awards & party night.

Peter 'Joli' Wilson (AUS) receives an Award for contributions to Surfing World Magazine over the past years along with Tim Baker (AUS), Sean Doherty (AUS), Martin Young (AUS), Jock Serong (AUS)
A celebration of Australia's most influential surfing icons. Photo: mrsjoli

snapper rocks
Porta Del Sol

Peter 'Joli' Wilson (AUS) Porta Del Sol, Puerto Rico, Monday, November 1, 2010 checking his capture of Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 22, claiming her 4th consecutive ASP Women's World Title making history at the Rip Curl Women's Pro Search Puerto Rico. Photo: mrsjoli

GOLD COAST, Queensland/Australia (Thursday, February 24, 2011) Kelly Slater (USA) 2010 ASP World Champion and photographer Peter Joli Wilson (AUS) The ASP World Surfing Awards was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Surfing’s “night of nights”. The ASP World Surfing Awards's Gala Event hosted the World’s best surfers as well as distinguished figures from the Surfing Industry. Kelly Slater (USA), 39, 2010 ASP World Champion accepted his history-making and unprecedented 10th ASP World Title just a day before opening his 2011 ASP World Title campaign at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. Photo: mrsjoli

Porta Del Sol
Darling Harbour, Sydney

Darling Harbour, Sydney. (20th February, 2013): Peter 'Joli' Wilson accepting his award for the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year. Australian surfing celebrated its champions tonight with Mark Richards and Stephanie Gilmore honoured at the Australian Surfing Awards in Sydney...The Awards marked a significant milestone in Surfing Australia's history as it celebrated its 50th Anniversary following its formation in 1963 as the Australian Surfriders Association and over 500 guests celebrated at the gala event.

MICHAEL PETERSON (AUS) and PETER JOLI WILSON (AUS) ..Kirra Beach, Queensland, Australia. Monday January 26 2009..Over one thousand five hundred people paddled out at Kirra Beach today to protest the loss of the world famous surfing location Kirra Point. The Australia Day Paddle Out focused community attention on the wipeout of Kirra Point due to the massive build up of sand from the Tweed River Sand Bypass.

Michael Peterson
Coolangatta, Queensland

Peter Joli Wilson and wife Jan Wainwright Wilson. Coolangatta, Queensland/Australia (Friday, March 5, 2010) - Australia's Tracks surfing magazine held a 40 Year Birthday bash at the Sands Hotel in Coolangatta. 80's band Ganggajang played live to a packed house. Tom Carroll (AUS) and Gary 'Kong" Elkerton (AUS) were honoured during the night.

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, December 14, 2013) - Mick Fanning (AUS) and photographer Peter Joli Wilson (AUS). The final day of the Billabong Pipe Masters capped off the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) season in fine style, with epic conditions providing the ideal backdrop for the crowning of Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, as the ASP World Champion. It also finalised the ASP Top 34 roster for 2014. Fanning finished third overall, defeated by Florence in their Semifinal. With tens of thousands packing the beach at Pipeline, and the gravitas of Slater’s 56th elite tour victory apparent, the greatest athlete the sport has ever produced was emotional on the final day of 2013.

Mick Fanning
Australian Surfing Awards

PETER 'JOLI' WILSON with his award at the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating The Hall Of Fame. The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday March 3rd 2009 at Twin Towns Services Club, Tweeds Heads, New South Wales, Australia, JOLI won the Australian Surf Photo of the Year for 2008 for an image of Mick Fanning and Ben Dunn surfing twin barrels at D-Bah.

Margaret River, Western Australia (Wednesday, April 15, 2015) Photographer Peter Joli Wilson (AUS) shooting with the Nikkor 800mm. Photo by Mrs Joli. – The first day of the 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro was called on today with surf in the solid 10'-12 plus surf at the main break at Margaret River and solid 6'-10' at the alternate spot of The Box. Round One heats 1 to 7 were held at The Box before the contest was put on hold for a short time and then shifted to the main Break.

Australian Surfing Awards