Photographing the Basque Coast: Mood, Light, and Texture in Biarritz
The Basque coast isn’t always about golden sunsets and turquoise surf. Sometimes, its real character reveals itself when the weather turns moody — when the Atlantic sky thickens with clouds and the sea mirrors that drama.
Continue reading
Rarely does a week go by during the surf season where I’m not asked for help by other photographers who want to shoot better surf images. Equipment, settings, setup and especially editing are all on the list of questions I get. So….at your collective request, I have created an on-line course just for you.
Continue reading
Have you unlocked the full potential of your high end camera? If you are not actively using ISO as an integral tool, I would suggest you are leaving money on the table. Here’s why
Continue reading
As summer gives way to fall, the number of surf contests in Southern California start to ramp up. The NSSA, WSA, SSS, West Coast Board Riders and others start their scheduled events before the first winter swells even grace our shores. Read on…
Continue reading
Croatia and Montenegro have opened up in recent years to be top destinations for the adventurer. I was last there in 1987 during the height of the Cold War and was curious to see how things have changed so I booked a trip through Backroads to see for myself. Here is what I found…
Continue reading
Making a brief shift away from the California coast, I found myself wide awake at 5:00 a.m. on my first morning in Prague. Part of me groaned at the jet lag, but the photographer side of me was thankful for the early awakening so that I could put into practice my two main rules for travel photography. What are those rules you may ask?
Continue reading
Over the past four years, I transitioned out of the practice of law and into full time photography. The journey has been amazing and rewarding and now I field many questions about how I sell so many images. So this post is for you budding photogs (and artists). Please click through for some of my insights:
Continue reading
When it comes to gorgeous colors and beautiful contrasts, the Big Island of Hawaii may take the prize. I went for a quick-strike trip last week and this is what I learned. First, lava …. [click to read more]
Continue reading
The surf industry is such an unique creature with such a unique opportunity for marketing. The world loves surfing and surf images. Brands that connect to the industry have a magnificent billboard…
Continue reading
Every home has its own unique patterns because every homeowner is different. Colors, materials, decor, style (or lack of style) all play a part in deciding what art best compliments a room. When I set out to help [click to read more]
Continue reading
Anyone who spends as much time around the ocean as I do sees a lot of pelicans cruising the coast. They are fascinating birds whose shear size belies their graceful gliding ability. I can’t help but turn the lens to these denizens of the coast as they make for spectacular… [click for more]
Continue reading
Whether the waves are big or small, there is a dedicated subset of watermen that prefer to hit the water with a set of fins on the feet and their hand on the wave. These are the bodysurfers: a bold group of chargers who launch out of the waves like the dolphins that often surround them…
Continue reading
Summers in San Diego are wonderful, but late fall-winter is where its at. This past week was a prime example. Our weather was holding steady around 70 degrees with a hint of an offshore breeze. A beautiful swell lit up the beaches and gave a tease at what is yet to come…
Continue reading
Surf photography has so many options these days. Blue water and clear skies are the typical go-to. Sometimes, however, I like to play around with the finishes to share more of a mood that the day presents. For instance,
Let’s take a look at a session from Ocean Beach last week. The swell was quite good and the before school/work crew was doing there thing in the water. Yet, OB has a certain gritty vibe to it. The parking lot has an interesting crew hanging out and there are always plenty of dudes stuck in the 80’s along the beach. The surfers are a mix of up-and-coming groms and older watermen and waterwomen who claim their spot just north of the pier as if it were their own. So, when shooting OB, I like to tell a story.
Continue reading
I know its hard to believe, but sometimes I leave the sand and sea and head to random concrete bowls to see some action. There is certainly some cross-over between the athletes who surf and those who skate, but there is also a cool vibe in the skatepark that differs from the waves. So how to shoot such a scene?
Continue reading
Surf photography can take many forms. For contest surfers, I like to create close-up images to put the viewer into the action. For in the water shooting, there is nothing better than a deep, hollow barrel. For telling a story, however, I firmly believe that pulling back is the best option. What do I mean?
Continue reading
iso 200, f/8, 1/125
As surf photographers, we love and pray for the perfect mix of sunshine, swell, and talented surfers. It can be a frustrating wait as the best swells generally come with stormy skies. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with different tones to create mood in an otherwise bland image. Here is what I found…
Continue reading
I was asked to shoot images as the California State Games – Track & Field event and did not pass on the opportunity to get up close and personal with these athletes. Being allowed on the infield is always a treat and this meet featured athletes of all ages. Here’s the equipment I choose to take with me…
Continue reading
I grew up at swim meets. Weekends were a fun respite from long weekday hours following the black line. We got to run around with our friends, eat tons of Starburst, warm up a little and race for about one minute three times in a day. It must have been a slog for my parents! So can photos of swimming be at all interesting?
Continue reading
When shooting surf events, the focus is on the waves. We’re typically seeking to capture the gnarly cutback or fins-out move off the top. As a surf photographer with over two decades of shooting, I will tell you that it is easy to forget to look at the scenes on the beach as well. But…
Continue reading
Water Clicker Photo Blog 