So much of the Cocobella community love being fit and active as a natural part of their lifestyle and we’re celebrating this all summer. One of the people helping us do this will be Elsa Knutson. Originally from a beautiful part of the world called Hood River in Oregon, she now spends most of her time in Australia after meeting a boy from country NSW while she was on holiday in Bali. We think you will love her as much as we do!
About Elsa
I grew up in Hood River, Oregon, and also spent a lot of time in San Clemente, California.
Nowadays, I’m mostly in Mollymook, New South Wales. My boyfriend is from there, and I can’t get enough of it! I met him in Bali and we chased each other around the world for a while and now we’re mostly in Australia. He’s a freelance composer so it’s perfect because our schedules are the same! My three favourite places in the world are are Mollymook, NSW, Canggu, Bali, and Luang Probang, Laos. And this year I really want to go to the Philippines – it’s been on my list for so long!
Taking Photos
At the moment for my photography I’m obsessed with reflector disks. I love that they can provide full shade, partial shade, and also act as a beam of light – all in something so compact. I’m also a big fan of Lightroom and Photoshop. I like to keep things natural and authentic but highlight what the photo is already offering. I think if you’re able to capture the actual feelings of a moment, that makes a great shot. My photography is always pretty upbeat and happy, so I try to capture those real moments of joy.
I got into photography in Oregon in 2016/17. At the time, I was surrounded by a group of friends who were taking photos of van life. I got lucky and learned the business through them! I became 100% freelance in 2019. I’d been working at it for a while, supplementing it with odd jobs and some restaurant work here and there, but finally accomplished the 100% mark at the start of the year.
Active Life
Health is such a full circle term. Of course, I think it’s important to eat your veggies, but I also
think it’s important to sleep well, exercise often, and check in frequently with your internal dialog. In Australia, I’m at the beach and surfing a lot. If I’m somewhere without a beach I will join a local gym. To me health is being as kind to yourself and your body as you can be!
I’m plant based, so Cocobella is my favourite ever. I’m awful at remembering to drink water, so the coconut water is great for me because it’s tasty and also so hydrating! I’ve been really liking blending the yogurts into smoothies lately too, it makes them so much creamier, and no animals were harmed in the process.
Inspiration
The last book I read was 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It’s some really gorgeous literature and a classic I think everyone should read. But it’s really hard to keep the names straight! Definitely worth it, but make yourself a chart as to who is who and it’ll be much easier! And my friend Bill Kim (@nwnatives) inspires me. He’s an amazing person and I aspire to be as good at photography as he is. One day!
You can follow Elsa on Instagram @elsaknutson
