About

My name is Jarod Leon O’Shannessy. I live south of Sydney and have lived with significant personal challenges from a young age. I was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder at 15, along with early diagnoses of ADHD and Level 2 Autism. While these conditions have shaped my journey, they have also contributed to the depth of perception and creativity that defines my work today.

For the past 16 years, I have dedicated myself to ocean and nature photography. The ocean has always been more than a subject to me — it has been a place of refuge, revelation, and inspiration. Through my lens, I have witnessed and captured extraordinary moments in nature — waves that seem to dance, flicker, and move with a life of their own. I consider these moments a blessing.

At 15, I experienced a life-threatening medical crisis after ingesting 1800mg of Valium. I was rushed to emergency and placed under heavy sedation for three days. When I awoke, my life had fundamentally shifted. During that time, I experienced a recurring vision: a setting sun followed by an overwhelming, radiant light — brighter than anything I had ever seen. That experience left a lasting imprint on me, one I now understand as a profound spiritual turning point and a sign that my life would be spared for a greater purpose.

On November 15th, 2025, at sunrise around 5:30am, I experienced what I describe as being born again. In that moment, I felt spiritually renewed — washed clean of my past and saved by Jesus Christ. Since then, my faith has become central to my identity, creativity, and sense of direction. Today, my work is not only an artistic pursuit but a reflection of gratitude — for survival, for vision, and for the opportunity to witness and capture the beauty of creation.