BF Stop 2

Living in New York and having roots in surf photography has actually been a huge advantage in my opinion. Not only have I had the chance to travel for work, but that’s what I do for personal enjoyment too. I love what I’m doing right now. I do about 15-20 short trips within the United States, and then between 2-4 out of country trips a year. I’m not sure I can pick one place that I consider a favorite as every trip has lifelong memories attached to them. I truly did fall in love with the highlands of Peru and that has given me even more motivation to photograph the world.

 

I can’t say that I’ve dabbled in anything but photography and videography since graduating college. I’ve worked summer jobs for a bit more travel money but other than that it’s just been photography.

 

I’ve recognized photography as not only and art but an occupation since obsessing over National Geographic when I was old enough to comprehend. I’ve always understood photography to be a profession. For my own personal occupation, I recognized it as a viable occupation when I was awarded the Follow the Light Foundation grant in 2007 by the most elite surf photographers in the world.

 

This is my favorite question to answer because I know their are people out there who may not have heard some of the names I’ve been influenced by. Nick Brandt and Bruce Davidson, as well as countless other well know photographers are a given, however, photographers who I know personally would have to be Brian Nevins, Nick Lavecchia, Tom “Snapwater” Colla. All three of them have given me insight and inspiration when I needed it most. Also my college professors, Rob Toedter and Rose Desiano have provided me with mountains of information and I can never thank anyone enough for the gift of knowledge. My friends and surf travel partners, in particular Bob Baldwin, the owner and operator of atlanticbodyboards.com. Please do check all of their sites, you’ll be amazed. I’d also have to say my family and especially my girlfriend, Jackie, who has been the backbone in everything I do. I can’t say I’d be doing what I do now if it wasn’t for her. She’s beautiful…and a world class traveller haha.

 

I’m obsessed with the timelessness of some photographs, images that last decades, and possibly hundreds of years, images that capture more than what’s on film, the ones that capture an entire day/week/ or extended period of time with just a single photograph. The ones you remember. I am always striving to get one of those photographs, and I’ll never know if I do because I am the image maker and its a memory for me. Thinking about every photograph I’ve taken is mind boggling to me and truly makes me think. I have lived every moment that I’ve photographed, I was there. It makes me feel like I’ve done a lot in my life.

A couple of times while shooting water photos in freezing cold heavy surf I didn’t drown, which was great! Haha. I think I’d have to say the best moments happen months later after a shoot and I go back over the images and find something I didn’t see back then. Some new perspective, something that inspires me in future shoots.

 

Everything I shoot is fun, I’ve never been miserable with my camera, if it seems like something boring to shoot I’ll find a way to make it interesting for myself by challenging myself photographically. If I’m not having fun doing what I do, then it will translate into my photographs and they will look dull and pointless.

  

I don’t advertise in anything.

 

I have a couple of trips I may be taking in the coming months, I’m looking into Romania, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Argentina, Tasmania and possibly somewhere in central/southern Africa. I’ve not yet made a decision but it will be for personal travel photography, exploring people and places, what I enjoy most.