Every image has a story behind it and “The Scavenger” is no exception. I absolutely love this little image as much as for the symmetry as the moment in time. Here’s the story….
Continue readingThe Story Behind the Little Crab
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Playing with Surf Images in Photoshop
With tens of thousands of surfing images stored on my hard drives, I realized that I have an incredible source of material to play around with (notice I didn’t say “work”). Photoshop opens the door to a wealth of approaches to making whimsical, wacky, or cool images from your surf photography. Let me show you some examples…
Continue readingEditing: The Surfing Workflow
I get a lot of questions about workflow when I’m out shooting the surf scene. First, I appreciate the question because there is so much more to capturing a good image than just pointing and shooting and anyone who asks the question has obviously struggled with the editing process. So, here I strive to share the steps I take once the day’s shooting is complete and I’m back at the computer.
Continue readingSurf Photography: Close Up or Pulled Back?
This is a question I get a lot: are the best surf photos closeups or distance shots? My personal answer is that there is a purpose for each type of image. Here are my specific thoughts on the matter:
Continue readingPhotography Exhibition: What’s on the Wall?
Readers, I am thrilled to share that I have been asked to do a solo photography exhibition on Nov 11. It will be held at the Emerald C Gallery in Coronado and I hope you can all attend. So what have I decided to show? I will share some previews here:
Continue readingPhotography as Art: It’s in the Installation
One of the beauties of our modern, connected world is the access to all sorts of cool images. We see them every day on social media. Often, however, there is disconnect between photography and art. How many images do you see posted on Instagram that you immediately think would look good hanging in your home of office? Not many, I would venture to guess. But here is another way to think about it…
Continue readingSurf Photography – Knowing the Sport
Surf photography depends upon so much more than time and location. The best results come to those that know the sport well enough to anticipate the surfer’s moves before they are executed so they are ready to capture critical moments on the wave. To me, there is little worse than seeing an image of a surfer doing nothing on a wave. Here are my thoughts on the matter:
Continue readingSurf Photography – Hacks for Staying Warm
Shooting surfers in the water or seeking the next cool wave shot is immensely fun and a heck of a workout. Our bodies, however, are warm blooded – that is we pump blood to keep warm. When we submerged in water that is colder than our body, our muscles and nerves start to cool and over time and this leads to loss of strength and coordination (not so wonderful)! Here in San Diego, our average ocean temperature is only 63. So what to do?
Continue readingSupporting Charitable Organizations! No Limits Theater Group
I was honored to be asked to create an image for the annual fund raising gala held by No Limits for Deaf Children and Families to be held on October 15. This image, called “The Graduate,” is created by thumbnail-sized headshots of all the 2022 graduates of this incredible organization. Graduates you might ask? Indeed! Here is the story
Continue readingCapturing the Flow of the Ocean
The ocean: always changing; always beautiful. I have spent thousands of hours on the shore gazing through my lens at different aspects of the Pacific and I am drawn to the shapes and colors of incoming swells. To me, there is real art in the swell and it only depends on how you choose to capture it. A slow shutter blur is one method that creates beautiful images. Here’s how it is done:
Continue readingShooting Waves: Similar to Playing Golf?
Shooting waves is one of my favorite types of photography. Over time, I’ve come to realize that it is surprisingly similar to playing golf. What, you may ask? Well, let me explain…
Continue readingIn Search of Floyd, San Diego’s Wild Flamingo
Photographers in San Diego know that a wonderful secret exists in the southern reaches of the San Diego Bay. With the ocean on your west, there is only a thin strip of road called “The Strand” that separates the ocean from the wetlands, which host an amazing assortment of water birds, from skimmers to osprey. There is one particular feathered friend that dazzles and surprises. Yes, we play host to a wild flamingo. He is a brilliant shade of pink with a wingspan of nearly five feet and has made himself at home in the expansive shallows between the Cays and Imperial Beach. The locals have given him several names, but Pink Floyd, or simply “Floyd” seems to have stuck.
Continue readingCommission Piece for San Diego Humane Society
I was pleased to be invited to the annual San Diego Humane Society “Furball” on October 1 of this year and even more pleased to be asked to create a special piece for their auction. But what could I create that would pay tribute to the mission and the successes of this organization? Well, allow me to share my journey and the story of this image.
Continue readingUnderstanding Color Grading in Photo Finishing
Color Grading is a technique that few outside the world of art and photography really understand, but which viewers will unknowingly appreciate. It is an essential finishing touch to any photograph and has the ability to dramatically affect mood and appearance. So what is it and how is it done?
Continue readingShooting the Ocean in Black & White
By now, most of you know I love the colors of the ocean, particularly shades of blue. I was recently asked about shooting the ocean in black and white and whether that is worth the effort. I respond with a resounding YES! B&W photography is a powerful tool to creating a desired mood…
Continue readingCreating a Commission Piece for a Biotech
One of the joys of being a photographer is the opportunity to create. I was recently commissioned to create an 11foot image for the conference room of a biotech company in Torrey Pines. The parameters were to create something relevant to the business, but give it a distinctively San Diego vibe. Hmmmm.
Continue readingSurf Photography – Utilizing the Background
We have all seen dozens of surf shots, ranging from the out-of-focus speck on the horizon to crystal clear action in the massive barrels of Teahupoo. Guess which ones we are drawn to? Of course, its the full-framed action shots with color and clarity. Alas, we can’t always be in Tahiti during a killer swell. Instead, 90% of the time we are shooting at the local break with waves that are typically too small to fill the frame themselves. So what can we do to make those shots enticing?
Continue reading“Left Wing;” The Story Behind the Image
I get a lot of questions about “Left Wing:” Is this a painting or a photograph; how did you create it; why didn’t you do a right wing” what kind of bird is this; etc”. So here’s the story behind this image:
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