For Oriol Esteve, an opportunity to partner his love of sailing with his talent for photography was too good to pass up. I sat down to discuss picture–perfect moments, in life and behind the lens, with this ex-Captain.
“Superyachting has been a big part of my life,” begins Oriol Esteve, whose Mallorcan upbringing meant he was never far from the sea. Whilst Oriol’s career began as a charter skipper on sailing yachts of usually 50 or 60 feet, by the age of 20 he had already set his sights on the big sailing superyachts.
“The first superyacht I worked on was Philanderer – a 40m sloop built by Concord Yachts. I was a deckhand, and we sailed all around Spain,” tells Oriol. After gaining his ticket in 2010, Oriol did a series of deliveries for Southern Wind and then took a role as First Officer aboard the 82-foot Feelin’ Good. “After this, came 53m Nirvana. I initially joined that boat as a deckhand – she was incredible, designed by Ed Dubois and Malcolm McKeon, and built by Vitters Shipyard,” says Oriol. “I stayed with the boat for two years, stepping off to join a 100-foot boat that was sailing the Brazilian coast before I returned to Palma.”
While helping a friend paint a bilge in STP, Oriol took a phone call that would prove to be a turning point in his life and career. “The Captain from Nirvana called me, and I asked if I would return to the boat – in the role of Captain. I couldn’t believe it! I thought he was joking. I said yes, and helmed Nirvana from 2014 to 2021.”
Looking back on this period, Oriol recalls competing in the 2015 Dubois Cup regatta in Porto Cervo as a highlight. “The owner bought Nirvana a new set of sails and we just went for it. We organised a crew and we finished in second place! That was a huge success for me, the boat, the crew, and afterwards we were different – the team was closer, stronger. We were all so happy!”
But Oriol knew that his life on the water must one day come to an end. “You can’t maintain this lifestyle forever, and I wanted more variety to my life’s story,” says Oriol. “I had begun to think about what might be next for me, and in my spare time I rediscovered my love for photography.”
Oriol had studied photography in Barcelona during his late teens, and whilst he’d always travelled with a camera it had not occurred to him before that this could be his way home. “Honestly, it was making me sad. I would return to Mallorca on leave and find too many changes, friends with babies, my parents a little older every time – I was living my life away from life,” explains Oriol.
And with that realisation, came Oriol’s light-bulb moment – he would partner his love of sailing and useful connections in the yachting world, with his talent for photography. Photo Nautic was born.
Summer of 2023 was Oriol’s second season as a commercial photographer, and business is going well with his services commissioned for the Superyacht Cup, various shoots for shipyards, and a recent regatta for classic yachts in Menorca.
“I typically find myself involved with two different shoot formats,” explains Oriol. “The first is shooting a new boat for a shipyard or for a broker, and the other is events, regattas.” Oriol explains that the main difference between the two is time: “With yacht shoots you may have the boat for two or even three days to get those perfect photos. With regattas, you have two seconds and before you know it, the shot has sailed you by!” In both instances, Oriol conducts extensive research into past photography styles. “Regattas and sailing events are so exciting to photograph – I love it, it makes my heart beat!”
One of Oriol’s favourite photoshoots to date came in July, with a commission from Baltic Yachts to photograph their latest 68 Cafe Racer, Open Season. “This was a two-day shoot on the north coast of Mallorca and we had the first Cafe Racer, Pink Gin Verde, there as well. These are super light, super-fast boats and they were sailing together – it was like watching match racing!”
“The most difficult thing for me in this new venture has been finding the right contacts,” says Oriol. “Learning who at which company is responsible for booking photographers and finding ways to reach them is challenging. I have been lucky with my sailing network; the industry is a family and many contacts have helped me establish these new connections.”
Whilst sailing yachts clearly hold a special place in Oriol’s heart, he’s not adverse to photographing a motor yacht or two. “Actually, I already photographed some motor yachts for Edmiston last year – one was a new Benetti and it was incredibly photogenic,” says Oriol.
Oriol is keen to develop his skills further and is expanding into video as well. “Honestly, it’s hard for me!” Oriol laughs, “I’m old-school – there was no social media 20 years ago, video wasn’t so popular. Slowly but surely though, I am learning more and I am working alongside a video editor to help with this.”
With the wind in his sails, Oriol looks to the future with excitement, “I’m thinking about a move to Italy or Spain, mainly for the lifestyle. I am always going to jump on a plane to shoot a yacht if someone asks, so I have freedom to be anywhere. I came off yachts, I came back to Mallorca, I founded my business. Now, the next chapter…”
