Let’s start with the obvious. There are many film simulations out there, especially on your smart phone. If you’re looking for a quick and convenient way to snap some film pics, I’d recommend going that route. But if you want to dive deeper into your editing style, some tricks for a bit of that nostalgic or filmic look, and grow as an artist, then these thoughts are for you.

The Goonies is one of my all time favorite movies. It made me (a country kid from North Carolina) fall in love with the Pacific Northwest at a young age. I used to think the coastline from the movie was straight up magical.

The following blog was one I wrote a few years ago, but I wanted to bring it home to this website rather than where it was first published. Before I jump into it, some context may be needed.

The year is 2005. I’m on a road-trip with two other guys from Virginia to Alabama. We’re driving down there in 10hrs, staying two days, and then driving back.

I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot. There seems to be this mindset that your success comes at the expense of others. There certainly is truth to this mindset in some industries and some circumstances in life.

Traveling can be incredibly exciting and life giving. You get to see new things, expand your experiences, and if done well, rest and recharge. That said, travel can be pretty stressful as well.

Late last summer, I bought a Vanagon from a guy in Santa Cruz. I had been looking for one for several years, but hadn’t found anything that was a good fit. I was looking for something mostly mechanically sound (as I’m no mechanic), and something that was ready to be renovated.

Golden hour. It’s the photographers dream. And as much as we all love shooting during golden hour, I’m going to make a case that between the two golden hours everyday, sunrise is the absolute winner.

This post is about culture. Not culture in terms of society, but culture as in the culture in which I conduct myself. Did you know that we all have cultural values we live out every day? Our decisions are guided by them. As you live them out, even your impulses become guided by them.

I’m an avid planner, but I wasn’t prepared for Iceland. This didn’t mean I didn’t spend hours pouring over maps, locations guides, researching secret spots, and crafting an intense daily itinerary. I most certainly did. Yet none of that mattered when we actually got moving, because I overestimated the population density, and underestimated the daylight hours.

There are three ways to get that film look. You can shoot film (this is the best way). You can edit filmic in an app. Or if you happen to get a Fuji X100 series, you can shoot JPG with film emulation.

I love meeting new creatives, and I recently got to hang with an incredible photographer from Sacramento named David Thuman. Check out his work here. My friend Jacob and I headed to Monterey to meet up with David, and the three of us went down into Big Sur.

I was super stoked to be invited to shoot the Onewheel Racing League in San Jose this past weekend.

As I’ve become more and more seasoned as a photographer, I’ve realized how fickle a moment is. Everything about a moment is pretty much a singular event.

I don’t want to be the guy who complains about National Parks. I don’t.

I use to be kind-of fat, depending on who you ask. If you asked me, yeah… I was fat.

Don’t ruin the National Park experience for others. Here are five things to NOT do when you’re in the parks, or anywhere for that matter.

Thinking about heading to Zion National Park this year? Let me share with you what it’s been like compared to other years, and recommend an alternative.

I have been writing for most of my adult life. I use to journal…publicly. Anyone remember Xanga?