2015
Advertising Shoot for Suunto
Maldives
Advertising Shoot for Suunto
Maldives
I captured these images as part of a huge advertising campaign for Suunto, a company that creates high-tech wrist computers to monitor the safety of divers and mountain climbers in extreme conditions.
This 9-day shoot in the Maldives was a major production — a 15-person crew was on deck to help capture stills and motion of athletes using the device while participating in a variety of watersports, from scuba diving to surfing, stand-up paddle boarding to free diving.
A gorgeous location, a dream client, and a great team — what an amazing experience!
2013
DP for Of The Sea
California Coast
Cinematographer for Of The Sea
California Coast
Of The Sea, scheduled for completion and release in 2015, is a full-length documentary film from Trim Tab Media. The film, which focuses on California fishermen, seafood and sustainability, will soon begin a film festival tour.
As one of the primary cinematographers for this documentary, I was honored to capture these important stories.
See More: www.oftheseamovie.com
2011
70 Degrees West
Qaanaaq, Greenland
70 Degrees West
Qaanaaq, Greenland
70 Degrees West is a not-for-profit multimedia documentary project that I conceived, photographed and filmed alongside project partner Michelle Stauffer.
We traveled the length of the globe along the 70 degree line of latitude — from the North to the South Poles — capturing stills, footage, interviews and stories for our blog and website. We embarked on this massive documentary project to expand global awareness of the at-risk cultures and ecosystems in these regions, focusing on issues related to conservation and climate change.
The film we produced for the third and final phase of the project was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, and is currently in production.
See More: www.70degreeswest.com
2010
Joined Getty Images
San Francisco Bay Area
Joined Getty Images as a Contributing Photographer
San Francisco, CA
I accepted an invitation to become a contributing photographer to Getty Images! Currently, Getty licenses over 2000 of my images, primarily underwater and outdoor adventure, plus many conceptual works produced specifically for Getty.
2004
Launched My Career
San Francisco Bay Area
Launched My Career as a Professional Photographer
San Francisco Bay Area
After graduating Brooks, I moved to San Francisco and shared an apartment with two of my former classmates. I was determined to be a photographer, or at least work for one! Starting out with freelance assisting work, I soon became first assistant for catalog shooter Michael Venera, and even picked up a few regular clients of my own.
In 2006, I started shooting full-time and never looked back! One of my first clients was a luxury travel agent, Classic Custom Vacations. We did a series of shoots in Hawaii, Mexico and Europe. I was out-of-my-mind excited to be getting paid to travel and shoot. Most of my images from this time were submitted to various stock agencies for licensing.
A promo card featuring an image from my first-ever travel job led to a series of assignments for Islands Magazine. A referral from the editor at Islands led to a long string of jobs from PADI, who was looking for a photographer comfortable shooting both underwater and topside lifestyle.
During those early years, I managed a separate brand for my work photographing food, portraits and interiors. Clients included the Ritz Carlton, Auberge Du Soleil and numerous other top-of-the-line restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area, Napa and Sonoma — even Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry became a repeat client.
2001
Studied at Brooks Institute
Santa Barbara, CA
Studied Underwater Photography at Brooks Institute
Santa Barbara, CA
I knew that I had to go to Brooks Institute — the prestigious photography school is world-famous for its programs in Underwater Photography, and the opportunity to learn from pros like Ralph Clevenger was a dream come true! While at Brooks, I balanced classwork with photo expeditions, turning every assignment into an excuse to get outside and shoot what I loved most.
My second year I was finally able to join the underwater class! The photos below are from class expeditions diving in the Channel Islands, all shot on a pre-digital Nikon F5. This was one of the best times in my life! After the underwater class, I managed to maintain access to the islands by getting a job as a deckhand onboard The Truth, a dive boat based out of Santa Barbara. I used the opportunity to continue honing my skills as an underwater photographer.
I took short breaks from school to pursue personal photography projects, including traveling through southeast Asia, documenting the Hmong hill tribe people. While still in school, I shot for Ventura Magazine, participated in print shows, and picked up paid assignments in between classes.
1995
Adventure + Photography
Fiji Islands
Adventure + Photography = My First Love
Fiji Islands
My passion for adventure photography developed from a love of travel — starting with family trips to Honduras, Guatemala, England, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe — combined with my love of photography — discovered while working on a middle school science fair project on processing black and white film.
Combining these two passions for the first time, I embarked on a solo photographic trip to the Fijian Islands at age 16. Using slide film and black and white film, I experimented with darkroom techniques such as solarization, double exposure, emulsion and image polaroid transfers to convey the sense of wonder I felt capturing these images.
As a freshman in high school, I joined the Advanced Photography class, and became the Teaching Assistant for that same class by my junior and senior year. During that time, I mastered an 8x10 large format film camera while creating portraits of local artists for a book project, “Mendocino Artists: an Endangered Species.” I also volunteered my budding photography skills for the Mendocino Cancer Resource Center. Images from my international travels and local projects were displayed in numerous exhibitions in the Mendocino area, and I joined The Highlight Gallery’s collection as a contributing photographer.
1993
Dive Certified at 12
Mendocino, CA
Dive Certified at 12
Mendocino, CA
I started diving at a very young age with my father, a commercial diver and artist, in the Channel Islands and along the Mendocino Coast. The photo below shows me with my first abalone, at age 8. Thanks to my dad’s early instruction, I was dive-certified at the age of 12. Since then, I’ve also earned my Advanced Dive Certification and Nitrox Certification. My life revolves around the water!
1981
Born
Mendocino, CA
Born
Mendocino, CA
In the loft of a redwood cabin built by my parents along the rugged and rustic coast of Northern California, I entered the world. I grew up on our family’s property — situated on a hilltop half a mile from the ocean, surrounded by trees and meadows — with my younger sister Katherine and our parents Jane and Will.
Every day was a new opportunity for an outdoor adventure! My career path has been highly influenced by this deep connection to the land, sea, and mountains.