Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
The two photos of the waves in Oahu are basically sunrise shots, they were taken a couple weeks apart from each other but both photos are from the same beach (Sandy Beach, Honolulu). I used the same technique as I do for most of my signature shots… long exposure (slow shutter speed) and flash to create balanced exposure. I want to create movement of the waves in my photos, so that’s the technique I’ve been trying to perfect and that’s what I would like people to know me for. I don’t know of any other wave/surf photographer that does this style.
Place you live: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Place your photo was taken: Honolulu (Sandy Beach)
Can you sum up Honolulu? Paradise in every sense of the world.
Occupation: Marketing / Advertising / Photographer
Preoccupation: Wave Photography / Surfing / Traveling
What is a perfect day in Honolulu? Low 80’s, a good breezy trade wind blowing offshore, waves double overhead (10-12 ft). People enjoying the sun, families on the beach, kids playing, everyone happy.
If someone was visiting, what must they do? Drive around the island, eat shave ice, watch the sunset, have a Maitai, say “Mahalo” and “Aloha” a lot.
A perfect meal in Honolulu? A good steak at Roy’s Steakhouse.
What is the best thing about your spot? Being part of nature.. .to be inside the barrel is an amazing experience, as they say “Only a surfer knows the feeling.” It’s true with wave photography too, it’s a rush.
What is the worst? I’ve been hospitalized more times than I can remember, broken nose, dislocated shoulder, dislocated elbow, concussion, near broken neck with 5 days in the hospital, broken fingers (yes multiple), spinal fluid leaking from your ears after hundreds of tons of water slam down on you so hard. Shark encounters, being held under water for nearly a minute, 25 foot waves, multiple near drownings every year. I’ve nearly died more times than I can count on both my hands, it’s extremely dangerous to say the least, but very rewarding when I get that shot.
A little known fact about where you live? On a typical day, you can see a rainbow multiple times, some of the greatest rainbows you’ll ever see stretching miles across.
Where is your favorite place in the world? My home, Hawaii… but a very close second would be Samos, Greece.
Who are your favorite photographers? I’m quite embarrassed to say I don’t follow many photographers, I enjoy their pictures and I read a lot but I don’t follow any that closely to really have “favorites.” Not because I don’t respect their artwork, but because I don’t want their visions influencing my own art. I want to be unique and have my own style. I hope that makes sense. One photographer I really like is Peter Lik.