Like most of the surfing community, I became infatuated with the ocean at a pretty young age. Growing up in the Bay Area, I was close to the beach, but honestly, I rarely had the chance to go as a child. One of my earliest memories is of being at the beach in the middle of summer, imagining what it would be like to be inside the barrel of a wave—how it would look, feel, and sound. That’s really where my passion for surfing started, long before I ever was presented the opportunity to try it out.

Later on in my childhood, while my sister was living in Santa Cruz, the opportunity arose to teach me and my brother how to surf. From that very first day, no wetsuit, cold water, small blown out waves, getting up on any whitewash I could get into – I was hooked. Around the same time, I was starting to pick up a camera. At first just borrowing from family members, and later enrolling in a film photography class offered through school. That’s the time where photography truly became a passion of mine, and a way to artistically express myself.

As someone who has always been drawn to both the ocean and art, combining the two was just a natural progression. While my photography skills have improved over time, my main focus has never been on capturing the “perfect shot” or “perfect a-frame.” Instead, I focus on capturing the uniqueness of each wave and the connection a surfer has with it. For me, it’s about sharing the beauty and power of the ocean with others, and the diversity of experiences that can be found in the waves.