We recently connected with Bo Bridges and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bo , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

In my senior year of college, I was working on getting my pilot’s license. One day, my instructor tossed me a couple rolls of expired slide film. I hadn’t really taken photography seriously before — just messed around with it here and there. But I brought the camera up with me on a flight, and something clicked.

Shooting from the sky, looking straight down, seeing the world from that angle — it was wild. Everything looked different. Abstract. Raw. It felt like a whole other world no one was really tapping into.

That first roll of film gave me a rush I hadn’t felt before — the same kind of adrenaline I got from flying. That’s when it hit me: I could combine my love for adventure with photography and actually build something out of it. Capture moments and views most people never get to see.

That was the moment. I knew right then this wasn’t just a side hobby — it was the path I wanted to chase full-time.

Bo , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a photographer, filmmaker, and gallery owner. I’m most known for capturing high-energy, cinematic moments across action sports, lifestyle, and landscapes.

My passion for filmmaking and photography began in college when I earned my pilot’s license. I started with aerial photography, and from there, my love for capturing the world through a lens took off. My action sports career truly began when I had the opportunity to shoot the first-ever X Games, which led to a 20-year journey documenting that event. That experience ignited my passion for shooting athletes—their drive, their stories, and the incredible environments they play in. I followed them around the world and soon started capturing not just their performances but the playgrounds and landscapes that defined their sports.

Today, I shoot everything from global ad campaigns for brands like Nike, Red Bull, and ESPN to fine art pieces that hang in homes, galleries, and businesses around the world. I have galleries in Manhattan Beach, Maui, and Vail.
What sets me apart is that I live the lifestyle I shoot. I’m not on the sidelines — I’m right there in the thick of it, whether that means shooting inside a barrel at Pipeline, dangling out of a helicopter, or hiking remote mountains. That connection to the moment and the subject comes through in the final product. Whether it’s an epic ad campaign or a single fine art photograph, the goal is always the same: to make people feel like they’re part of the experience.

Right now, I’m most proud of my latest film, Big Wave: No Room for Error. It’s not just a surf movie — it’s a fully immersive experience. We partnered with Cosm to debut the film in their Shared Reality format, blending the real and virtual worlds inside a massive 65,000-square-foot LED dome. The visuals are over 12K resolution, with a custom soundtrack featuring music from Pearl Jam and Glass Animals. What makes it special is how it pulls you into the ocean — you’re not just watching the waves, you feel like you’re inside them. We shot at places like Nazaré and Teahupo’o using aerial and underwater cinematography to capture the raw power of big wave surfing.

This project combines everything I love — adventure, storytelling, and pushing the limits of technology — to bring people closer to an experience most will never get to live firsthand.

At the core of everything I do is action sports. It’s where I started, it’s what shaped my style, and it’s still the heart of my work today. That energy — chasing moments, pushing limits, being right in the middle of the action — it’s what drives everything, whether it’s shooting a new film, a global ad campaign, or a fine art series.

My movie Big Wave: No Room for Error is a perfect example — blending my passion for storytelling, technology, and the rawness of action sports into something that’s never been done before. And even in my advertising work – from Tom Cruise to Shaun White, it’s all about capturing authentic moments of movement, grit, and emotion.

On the fine art side, my galleries are my other passion. But even there, it’s not about just taking a pretty picture. It’s about putting people in the middle of the experience — whether that means hanging off the side of an airplane, swimming in heavy surf, or chasing light in places most people don’t get to see to capture the shot.

I want people to feel like they’re part of the story, not just looking at it. That’s what makes my work different — it’s about capturing the realness, the adrenaline, and the beauty all at once.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission behind my work has always been about bringing people to places they’ve never been and making them feel connected to the experience.

Whether it’s dropping into a giant wave, hiking through a remote mountain range, or flying above untouched landscapes, my goal is to capture the raw beauty of nature and the spirit of sports in a way that pulls people in.
Travel plays a huge role in that. The more I explore, the more stories there are to tell — and the more I realize how much power there is in sharing these moments. It’s about creating a connection between people, places, and passions, even if they’re half a world away from where the shot was taken.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about showing a beautiful scene — it’s about making someone feel like they’re standing there, living it for themselves.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There’s nothing better than when someone looks at my photography or watches my movie and tells me it made them feel like they were there — like they could almost hear the wave crash or feel the wind at 10,000 feet. That connection — making people feel something real — is what keeps me chasing the next shot. The most rewarding part of being a creative is getting to share real experiences with people — especially ones they might never get to have themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bobridges.com
• Instagram: @bobridges and @bobridgesgallery
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobridges/