Back in the Water
As you know, I had to spend almost 2 weeks out of the water with my head injury.
My first trip back to the water…I decided to up to Newport for my early morning wave hunting. I am always hunting for that awesome sun rise that you can at the Wedge. While I didn’t get what I was hoping for from the sky, the waves were still really good. Here are some of the shots from that session… So glad to be back in the water!
First wave of the morning
Linking up with my buddy Shaun
More motion with the flash
Another link up..
I remember telling my buddy that this could be one of my favorite shots EVER...while it didn't live up to that billing...I do still like it..
My buddy Reed who made the trip with me getting the shot!
I remember thinking that this wave was going in slow-mo....
Also one of my favs from this morning
Deep in a Big Cave
The overcast was so heavy on this morning...I shot flash nearly the entire morning...
A 3-4 ft day at the Wedge is unlike any other 3-4 ft day ANYWHERE else in SoCal..
Another of Reed getting the shot
Last cave of the day...
Hope you enjoyed!
Look for more from the water soon...
A Morning with Malia
While I don’t do a lot of actual surf shooting anymore, I do try to set up shoots with specific surfers whose talent precedes them. One such surfer is the young and talented Malia Ward.
Daughter of the professional tour surfer, Chris Ward, Malia seems to be a chip of the old block. I got the chance to meet up with Malia to shoot up at Lowers recently. Here are a few of the shots from our shoot…
Ending the shoot with a smile!
You can see more from our shoot in Malia's galley (www.surfingeye.com/malia_ward)
Look for more shoots with Malia soon!
Limited Edition Shirts
Photography has given me many opportunities to meet some great people at some great companies…
One such person is Michael at Ordean Surf. I first got to know Michael and the guys at Ordean about 6 months ago when they asked if they could feature me in their photography section on their site. Since then I have done a few different product shoots from them of which, some of those shots can be seen on their website (www.ordeansurf.com).
One of the coolest things that I have been able to do with Ordean, is help create and design limited edition T-Shirts using one of my images.
We used the image “Liquid Steel”
I also did a little product shoot for them as well…
Model: Ryan Marshall
Again, these are limited edition and when they are gone, they are gone…To get yours go to:
http://www.ordeansurf.com/collections/t-shirts-made-in-usa/products/liquid-steel-limited-edition
Limited Editions
What does Limited mean?
These shots will only be around for a VERY limited time.
There will also be a VERY limited quantity of each image available. I will only sell 5 prints of each image TOTAL. And once the time is up or all 5 prints of an image is sold, that image will not be available for sale again for at least 1 year.
Each images will be printed on archival canvas and are stretched and wrapped around a 1.5" thick wooden frame. The sides have a mirror effect so no part of the image is sacrificed on the front and it looks great from all angles. Every print has a satin varnish to protect it against minor scratches and to provide it with UV protection.
Customers will can choose from the following sizes
16x24 - $145
20x30 - $185
24x36 - $215
Also each image will also be hand signed and numbered.
When The Limited gallery is updated, I will announce it on my blog. Hope you take advantage of this great opportunity.
You can see the full res images and purchase these limited edition prints here:
Blue Blanket
Taken in La Jolla CA
All Seeing Eye
Taken in La Jolla CA
Sleepy Hollow
Taken in Newport Beach CA
Product Shoot for Ordean
So…I have been really busy of late, shooting with various surfers, new breaks, and doing some product shoots for a great company…
That great company is Ordean Surf.
They asked me to do a shoot for their new line of rash guards. The first of which I chose to shoot a model that I have worked with many times in the past. Here are some of the shots from that shoot…
If you want more information about the rash guards, or Ordean Surf, check out their website. All their gear is Made in the USA and is top notch!
Model: Cheyenne Rubens
Location: Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach CA
More from the Wedge
As I said in my last post…Here are some of the shots that I took from land at the Wedge.
I actually liked a lot of these a little more than some of the water shots I took…Mostly because of the coloring that I got once the sun actually came out.
Hope you enjoy!
Bobby Okvist ducking in under a little A-Frame
Barrels off the Jetty..
Making the drop...
The angry hand of the Wedge
A-Frames at Cylinders
Always love the crowd shot...
One of my favorites
A Cylinders Mo-Hawk!
It was a fun day... More shots can be seen in Bobby Okvists gallery.
My gear while shooting from land was my Canon 7D - Canon 70-200 f/4 (non IS) - 1.4 extender III
Flashy Wedge
This past Friday night I made a commitment to myself to wake up early… How early? 2:35am!!
Why? Because the forecast for The Wedge was 6 – 8 ft with very little wind. And because I don’t really like crowds in the water… So getting there early is always the best for me.
So, I got all my gear together the night before and was out the door and in my car at 3 am on Saturday morning.
When I got to Newport it was still completely dark. But it was black on the horizon looking out at the ocean, which meant it was not overcast at that time. Which was good news since I wanted to get a sunrise. One thing about that walk up to The Wedge. You can never really see the waves until you get by the life guard tower…but you sure can hear them. This was the biggest I have ever shot at The Wedge. Walking up in the pitch black, all you could hear is waves exploding on the shore…one after another… I started to get that nervous excited feeling…I stayed down there just watching the sets roll in for like 20 min while also looking for the best section…
I then went back to my car and got my gear ready. As time went on, I could see that the sun was not going to make an appearance this morning, so I decided to shoot flash. One of my favorite things to do now.. By the time I had everything ready and was back down at the beach, it was about 5:25 when I got in the water. The water was nice…the wind was light and offshore and the waves were BIG and glassy at time…
Getting up that early really paid off. From the wave and confidence standpoint…this was one of my favorite sessions. Any new wave makes me a little nervous, but The Wedge adds to that because of the sheer power that comes along with it…by far, the most powerful and turbulent wave SoCal has to offer… Here are some of the shots that I got from this morning…Hope you enjoy..
The first click!
As seen on my Facebook Page
Still always working on timing with the flash
Flashing the curl
The one draw back to using the flash is that you sometimes can't get all the detail you want out of the shot...But I do enjoy the motion that is captured..
SmartCar Parking lot
Lip close up
The Green Tunnel
I will post my land shots later this week!
Thanks
I love my job....
I wish I could say there is a really good reason why I have not been sharing some of my past shoots….I wish I could say that…but, having a full time normal job, having a wife, an infant son, two dogs and trying to make a photography business work…Other stuff just comes up… I hope all that are reading this understand that….
Speaking of my normal job…. People often ask if I will ever leave that to become a full time photographer… I can say honestly, I have no plans to ever leave my job…Photography as a full time source of income is not as easy as it once was…Just ask the entire photography staff at the Chicago Sun Times… My job gives me the freedom to pursue photography… I am fortunate to not have to rely on it as my sole source of income, and for those that do…I have ALL the respect in the world… The reason I bring this up…is because I work for a great place, I have the freedom to come in late to the office… From time to time, I will check the forecast and then go right to my meeting calendar…If I have no meetings, or pressing deadlines…My first meeting will be with the beach…
One such “meeting” was back in May…and boy it was worth it… Here are some of those shoots….
You know it will be a good day, when this is one of your first clicks...
Good waves bring out the good talent... Local Jake Halstead
Don't know who this was...but he ripped the entire morning...
One of my favorites from this morning...
I am not one for defacing public property, but, I think the street name should offically be changed... Playa Del Sur(f)
How could you sit in a cubical knowing this was out there...
Another one of Jake Halstead Killing it...
The guy out the back SCORED one the best waves all morning....
Waves by night
I thought I would post this here as well since some don't subscribe to my Facebook page or The Inertia Web site...
Here is a little write up I did for The Inertia website on my night wave photography
Water photography is not what it used to be. Let’s just start there.
While I have not been in the water as long as a lot of the watermen I know, I have seen a huge surge of photographers in the water during the last few years. That makes getting a unique shot, particularly of an empty wave, more and more difficult. Whether it is surf or wave photography you’re into, GoPro (and other small handheld digital cameras) are now a staple in the lineup, like it or not. And they are not going to vanish any time soon since each new version brings about further improvements in technology allowing even amateurs to have the potential to take quality water shots. I do believe that those who shoot with a DSLR still have a leg up. Yes, I am biased because I shoot DSLR. Photographers can be more creative with DSLRs since they control the camera settings – just take a look at slow shutter photos by Ray Collins and you will understand.
Another way DSLR users have an advantage is through their ability to utilize flash. In my opinion, night shooting creates some of the most unique images from the water. I only know of a handful of water photographers that use their flash in this way. In an attempt to stand out from the crowd, I recently decided to undertake night wave-shooting myself. After a couple of failed attempts initially, due to improper settings, I now believe it has produced some of my best and most memorable wave shots.
This is a taste of the shots I am getting at night…
Make sure to check out The Inertia's website for all things surf and lifestyle.
You can see more of these waves by night in my "Night Waves" gallery..