How the Ocean Shapes My Photos

If you’re wondering why my photos look different, there’s a reason. Most photographers capture the ocean from a distance with a telephoto lens. The problem is that it limits the compositions the ocean has to offer.

Instead, I go directly into the water or stay close to the shoreline to create the imagery you see in my coastal art prints. There’s something powerful about physically connecting with the ocean, being right there with the tide, and letting presence shape my photos.

Growing Up as a Desert Rat

I grew up in the ’80s in Lancaster, California, back before the Internet and cell phones. The city had banned skateboarding, and officials had no interest in providing safe places for us to ride. If we wanted to skate, we had to get creative.

My brother and I would meet friends at the local skate shop, pile into cars, and go hunting for ditches. We also skated empty backyard pools. And yes, all of this was illegal. Rebellion and creativity have always been at the heart of skateboarding culture.

But skating wasn’t the only thing that shaped me. The ocean was always calling.

The Ocean Calls in Santa Monica

When we weren’t skating on weekends, our family was usually at the beach. We grew up playing in the sand at Malibu, Laguna, and the Santa Monica Pier.

My mom owned Hawaiian swimwear business, and sometimes we got to tag along on her “business” trips. There were also treks down to Long Beach for the Action Sports Retailer show where all the big skate and surf companies gathered at the convention center.

Forest Fun with the Ham Radio Crew

If we weren’t doing our thing at the coast, we were in the forest with my dad and his ham radio crew.

The hams and their families would group camp in the Los Angeles National Forest. They created massive antennas by slingshotting wires into the trees. My brother and I brought our skateboards and got creative bombing hills and using the trees for tricks.

I kept skating off and on through the years while living in Portland. By the time I hit 49, I was at my peak, finding my lines at concrete skateparks. I carve fast, which is known as surfskating.

Then last year I fell and snapped my left ankle like a twig. It’s been over a year and I’m still recovering. For now, skateboarding is on pause.

Finding My Lines in the Ocean

Fast forward almost 40 years and I’m still skating in my own way. Instead of concrete and trees, I find my lines in the ocean now. I’ve channeled my skateboarding past and use the same focus, balance, and style in what I call my In Ocean photography.

I go in up to my knees to take photos, mostly barefoot, sometimes in water shoes. Out there, with the roar of the waves around you and seagulls and pelicans flying overhead, it feels absolutely magical.

When wispy clouds drift across a sunset, the entire landscape can transform into an oceanic paradise. It’s something you have to experience in person.

That’s the feeling I’m always chasing in my photos - so you can see it too.

Finding Different Perspectives

There are several reasons I like to capture photos while standing in the ocean. You see things differently and there's more opportunities for compositions:

• First person perspective views of the ocean
• Wildlife comes alive with birds flying above the waves and tidepool creatures
• Lava rock formations create foreground interest and natural repetition
• Light and shadows hit the sand in new ways along the shoreline
• Inland streams meeting the ocean carve s-curves and flowing patterns

A Few Oceanic Rules

The ocean is a living, breathing organism full of marine life. I respect it. It's powerful and constantly changing, so I follow a few rules to stay as safe as possible.

1. Check tide tables before going out, and plan shoots around low tide.
2. Keep your eyes on the ocean. Never turn your back.
3. Watch for sneaker waves and expect the unexpected. Stay alert.
4. Wear water shoes to protect your feet from sharp things and small creatures.

When the Past Flows into Now

It’s important to look back at where you came from, because those roots shape who you become. For me, it used to be about finding lines in empty pools and ditches.

Now it’s about stepping into the waves and finding my flow in the brisk Oregon ocean. It’s the same ride, just a different playground - one that’s alive.

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If this article resonated with you, please support your local Zen Sass Master and pick up a coastal art print.