Frequently asked questions I get almost on a daily basis. Hopefully these answer your questions. If not, send me an email.
· How long have you been doing underwater photography?
Since 2007.
· How did you get into water photography?
Having a competitive swimming background and spending hours on end in pools and in the ocean, I couldn’t help but want to capture what I was seeing underwater as humans interacted with the water. I was drawn to underwater photography because I enjoy being able to synthesize both the physical and creative “challenges” of the genre. In particular, I’m attracted to underwater photography in the ocean because of the lack of control I have in such a massive body of water and its constant state of change in the lighting, water clarity, currents, surf, etc. It’s somewhere where you have to be completely switched on and be able to adapt to anything it throws at you.
· What kind of gear do you use?
Gear list here.
· Do you edit your photos?
I always shoot in raw and color correct everything in Lightroom. I believe basic color correction is an integral component of digital photography. Rarely do I open up Photoshop to edit a photograph.
· What is your primary set-up for underwater photos?
Canon 5D MKIII, Canon 15 f/2.8 fisheye, custom surf housing by Dale Kobetich with a dome port.
· How do you take these underwater photos?
I like to keep things as simple as possible. The less you bring, the less you have to worry about losing. Depending on the waves, our time in the water can last anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. I jump out in the water with fins and a mask and the subjects photographed are either paddling out on a board or more often than not, swimming out on their own. No scuba gear – just breath holds!
· While at Chapman, what class would you say was the best to help you take your craft to another level?
I majored in Film Production at Chapman with an emphasis in Documentary Film Production. Photography was something I could synthesize along with what I was learning in cinematography classes and on film sets, but there were no classes or even teachers in particular that I could attribute to helping take my photography to another level. It was a pursuit of my own and if anything, it was the lack of going to class and jumping out in the ocean when the waves were happening that helped take my craft to the next level.
· Can I book you for a shoot?
Yes, I am primarily available for commercial shoots, but do undertake a limited number of non-commercial shoots like portraits, weddings, etc each year. Send me an email.
· Can I use your photo(s) for my company, campaign, magazine, facebook page, etc?
Most of my photographs are available to be licensed as rights-managed photographs for commercial purposes. Please email me with the specific you're wanting to use my photo(s) for and I'll send you a quote for use.
· Do you sell signed prints?
All prints sold through my website are unsigned. Email me if you would like to place a custom order for a signed print.
· Can I buy a high resolution download of your photographs to print on my own?
If you are based outside of the United States or in a place where shipping/customs costs are high, send me an email for a quote on a 1x personal print license.
