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From shore to shore

Waterman & photographer Max Matissek

Max Matissek is a true waterman whose passion for the ocean began at a young age living at an Austrian lake. Today, Max merges his experience as a professional windsurfer and his creative spirit to capture the dynamic interplay of wind, water, and light—telling authentic, visually stunning stories both on and off the board. His relationship with ION lasts since the beginning of his career until his path as photographer today.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Film or digital?

Personally, analog photography

Favorite camera at the moment?
Nikonos 5 – it’s an old but heavy-duty camera with metal housing that is perfect compact size to take into the water!

Best watermen destination?

French Polynesia

Powerful ocean wave curling with a translucent blue crest, creating a dramatic tunnel effect against a cloudy sky.

From athlete to photographer

Shaped by the elements

“I was always in the water – fishing, swimming, playing… that was my world,” Max recalls. When he was 13, the windsurfing board entered the scene – and from then on, there was no turning back. “I used every free minute to hit the water. And when you grow up by a lake, you naturally dream of the ocean.” His passion quickly became serious: Max soon competed in the World Cup, traveling from one spot to another and living the dream. As a windsurfer, you’re constantly part of something bigger. The ocean, the wind, the light – that's pure aesthetics.” No wonder the camera eventually came into play.

Back then, when social media was still in its infancy and print magazines ruled the scene, Max was right in the middle of it all – not only as a rider, but also as the guy who always carried a camera. “I simply loved taking photos, or playing around with a film camera. On our trips, I was usually the one documenting everything – for the magazines or our own projects.”

That’s where his second great passion began. The desire to capture moments – not just through moves on the water, but also through perspective, light, and composition – gradually nurtured his love for photography.

What now seems like a seamless transition was never a conscious decision. “It just grew naturally,” Max says. “I wanted to be a professional windsurfer – that was clear. And at some point, I realized: working with a camera is the one thing I really enjoy, the one field where I know my way around and can express myself.” The ocean always remained the focal point. And of course, his experience as a professional windsurfer now greatly helps him when he photographs. “I just know how to move in front of the camera, how it all works – that makes a huge difference. Knowing both sides is a tremendous advantage when you want to tell a story visually.”

Following the rhythm of the elements

A key part of these stories is playing with the elements – wind, water, and light. “Every wave is different, every light changes the scene. That's exactly what makes it exciting. You have to work with what you get – and you can learn to make the best out of it.” It is precisely the unpredictability, the improvisation, that gives outdoor photography its appeal for Max: “It’s a bit like a small adventure – you go with the flow, remain flexible and make your decisions in the moment. It’s completely different from studio work – but that’s exactly what I love about it.”

Does he seek the same flow state in photography as in surfing? “Absolutely. I really don’t care whether I’m on the board or with the camera in the water. I love both. Being in nature, feeling the power of the elements – that gives me energy.”

For Max, it is this connection with the elements that unites all water sports. “In the end, we all try to work with the conditions, not against them. You get into that rhythm with wind and water, and that’s what connects it all for me: the flow.”

Trusting the process

He was especially fascinated by the idea of creating something that not everyone had done before. Inspired by the water photography legend Tim McKenna, Max wanted to capture film footage of the waves at Teahupo’o. When he discovered on Tahiti that there were no more film labs, he decided to take full control of the entire development process himself. He packed up everything he needed – from chemicals and scanners to underwater housings for various cameras – and took that gear with him on his travels.

Despite the enormous effort, Max is proud of managing the whole process from the shot to the finished image himself. What makes his photos special is not just the technique, but also the circumstances under which they were created. The humidity and dust on Tahiti, along with the fact that he developed his film not in a perfect lab but in an apartment by the beach, gave the images a distinctive character. These small imperfections made the photos unique and gave them something that digital images often lack – a special, unmistakable “vibe.”

The joy of self-creation

For Max, the creative process is just as important as the end result. The uncertainty and flexibility that come with developing film in an exotic country with unpredictable conditions make the final success all the sweeter when the images finally turn out. It is this blend of trust in the process and the joy of self-creation that drives him in his work and makes his photos truly special.

But not only the perfect sessions stay with you. “Sometimes it’s exactly the imperfect days, when it rains or the light is bad – and yet something beautiful still emerges. Those are often the most genuine moments.”

Max remains creatively inspired by everything around him. “Every image is an inspiration somewhere – whether it’s on the internet, in books, or on the street. I try not to just copy what I see, but to create my own mix from it. You might not see it immediately, but for me, that’s the creative drive.”

As a former competitive athlete, he also approaches photographic projects with ambition: “Back then, I wanted to surf in the World Cup; today, I want to reach the same level with my photography. I want to get better, to create meaningful stuff – something that lasts, maybe even inspires others.” What drives him? “You only live once – and I just try to make the most of it. Full throttle.”