I often get asked for the inspiration behind my images. “How do you arrange your shoots,” “how do you set up your lighting,” “how do you choose your subject matter?” Well…
Continue readingThe Story Behind The Image
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Faces of Surf
The past week has been a week of tragedy for our neighbors in Los Angeles. We all have friends and family that have lost houses and the situation is horrible. I’m going to take a break for a moment and share some happy shots just to change the mood…
Continue readingSurf Photography Using High ISO
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 readingCapturing the Blue and Red Landscape of Croatia and Montenegro
By now you all know that I am drawn to the color blue, especially where water is involved. Now couple blues with reds for an amazing contrast and you have a sense of my recent visit to Croatia and Montenegro. So here are my thoughts on photographing this amazing landscape…
Continue readingThe Art of Selling Photographic Art
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 readingThe Half and Half Story
Shooting in the water is at times super frustrating, but the rewards can be so worth the effort. I get a lot of questions on how this image came about so I invite you to click below to read the story behind this image.
Continue readingWhy Does Surfing Make Us Happy?
I spend a lot of time on the shore and in the water shooting surfers. With few exceptions, I find that we surfers are generally a super happy group. Why is that? My thoughts….
Continue readingThe Beauty of Kona
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 readingSailing with the Pelicans
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 readingIt’s National Bird Day!
Okay, this one kind of snuck up on me. I can’t say National Bird Day was on my radar, but hey, go with the flow, right? So what do I have in the way of birds?
Continue readingBig ‘Ol Black’s
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 readingSurf Photography With No Blues or Greens
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 readingSkate Park Shooting
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 readingThe Importance of Backdrop
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 readingWorking the Blurs
Sometimes a super crisp, focused image is great. Other times I see something different than the whole shot. It is those moments that make a good image, but they are sometimes hard to discern. I like to go back to Photoshop and try and see if I can create what I “saw” when I was in the moment. You might be surprised!
Continue readingSurf Photography When there is no Sun
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 readingNorth Island Comes Alive
Usually dormant, North Island is a peaceful beach reserved for naval personnel. With the sounds of freedom thumping and humming from the runway just steps from the beach, this tiny patch of the Pacific usually offers a direct contrast to the activity on the base. Until……
Continue readingSurf Style – On the Sand
When shooting a surf session, my focus is generally on the waves. There is, however, always an interesting interplay going on behind me as surfers arrive, prepare, compare notes, and leave a session. What happens on the sand is as much about So Cal surf culture as what goes on in the waves…
Continue readingChasing Blue – The Mountains
By now you know my favorite color is blue: blue sky; blue ocean. But what happens when I take my toes out of the sand and venture to higher elevations? More blue than is reasonably imaginable! The clear air at altitude (8,000-10,000′)…
Continue readingThe Tradition Continues
Back in the 80’s when I was leaving for college, some of my lifelong friends decided it would be great to get together on summer breaks for a backpacking trip. One trip led to another and now three decades later, the tradition continues. Our individual lives have spread us to all corners of the U.S., but once a year, the High Sierras serve as our beacon.
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