Morning meetup at a favorite surf spot with Emily to test a new camera in the water housing. Moody, cloudy vibes with good waves and an empty lineup made for a cold, but sweet start to the day with some nice surf photo opportunities.

Backlit, orange sunsets are my favorite time to shoot surf photos from the water. I can’t get enough of those lighting conditions. Celebrating the first day of Spring by paddling out with Alex and the camera.

Aurora Borealis from 14,000’

A midnight mission for a chance to photograph the Northern Lights above Colorado last night. We got views of shooting stars, aurora, and the Alexander Mountain fire that’s currently raging just 40 miles North of Denver. It’s already burned over 1,800 acres with little to no containment. If you zoom in you can see the fire line made by 200+ firefighters on the perimeter of the blaze. It was an eerie view of the massive wildfire raging beneath the purple waves of solar radiation. The smoke was blowing West creating a layer of haze over the city lights which made for a beautiful orange moonrise.

December 9th 2023 was the best day of surf we've seen so far this Winter. Light offshores all day, fun-size swell, and a hazy golden sunset. But, when the waves up in Southern California, it's no secret. After spending all day in the water, I swam out at Swamis, the longboard thunder-dome, with my camera for sunset to capture the energy in the water. Beauty, chaos, racing the light for a limited supply of set waves as the sun set... It's all part of the dance.

Underwater Cinematographer: Alec Walsh

Editor: Alec Walsh

Music: Gimme Shelter (Cover) By Sons of Hippies

Gear:

Aquatech Water Housing
Sony FX3
Pentax-Asahi Super Takumar 105mm f/2.8
Moment Cinebloom 10% Diffusion Filter
Star Cross Filter

Sailing in the Sea of Cortez with family on my grandfather's boat. Empty coves with frigate birds circling above and schools of fish below. Calm and quiet seas. Just as the water temperature begins to warm and the hottest months of the year approach. Manta rays fly as we pass.

Spring 2024 | Loreto, BCS, Mexico

A week of waves in Nicaragua. Laying low in the jungle with the stray dogs, birds, and mosquitos. A small bungalow on an estuary with a small stock of local beer and fruit. Miles of sand-bottom perfection. A couple surfboards.

Fall 2024 | Nicaragua

Filmed on Canon 518-2 Super 8 // Kodak 50D

First swim with the Nikonos V underwater film camera. Shooting a roll of HP5 pushed 2 stops at the favorite local pointbreak with Troy Kingman.

Sunset surf. North County San Diego | 2024

Surfer: Brennen Daniels

I recorded San Diego surfboard maker, Sean Keany going through the process of shaping me a custom, personal 7'5 single fin. A vintage surfboard outline, handmade in a garage bay, and experimenting with 8mm film. It felt like a taste of the "good old days."

Shot on Canon 518-2 super 8 camera | Kodak 500T

Filmer and Editor: Alec Walsh

Shaper: Sean Keany // Avocados for Lunch

Surfing: Alec Walsh

Selects from a roll of ilford 125 FP4 shot in Southern Baja. Sunshine, empty little waves, and cats.

Skate day around San Diego.

Portraits of the Sleepy Pearls. Shot on digital using an adapted disposable film camera lens and rangefinder with HP5 black and white film.

Encinitas | 2023