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A Christmas Story: 2020

Ran out the door of the studio last night as all of our staff was celebrating, and the last of the Christmas clientele were departing. There was a young man standing on the steps outside trying to read all the signage we have up, which in spite of 4 pages of copy, pretty much says “We cannot and will not make you do anything, but our lovely Govt has other plans. Welcome to our studio”. I looked at him and asked if I could help him. Him: “I was just wondering if it was alright if I could come in?”

The Thomas Fire

Sometime around Nov 28th I began seeing forecast estimates of a high velocity wind event for Central and So Cal. Taking a cursory look at the Unified Forecast Analysis did not particularly indicate that this would occur. That telltale high pressure which would first be seen just above Washington or over E Oregon was not on the weather map. I recall thinking: “that’s odd”. But I had been watching an old familiar pattern develop over the Western US, that of a ridge of high pressure. I knew that this meant wind and fire risk. We have massive pepper trees behind

Art and the Peaceful Warrior

This week I wound up shooting a motion picture project for my son’s martial arts company gym Puu Muay Thai here in Ventura. My wife Donna and I, also had a visit from our close friend, internationally acclaimed fine artist Edem Elesh and his 15 year old son Griffen, who I had not seen in over a decade when he was a teensy little guy playing with Donna’s hair as we visited Edem in his Hollywood digs. Simultaneously, my colleague and friend Robb Havassy, let the world know that Surf Story Vol 2 was headed to print after nearly 6

Things You Should Know

I was down at California Street the other night to capture a few images of Malibu Surfer Brooke Carlson, the newest member of “Team Betty” for my wife’s company Bettybelts, when I saw someone headed into the water with what looked like a dive housing and a surfboard. It cracked me up. We call that sort of work where you ride and shoot or film another surfer: “board to board” work. It is tricky at best and amazingly difficult at worst. This image is the guy shooting. Again, hard to do. The lead image in this article is a shot

Studying Life

My education in Art began really early on in life, at crayon and fingerpaint age. My Father had taken up oil painting in what I believe may have been therapy, to alleviate pressure created by his work in Aerospace and Defense. Helping architect weapons that can end Humanity takes it’s toll on some people. I had seen the affect on my own Father. So Art made sense for him. But at the same time, my uncle Joe would come and visit from Hawaii. Joe was a successful and talented painter who also taught Art at UH. He would tutor my

World Oceans Day

Just in the door from a wonderful watery trip to Costa Rica, I found myself in a meeting at City Hall here in Ventura yesterday, with City Engineers, a smart Engineering firm from SF, reps from the California Coastal Commission, Army Corps of Engineers and some members of the Surf Community who volunteered to delve into a solution for an ongoing erosion problem at our town’s main point break, Surfers Point. As I looked around the room, it hit me how significant our people can be. We bring to the table an informed love for the watery world we live

Samsung NX1: Modus Augmentation

Long time friend, and sage photo editor Jeff Divine, once put this question to me after pouring over a seasonal submission of imagery. Pages of 35 MM slides encased in Vis a File plastic sleeves, were stacked on his light table. “Don’t you ever shoot anything besides golden hour?” “Not if I can help it, Jeff.” (He looked at me quizicaly) The edit session gave me a reason and motivation to examine my method of operation in creation of my work. (Good editors are like that) Eventually this led to a higher (and narrower) degree of focus. That modus, which

Of Men and Wisteria

A few of us were to get together at Art maven Joe Cardella’s home this weekend. Many have been through the mill as it were, in recent months, so Joe invited the lot of a group of artists and critical thinkers over for a pleasant Sunday afternoon, under the great awning of Wisteria which are in bloom here right now, in Ventura California. I would be away shooting on location, so scooted by to get a photo of the flowers and dose of time with an inspiring friend. Today started in unique fashion. My friend and former editor Drew Kampion

Running and Gunning

Whew, just off a series of e mails with Lorenzo De Stefano, who is Director of the film Hearing is Believing which I am the Director of Cinematography on. The crew will be down at the Blue Whale in LA filming a performance by Rachel and the remarkable Taylor Eigsti for the project Thursday night. I on the other hand, will be on Bali working on some development projects for my wife’s company, and meeting up with a couple film makers there to possibly create something rather exotic. Life is hectic in a good way. This week saw a fantastic

Another Year: NYE

The Holidays seem to never change much in our family. Generally speaking, they are a time of deep reflection and great personal growth. It has always been this way. I am not sure if it is because so many in the tribe were born this time of year, or what, exactly. But it has become an unsought tradition: that of looking inward and subtly shifting focus, often with dramatic results. As Creatives it is an obligation to do so: set our house in order. So that the work we produce may be a benefit to others, and not just

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