For photographer Andrew ‘Anj’ Semark, the ocean isn’t just a subject—it’s an obsession. Raised on the rugged coastline of Western Australia, his connection with the sea was forged in wild conditions, learning early on that beauty and chaos often exist side by side. You may have seen some of his breathtaking shots already. Heaving mountains of water breaking on shallow reef, with some of the most stunning light and detail you could imagine. For many people, it’s the first time they’ve seen the ocean like that, so it stops them in their tracks.
Inheriting a love of the sea from his father, who’d take Anj fishing in ‘not the best conditions’, he learned that sometimes pushing the limits brought the most sense of accomplishment when things came together too. Whether it was chasing surf with friends, or eventually finding a passion for photography, the moments that stood out came when Anj ventured over the edge of where he felt comfortable.
“Pushing past that point of feeling uncomfortable sometimes is the most rewarding,” he explains. “When you’re in there swimming, there’s so much going on—you’re just concentrating on, you know, not dying for starters—then putting yourself in the right position. If you can come away with images from the day that you know are unique to that moment, then you come home pretty stoked.”
We’ve been fans of Andrew’s art for a long time, because of that commitment. When we found out he only wears OTIS sunglasses, it was the perfect chance to work together. We’re both from WA, we both appreciate gear that holds up in rugged conditions, we both like looking at things from a different perspective.
“The attention to detail that you guys show through your sunnies is what I want to replicate through my images,” he says about our common approach.
To celebrate that shared sense of vision, we’re now showcasing Anj’s striking imagery on two limited-edition recycled PET wrap cloths that come packaged with all of our new release OTIS frames in 2025. The wraps help protect your glasses when they’re not in use, can be used to clean the lenses when needed, and also help respect the environment with more considered materials.
We hand selected the images with Anj to capture the deeper aspect of what makes our natural home so incredible.
“These choices I feel show that detail—the rawness of the Southern Ocean and what we have here in WA. So it was almost like an easy choice,” says Anj.
He even took us out on his jetski to experience the place where the images were taken. The whole experience was pretty humbling, being in anxious awe on a watercraft, where he calmly swims and has the presence of mind to focus on what he loves best.
To even better do Anj’s imagery justice, we’ve printed out the two pieces on premium grade photography paper and had them framed. One we’re keeping in the office. The other we’re giving away with a pair of sunglasses. Follow along on Instagram for your chance to win!
Check out more of Anj Semark’s insane work here too. Inspiration to step outside of your own comfort zone to Frame Your Freedom.
