The former coal miner’s story is one of six in Fishpeople, which also chronicles a Hawaiian spearfisher and freediver, a Californian youth worker and an open-water swimmer.

The film will be shown at Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul this Friday with viewers set to walk away with a feeling of connectedness.

“It’s about six people who have nothing to do with each other – like there’s old ladies and young boys in different parts of the world – and they’re all connected by the ocean,” Collins said.

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It’s been 10 years since a work injury left Collins looking for something to bide his time and resulted in the purchase of his first camera. The unsolicited success has left him often pondering whether it was fate or coincidence that has brought him thus far.

“I honestly think about that all the time. Even the fact that I won an award in America … and I got sent over there and met my wife there,” he said. “That was just another one of those situations and my whole career has been made up of those really.”

Getting asked to be part of the documentary came as another complete surprise, even more so that it was from one of Collin’s favourite film-makers Keith Molloy.

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“I was kind of humbled in that part of my story will be preserved forever, I’m just kind of in awe really,” he said.

The movie screening coincides with the release of the Thirroul native’s second coffee-table book, Water & Light. It’s is a compilation of the past three year’s of his time in the water here and across the globe, waiting for the perfect moment when light reflects off the peak of a wave to reveal an abstract glow of beauty.

“The actual pressing of the button is the last part of it and it comes from the homework to get to that point like studying weather maps and different seasons and tides and where the sun’s going to line up,” Collins said of the process.

But in saying that he also said you can’t plan moments of nature and it’s very much “open to chance”.

The next year Collins will continue to ride his career wave with several planned surf trips as well as exhibiting his photographs in New York, Germany and Florence.

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“My theory is I try and say ‘yes’ to everything, and even if you can’t see just walk forward and the ground will appear under your feet, that’s been my philosophy,” he said.

“When there’s no real effort required you’re on the right track. If I had to try to make things work it just wouldn’t feel right. So I’m happy to continue documenting the moods of the ocean and see where that leads me.”

Collins has one a slew of awards for his work; he’s been featured in numerous publications including Vogue, the New York Post and CNN; and has had companies like Apple, Nikon, United Airlines, Isuzu, Qantas and Red Bull using his signature seascapes across their international campaigns.

Fishpeople will screen at Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul, Friday December 15  at 6:30pm and at 8pm – all profits donated to the Surfrider Foundation (South Coast chapter).

Doors open at 5:30pm with food, drinks and music. Books and artwork will be available all night. (It’s free to drop in to buy a book)