The First Sayulita Nayarit Picture Book: An Interview with Nik West

Nik West, owner of Nik West Photography, was born in New Zealand, and has since lived in Canada and Australia. In October of 2015, he, his wife, Mariette, and their two children, Van and Maya, moved to Bucerias, and by November 1st, 2015, were living in Sayulita for the surf, beaches, and good vibes. With a passion for photography that developed naturally when Nik was at University studying Economics, Sayulita has proved to be a spot that has sparked his artistic abilities. In fact, he has compiled the first Sayulita Picture Book an amazing compilation of images in and out of the water in Sayulita and nearby San Pancho.

How would you describe your photography style?

My style... I think in my style I generally look to create simple images. Images that are simplified down to basic elements. With weddings I shoot very candid or documentary, looking for interesting moments.

What type of photography work do you generally do?

I have photographed a bit of everything, but with an emphasis on people and places...I'm available for portraits, weddings, property, and surfing.

So, you just came out with the first Sayulita Nayarit picture book. Will you tell me more about this?

The book was made for selfish reasons, because I wanted one...but I do hope that it will be embraced by the locals and visitors to Sayulita. I don't believe it's the first book of Sayulita images, but it might be the first one available on the shelves in Sayulita. I also wanted to make the book affordable to as many people as possible and with print-on-demand book making these days it can be done.

What do you like about taking photos in Sayulita?

I enjoy shooting in Sayulita because of the light, colors, and warm water. I like to look for street images and also enjoy photographing in the water, trying to create artistic surf images. I especially love the early morning light.

Will you describe your favorite Sayulita image in this book?

One of my favorite images in the book is on pages 18 and 19 of a surfer leaving the water. It is heavily back lit and the surfer and the umbrellas pop. It has a retro vibe to it with the surfers posture. It sums up the type of images I strive for.

How did you choose which photos to include in the book?

Choosing the images for the book was a challenge. I have so many to choose from. I had to just go with my gut and pick the ones that I liked and thought went well together. I was really only trying to make the book that I wanted.

How long did it take you to compile all of the photos for this book?

The images for the book were taken from October 2015 through January 2016. I put the book together over the course of a week or so designing and redesigning. I kept coming back to it and playing until I was happy...although I'm never completely happy.

Where did your inspiration for this book come from?

I see many books aimed at tourists in different places and wanted to make my own somewhere that made sense to me. Sayulita allowed me to shoot the things I love and make the book I wanted. The book is heavy on surf imagery from in the water, but this is where my passion lies. I give thanks to all the amazing locals, and local surfers that have allowed me to achieve this.

Where can someone purchase the book?

You can find the soft cover version in Sayulita at Lunazul, Quiverito Surf Shop, and Pachamama, and at Boutique Moana in San Pancho. You can also buy the book online through my site where a hard cover version is also available.