We Hit The Jackpot - Sea Turtle Encounter in La Jolla, California

A few years ago I had a belief that I had to travel to a place like Hawaii to have the experience I had yesterday, twenty minutes from my home. The week after we flew back here from Oahu, where we swam with dolphins in the open ocean and had many encounters with sea turtles on each part of the island, the water temperature in San Diego was warmer than in Hawaii, approaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In that week I saw someone post a photo of their encounter with a sea turtle in La Jolla. I couldn’t believe it, but the surroundings in the shot sure looked authentic. Browsing their feed I saw that they also scuba dive so I chalked it up to them being in locations on the sea floor I’ll never see.

Then, yesterday happened. The Z-man and I ventured out on the SUP to crystal clear, super warm water in La Jolla. There were leopard sharks everywhere, dolphins doing front flips alongside Z as he did them off the paddleboard, and sea lions cruising between us and the beach. As we explored the reef area, we hit the lottery. There, feeding on kelp was this beautiful sea turtle. It was super chill around us and we swam with it for twenty five minutes. What an amazing and peaceful experience and sweet memory for Z as he grows up. This all further plants the knowledge in his and my head that maybe we don’t have to fly far from home, we just need to get out and look more often.

📷 Shot with #GoProHero9

Get yours here: GoPro

The GoPro Hero9 Black is Here and it Changes The Game

I've spent some time testing the newest GoPro Hero9 Black and give you my thoughts on this exciting new camera. I focus on the overall experience with this camera and not on the specs. How a camera makes you feel and the imagery you capture with it means everything to me. I go through some of the updated new features and show clips and stills I've shot with using this newest GoPro Hero camera.

You can purchase the GoPro Hero9 Black here: http://bit.ly/GoProHero9Black

The Summer Heat Returns

This could very well be Hawaii, but this is La Jolla, CA and today the water is warmer than it is in Oahu. I’m not sure what type of affect that has on local marine stability, but it sure is nice for us humans to be in when along with the warm water, we have an unusually humid heat wave going on. Shot with a GoPro and extreme stoke levels for summer water.

Plains, Trains and Automobiles

Just watching the world go by, day by day. And not one day goes by without giving thanks that this little hill and tiny spot in the universe is the neighborhood I call home. 🏠 

📷 Shot with the multi-talented little GoPro in Night Mode, and lit with the colorful new RGBWW AputureMC in AmericasFinestCity

Reflecting on Reflecting

One thing I’ve been really thankful for lately is the time I’ve had to reflect. I’m equally thankful to have a few hours to spend at the beach with my friends in a much needed recharge and our friends and family support is what’s needed for me, right now. I feel a new energy, one that is at peace and another that has a creative fire that is igniting at the perfect time. Sunset season is about to begin at our beach! 🔥

Imperial Sand Dunes, California: Live and Learn.

Made my way out there with a friend to check it out. Shouldn't have done this in July. It was so hot it was straight up dangerous. Once the sun went down it became a little more tolerable, but by this time my body was exhausted from the heat. Glad I was able to sneak out a quick shot. I'll be returning when it's cooler. What an incredibly beautiful place!

Shoot To Escape - Apex Thread

This was a moment I’ll never forget. It was my son’s very first day in pre-school. I had just had a very emotional child drop-off that included him hugging my leg and crying, not wanting me to go. It took so much of me to leave, especially after being a stay-at-home Dad for his first years. Once home, I needed something to do so I grabbed my camera and headed downtown to see if I could find a composition to take my mind off things. Then I choose a super long exposure shot, leaving me with all this time to think about things and be even more emotional. This shot is entitled, “Apex Thread” and is a long exposure photograph of the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge suspension support in downtown San Diego.

Latte Art GoPro POV

I’m a little rusty, but still kind of managed to pull it off. Next time I need fresh coffee beans for good rich crema and not the long forgotten ones, lol. Shot with my GoPro Hero8 in a bite mount.

A Rare Moment of Emptiness

A very rare moment where the scene was empty. This doesn’t happen often at this place. The turbulent sky lent itself to the artful side of what one can do with a GoPro Hero8. This camera constantly surprises me. The images have so much life to them and they respond like none of my other cameras do in post.

The Grande Mirror

The Grande is a high-rise residential building in San Diego. Composed of two towers of equal height, the 39-story towers have a height of 420 feet and are a prominent fixture in San Diego's skyline, dramatically changing the way the skyline looks compared to how it did in 2002 . The Grande at Santa Fe Place was designed by the architect firm Perkins & Company Architecture and Urban Design Inc. and is based on late-modernist architectural style. This photo was taken through 17 stops of neutral density to achieve a “moonlit” look, but in reality, the photo was taken at noon. Mirrored buildings are rare in these parts, but I love the effect they give the observer.

It Matters How We Treat All Things

#WorldOceansDay

Resilience

It isn't easy to always keep a happy face when facing elements like these. Luckily I was able to capture Mr. Happy before this beach was deemed inaccessible due to dangerous erosion.

Some Soul Cleansing Beach Time Was Much Needed.

An image from the session in my live Instagram story from the other night. With everything going on lately, it’s been tough to get out and shoot, but things are starting to swing back into place creatively. The world sure is making it difficult, though. I’m thankful for a little ocean therapy with a good friend at one of my favorite places. Shot with a GoPro Hero8 and Polar Pro ND32.

A Photo From Last Night's Red Tide Bioluminescence in La Jolla, California

When you’re actually looking to have the blues. I figured with how long this red tide phenomenon is sticking around making our ocean waves light up bright blue, and that it could be the largest one ever, why not get down there and get some shots? The bonus is to get a chance to social distance with the amazing San Diego photographers I’ve gotten to know over the past few years. No better reason to get out and spend time in the dark until the early morning hours watching and photographing something that not everyone will get the chance to see in their lifetime.

Stay-At-Home Projects - How I Create an Illustrated Logo

In 2011 I created this logo for Bergie's Pub in San Diego, CA. Since we're all stuck at home in these weird times and people are looking for things to do, I thought I'd share how I create these types of illustrated logos. From quick sketch through to form, shadow and light, I discuss how the concept changes as the project moves forward, with revisions and new ideas. I used a Wacom Cintiq tablet, and to start, the drawings were done mostly in the same way they'd be done if on paper. From there I refine my illustration and switch over to Adobe Photoshop for shadow and light work to add form. Let me know in comments if you'd like to see more videos like this, and stay safe out there, everyone!

My video clip shot with pro skateboarder Jeromy Green Earns GoPro Million Dollar Challenge Award

I’m so honored and humbled to be included in this year’s GoPro Million Dollar Challenge video. It’s also extra special to share this honor with pro skateboarder Jeromy Green, who I’ve been shooting with for years now. We’ve put in some hours at the skatepark so to see all this time end up producing an award like this is something truly awesome. To be next to some of these other amazing clips just puts all this in to perspective - it’s HUGE. To all my fellow GoPro peeps around the world, thank you for your daily inspiration and for always crushing it.

It's been a crazy few months, complete with a trip to Asia, capturing content in hopes to make the cut for this video. To see all the time and hard work pay off, just proves that no matter how big the challenge and how bad the odds are, you've got to push through and don't look back. Go out and get it! Ours was one of 44,000 clips submitted. Thanks to Jeromy and to all the others who helped me shoot my crazy I ideas I had. I'm already thinking of next year and what new can be done. Thanks, GoPro! Stoked! If you want a part of the award next year, grab your GoPro and get out there and get it.

Yosemite National Park

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Vernal Fall shot with a GoPro Hero8 using the GoPro app. Thankful this isn’t spring water flow!

Finally made it to Yosemite Nation Park with some friends and glad I went when I did, since now that the Corona Virus is apron us (COVID-19) all National Parks are closed. Our intentions were to photograph the firefall phenomenon, but there wasn't enough snow on El Capitan to provide water for Horsetail Fall so we spent the week exploring the park’s other treasures.

What an amazing sight this valley is! I cannot wait to go back with my family so my son can see this park and take in the massive rock walls that surround you from every side.

Taiwan - Traveled By Bicycle

In this vlog, I travel to Taiwan as a guest of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau on behalf of GoPro to see what it's like to get out and explore the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful island in Asia.

One world meets new in Shiding District

In this vlog, I travel to Taiwan as a guest of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau on behalf of GoPro to see what it's like to get out and explore the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful island in Asia. Having not ridden a bicycle in years, it isn't without its challenges, but being a rookie I prove that even the 4th highest island in the world can be conquered if you get out and give it a shot. This is the Formosa 900 media tour in 2019. We travel from Yuanlin City to Sun Moon Lake, then the Chingjing Farm and summit at Wuling, at almost 11,000 feet in elevation. Giant Adventure guided us and kept us safe as we were able to experience Taiwan from the western cities to the highest peaks.

My new friend Cat and I captured the adventure on our GoPro cameras. These kept our packs light so we could concentrate on the road and get some unique perspectives. Especially with GoPro Max, the newest 360 camera. A trip like this is rich in culture and I'm so thankful for the people I met and for the food we ate! Traveling across the world to see Asia, we learn that even though the landscape is different, we share so many similarities with the friendly people of Taiwan.

Thanks to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, GoPro, Giant Adventure, GoPro Ammo and GoPro Taiwan, as well as those friendly folks who helped us along the way, fed us, and taught us about Taiwan and it’s rich history.

How a tourist handles the Ci En Pagoda in Sun Moon Lake

Views for Miles from my room above Sun Moon Lake

Having a little fun with the road workers in Yuanlin City

Getting a Little Studio Time in During The Holiday

Creative studio shoots are a blast when you work with a guy like Art Director, Rich Floyd. His meticulous preparation means everything goes without a hitch, even when an idea involves a crazy shoe sculpture for Dr. Comfort footwear, or even products suspended in air. There are times when I see his sketches and I’m unconvinced that we’ll be able to pull it off with the limited tools we may have available, and this guy puts his MacGyver hair on (jk) and somehow pulls it off, every time. Here’s to all the Rich Floyds in the world. The whole one of them. Oh, and his post work is pro too!

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