Let’s set the scene: its December. The water is cold. The sky is iron grey. The waves are clean, but small. What will the mood be? There’s only one way to find out…
Continue readingHappy Days In December
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From Gloom to Glory: The Art of Surfing Under Variable Skies
May Grey is followed by June Gloom and the chance of securing good surf photos is cloudy at best. Every so often, however, the sun pops out in all its glory, lighting the scene and filling it with color. While hard to plan, it is those moments that I target for a surf photography session. Saturday was just one such case…
Continue readingThe Piers of San Diego
San Diego County is home to some of California’s most iconic ocean piers—each with its own personality, history, and coastal charm. These piers aren’t just for fishing or strolling; they offer front-row seats to the Pacific and a glimpse into Southern California lifestyle.
Continue readingContest Surfing – When the Skills Shine
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 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 readingFloyd Found a Girlfriend!
Six years ago I was biking down the Strand between Coronado and Imperial Beach when I saw what I thought was a lawn ornament in the water. I chuckled to myself that someone had made quite an effort to play a prank. On my ride home, however, the lawn ornament had moved! Unbelievably, there was a living, wild flamingo in San Diego Bay!
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 readingWhich Surf Spot Has the Best Vibe?
I have shot surfing all over San Diego County, meeting surfers from all the breaks. So which spot has the best vibe? Well, in my opinion….
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 readingFighting to Keep our Beaches Clean
Sunday marked another Paddle for Clean Water at OB; another community effort by Surfrider Foundation; another year in the long line of continual years of seeking a solution to the problems affecting our coastline…
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 readingArt Installation at UCSD Concierge Medicine
This past week, we completed the installation of art for phase I of the remodel of UCSD Concierge Medicine. 25 large format, framed images now grace the walls. Phase II will have an additional 7 images in the new reception area and patient lounge.
Continue readingThe Piers of San Diego County
Marking the coast of San Diego County are a series of piers stretching out into the ocean past the surf line. Some of these were built in the late 1800s to support coastal trade. More were added in the early 1900’s as pleasure piers. Today, they stand silently in the depths, willing couples to stroll, fishermen to cast and surfer’s to shoot.
Continue readingWhen Spring Hits Torrey Pines
Winter was long and wet and then the sun appeared. Spring is now in the air. I journeyed fourth to Torrey Pines to see what spring looks like in its natural, coastal environment. Boy, was I in for a treat. Just seconds onto the trail, the wildflowers were ablaze. From cacti flowers to curling vines, the variety of shapes, colors and textures caused my shutter finger to fire at abandon. Here’s a sampling of the natural beauty of coastal So. Cal.!
Continue readingShooting the Crew Classic
Every spring, a convoy of trucks towing trailers filled with state of the art shells and long oars descend on Mission Bay. Then come the busses filled with athletes from schools all across the nation. Finally, SUVs and minivans pull into the parking lots, disgorging excited parents wearing all forms of college attire. That’s when we know it is time for the annual San Diego Crew Classic.
Continue reading“The Way Home” – Story behind the image
Standing still and silent, the Coronado Bridge traverses the bay in a graceful curve, carrying workers and visitors back and forth to downtown. It is relatively new (1969), but an icon that represents San Diego as much as Balboa Park.
Continue readingShoot’n The Sloughs
There is a patch of old So Cal coast where time is forgotten and development was left behind. It is raw; it is natural; it is called the Tijuana Sloughs. It also happens to be a great place to spend a day with your camera.
Continue readingSpongers Through the Lens
We all did it growing up. We all know the thrill of feeling the wave gathering strength and propelling you down the face. But there is a subset of bodyboarders who have taken that experience to a much higher level. I set out last week to see if I could capture some of the action and here is what I discovered:
Continue readingDocumenting California’s 50 Year Swell
What an amazing run of swell we have enjoyed here in Southern California. Pundits call it a once in 50 years kind of swell. I call it “busy time.” As a surf photographer, the opportunities have been broad and the toughest part has been choosing where to shoot every morning.
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