SUP Pictures by Tinu Müller

We all can appreciate a good photo when we see one and in the Supconnect Photographer Series, we do just that. We connect with exceptional photographers in and out of the stand up paddle boarding world and showcase some of their many fantastic photos. This week, we are stoked to highlight Martin Müller from Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. In the canton of Bern in Switzerland, where Martin's from, it’s common to abbreviate first names, so most people call him Tinu. Tinu is 47 years old, has a wife and two children and is a full-time teacher, enjoying photography in his spare time. With a passion in action sports and photography, Tinu discovered his love for standup paddleboarding, both as a paddler himself and as an observer through his camera lens. We recently caught up with Tinu to learn more about him and chat about his stunning photos. Check it out...

What sparked your interest in photography and how long have you been taking photos?

I originally got into photography through traveling. But I quickly felt like living out my passion for action sports with the camera. I started pretty late with sports photography, that must have been around my 30th birthday. This passion still exists today, even though I’m getting older. The advantage is that I’m still getting better as a photographer, but it’s getting harder and harder for my athletic friends to keep up their level.

Photos courtesy: Tinu Müller

Did photography come easy for you or was it something you had to work at?

My wife always thinks that I have a good photographic eye… Personally, I think that’s more because I spend a lot of time looking at pictures and think about why I like them. So I would probably give more weight to practice. I see my talent more in being able to focus strongly on something and investing passion and time in it accordingly.

What type of gear do you use?

Actually I work with camera gear from Sony. My two cameras are the A7RIII and the A7III. More important are good lenses. For SUP-photos I mainly use my 24-70 2.8 lens. Because SUP photos look great from above, I also regularly use my DJI Mavic 2 pro drone.

Photo courtesy: Tinu Müller

What do you hope to say with your photographs, and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?

As I mentioned before, I'm a big fan of action sports myself. With my pictures, I therefore try to put athletes and their achievements in the limelight. But it's also important to me to capture special moods. This works best in great landscapes and in perfect light. If I manage to combine these components, the best images are created.

Do you have a lot of post production work?

In my eyes, post production will never make a bad picture good. But it helps to make a good picture perfect. It's not always possible to capture a mood with the camera as I feel it on site. The processing serves to better convey my sensations.

Photos courtesy: Tinu Müller

What got you hooked to SUP and taking photos of paddleboarding?

Board sports such as snowboarding and skating have always fascinated me. Since it is difficult to find good surf spots in Switzerland, stand up paddling was somehow a logical summer option. I must have taken the first photos together with the family. The challenge in taking Stand Up paddle pictures is, that you are often too far away from the shore and if you take the camera with you on the water, you have to be extremely careful. I quickly realized that drone images are a great option to show the beauty of paddling from a new perspective.

Where has your favorite location been for shooting SUP?

I have always found the most amazing colors on Lake Oeschinen. That's why I've already photographed there several times. However, this lake is extremely overrun by tourists and it is not welcome if you transport your SUP with the cablecar. But if you paddle a few meters, you are quickly completely alone and can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.

Why do you enjoy photographing stand up paddlers? / What's your favorite part about shooting SUP?

There are many beautiful mountain lakes in my area. With stand up paddling photos, you can add a new perspective to these already much-shown landscapes. Another advantage of SUP photos is that you don't necessarily need absolute top cracks for the photos. This is different in other sports such as snowboarding or biking. So I don't always need to organize a rider, but I can also take great photos with my children.

When did you take your first stand up paddle photos and what was the occasion?

I made my first attempts on Lake Thun with my family. But the first serious shooting took place in a small ravine near where I lived. I met there with a guy called Sandro, who was paddling in the narrow gorge. We had a lot of fun and I immediately recognized the potential for great pictures.

Photo courtesy: Tinu Müller

Which of all your SUP photos is your favorite one?

There are many photos that I like. One of my favorites, however, is certainly a drone image from a shoot with the Swiss company Indiana Paddle & Surf from autumn 2020. The picture was taken on the famous Lake Oeschinen near Kandersteg and I like it mainly because of the fantastic colors of the water, which remind me a bit of the Caribbean.  

Where do you think would be the ideal location to do photo shoots for stand up paddlers?

Very special pictures are often taken on mountain lakes. These places show the beauty of the Swiss mountains. Since they are not always easy to reach with a paddleboard, very special pictures are created that you don't see every day. 

Photos courtesy: Tinu Müller

What is the SUP scene like in Switzerland?

There are many lakes and rivers in Switzerland and the SUP scene in Switzerland has grown a lot in recent years. Especially in the Corona period, a lot of people have benefited from offers from low-cost providers and the lakeshores are often full of boards. But it's nice that there are also reputable brands like Indiana that offer high-quality equipment. So there are also people who use the SUP as a piece of sports equipment and there are also races and events taking place in different locations.

What was the most dangerous or most risky photo you have taken?

I have already mentioned the gorge where my first serious SUP shooting took place. I was also there later for a promotional shoot for Indiana Paddle & surf. The shaft is very narrow in some places and there are many loose stones on the side walls. Actually, you would probably have to wear a helmet there. Fortunately, nothing ever happened.

Photos courtesy: Tinu Müller

Other than your own, whose photos do you most admire?

I admire a lot of great sports photographers. But SUP photography is probably still more of a niche and I don't know any names. For example, I really like the snowboard photos of Lorenz Holder or the bike pictures of J.B. Liautard. But there are many other great artists out there.

Is photography your main profession or just a hobby?

I work almost full-time as a teacher. I only do some photography professionally so that I can take the liberty of photographing what I really enjoy, even if it’s not always financially lucrative.

Anything else you want to add?

To all interested photographers out there, I can recommend SUP photography as a good introduction to action sports photography. Just be careful when taking your gear out on the lake and use a waterproof bag. Also respect the fragile riparian zones and the habitats of wildlife. And I would like to thank you guys from Supconnect for the opportunity to show some of my pictures here. It is a great honor for me!

To learn more about Tinu Müller and see more of his work, visit his website or view his Instagram @tinumuellersport

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