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…
Finished Triptych called “SDDNA” In Client’s Conference Room
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.
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?
There is something special about a surf trip to an exotic locale. It is even more special when your son calls you in the middle of winter and invites you to be the photographer on his surf trip to Panama! When such events occur, I’m all in. Having done a number of surf trips, I have learned a few things about traveling with photo gear. Here are some tips I have gathered along the way.
As a photographer who has spent thousands of hours in the ocean, I most relish the time spent in the barrel when, amongst the chaos and churning, there is that idyllic moment when everything lines up just so. The inside of a wave as it curves up and launches over your head becomes smooth, translucent and flowing. The texture here is like glass, even if the rest of the ocean is churning in a wind-swept frenzy. Here, in the barrel, gravity and movement reshape and recolor your environment. It is often just a fleeting moment, but a moment in time so perfect, so special, that time slows just enough for nature to imprint this vista on your soul.