A Year in Review | 2019

Another year passes and it doesn’t even seem real.

It’s almost hard to believe that some of the places, people and experiences I came across in this last trip around the sun were as long ago as they were - but the older I get and the more time that goes by, the more I understand that time is a very slippery thing. It really only makes sense in the moment. Looking back on it (for me) is almost always bittersweet, while looking forward onto it can tend to be a bit stressful. That whole “stay in the moment” cliché mantra we’ve heard all of our lives…There’s most definitely something to it.

The beauty of that statement when I break it down like above is this - Focus on what makes sense. The present.

Small recap in images of what I’ve been lucky enough to call my present throughout these last twelve months. Here’s to 2019 - a year of constant growth and awe-inspiring beauty - 2020 has some big shoes to fill.

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It's All Energy | Indonesia 2019

Whether we have found it yet or not, there is always something that pulls at us deeply, on another level. Now, I realize that is indeed an extremely broad statement - but hear me out. This “Something” (not to be confused with someone) ignites a fire, elicits an internal thrill and (sub)consciously guides us toward it. Whether or not we are fully aware of what this “Something” does for us on a deeper level, the stimulation we feel on the surface is simply undeniable.

My “Something” is travel. That bug bit me ages ago, the root likely being raised in a family where international travel was an annual occurence. I’ve never been able to shake the fascination that sweeps over me when I am faced with unfamiliar cultures, people and the experiences that inevitably follow. With all of that in mind, I keep landing on this simple realization:

Despite vast cultural differences and geographical spaces between the people on this planet, we all have so much more in common than we realize. Conceivably more than we could ever have imagined.

This past September I was lucky enough to once again spend the entirety of the month in one of my favorite places on earth - Indonesia. I’ve been traveling to Indonesia on an annual basis for close to a decade now, so I’ve definitely found some comfort in my usual places, people and things that I go to back to every year. That being said, there are so many new things to see, experiences to have and people to engage with that every year I find myself in complete fascination with what I’ve experienced. I honestly feel like a lifetime of travel to this special corner of the earth would barely scratch the surface of what’s actually happening. Therein lies the draw.

Besides the endless possibilities for new exploration like I outlined above - the experiences I’ve had when revisiting specific areas after years of absence is very nostalgic. I feel as though when I travel, my experiences are a bookmark of sorts. Coming back to a place I haven’t been in years serves as a reminder - where I was in my life at that time, what brought me joy, what caused me pain, my hopes, my doubts, my goals…It’s a lot to take in at times but it’s a palpable reminder that we are always growing, changing and evolving.

I hopped one island east of Bali to the island of Lombok for my last few days of this trip to catch a swell at one of the worlds best waves. Situated on the western tip of Lombok, this wave wraps in to a (roughly) mile long bay and swirls off perfect barrels all the way down the point - if the swell size and direction are right. Last time I was there was about 6 years ago, and a lot of things were different for me then, obviously. What hasn’t changed? The perfection of this wave, the energy surrounding it and the hordes of hungry surfers who descend onto this dusty corner of Lombok every time this particular wave shows its teeth.

The stark contrast between the differences in myself vs. the unchanging nature of the places I visit (like this place) sticks out to me, it really strikes me on a deeper level. I leave a piece of myself everywhere I go, I think that’s what primarily feeds my nostalgic nature. And while I may be changing, evolving, always shedding layers and adding new ones - I can admire and love the “bookmarks” and pieces of myself I’ve left all the same. Places like this are the all too rare tangible reminders of that.

I shot the below video between surfs on one of the better days. Watching it now, all I want to do is go back and be right there, taking in the energy that this place, this little dusty corner of Indonesia, offers anyone who comes to play:

I’ll end with this quote, because I can’t and won’t even try to say it any better. These words are taken directly out of the first 2 minutes of “Sipping Jetstreams” by Taylor Steele, an absolute favorite movie of mine. It really prompted me at a pivotal moment in my life to just go and get out there - farther than I ever had before.

“Someone who is now long dead once wrote,

“The World is a book and those who don’t travel read only 1 page.”

What no one tells you is the book is no easy read.

One thing I can say, whatever it is you are looking for; Beauty, Salvation, Enlightenment, Danger…or just to Disappear.

This will be only a fraction of what you find.”

Above images are a mix of Bali, Lombok and Java - All shot throughout September 2019

Alien Landscapes, Domestic Shores | Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

I’ve spent a lot of time on the Big Island over the years that I’ve lived in Hawaii - My initial move to Hawaii almost 15 years ago was to the big island for a few months prior to starting school on Oahu. Seems like a different lifetime it was so long ago, but my memories of that time are filled with a care free attitude, sunrise surf missions into waipio valley and fiery sunsets with cold beers along the kohala coast.

That being said, the big island is indeed very big. The topography of the island created by multiple volcanoes split the island - which results in vastly different landscapes and climates on each side of the big island. A while back I was lucky enough to spend some time on a side of the island I am very unfamiliar with — the southeast corner, where Volcanoes National Park is located.

There is, or was, of course a lot of information circulating with regards to the safety of that area of the island. Kilauea Volcano erupted dramatically on May 3, 2018 spewing lava into residential subdivisions in the Puna district of the Big Island. This prompted mandatory evacuations of the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions. For those whose homes and belongings were directly in the path of the lave flow - everything was lost. Definitely a time of immense sadness for a lot of people.

Since the proverbial dust of that eruption event has (somewhat) settled, volcanoes National Park has reopened to the public and the surrounding areas are getting back to business as usual. I was lucky enough to be invited to take some photos of a rental property located in the town of Volcano - no more than 5 minutes from the National Park Entrance.

Understated, simple and cozy best describe this awesome little loft setup. A cozy fire, open floor plan and lofted sleeping area lend perfectly to the adventures that await outside the rental doors. Awesome little place and I really enjoyed the opportunity to shoot such a unique residential setup.

Of course, between the photos, I felt drawn - if not obligated - to do some adventuring in the National Park - and no hawaii trip is complete without some time in the ocean. A nice day hike to some backcountry craters in the National Park and a quick trip down to South Point for some sunset jumps rounded out this mellow little trip.

I’ll be back soon Volcano - one of the most underrated and (thankfully) uncrowded areas of the Big Island.

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

The only Constant is Change | Drone across Oahu

"Everything Flows in a state of Flux"

- Simplicius

Without sounding entirely too cliché, I am a firm believer in the statement that the only constant is indeed change. The moment we feel comfortable, or like we have a firm grasp on the way things are going and will continue to go -- life has a way of throwing us a curveball, for better or worse.

As a business owner and artist, these curveballs can manifest themselves in about a million different ways. Most of the curveballs at face value are exceedingly frustrating and require tedious work and attention to deal with. But the beauty lies squarely in the process. No matter what comes up, we more or less have to adjust and overcome. The process of accepting the changes, addressing them and shifting to accomodate leads to a more profound understanding of our business, our abilities and most importantly, ourselves.

Without divulging too much and getting boring, lately I've dealt with a lot of change. Some personal and a lot of business. Maintaining a straight course throughout has definitely been a struggle, but like I mentioned above -- it really has made me better all around. I have my things (as everyone probably should) that keep me grounded, one of those things is my drone. Another one of those things is getting outside and exploring the natural beauty that surrounds me. The two combined lead to some pretty awesome footage and a nice, clear headspace.

The two hikes that make up the bulk of this footage are on Oahu, closing two shots taken on Maui. One of the trails is down in the Honolulu area and I've had the good fortune of rounding out that trail multiple times. Once with my good mate Shane Sochocki, owner of Adventure Tours Hawaii and once with good friend and associate creative Taylor Johnson. Check out her work on her website, Taylor Creates.

The second trail is way up north, I never knew it existed until we went on Shane's recommendation. An awesome little trail run with beautiful panoramic-style views from Kaena Point down to Chinamans Hat from up top. I was blown away by the amazing payoff that such a small amount of work had gotten us.

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Backpacking through Haleakala | Upcountry Maui

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine called to invite me over to Maui for a backpacking trip through Haleakala. Having never even been up to Haleakala on my numerous trips to the valley isle, it definitely seemed like a good idea to go and check it out -- albeit this was a far more in-depth look at the national park than most people tend to get. To note, this friend of mine happens to own and operate a local tour company, Adventure Tours Hawaii, so he has a distinct taste for hiking, camping and generally getting amongst the elements on a trip -- IF he commits. I was all in - ready for a change of scenery for a short while and some time to reflect.

There really is no way to write a short version of what I experienced that will be even remotely palatable. People just need to experience this sort of raw nature on their own to truly appreciate it. The thing that struck me day after day was the silence. The sound of absolutely nothing. Not one bit weird, just overwhelmingly therapeutic and soothing. Maybe the rustle of a light wind, an odd Nene in the distance, but more often than not a deafening silence that was surprisingly welcome. It was easy for me to lean into that silence and appreciate the vastness of the crater and its surrounding landscapes.

Nature Therapy at its very finest.

I'll leave the rest to the photos below, words somewhat fail me on this one. What an amazing experience, my advice is to get out there and experience this or something like it, as often as possible. I can't wait to get back.

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Family Photography | The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Ka'anapali, Maui

Shooting on the outer islands always gives me a renewed sense of purpose as a photographer. No matter what my subject matter is, I really enjoy the different backgrounds and lighting conditions I'm dealing with. Although relatively subtle, the different islands present unique hues and lighting throughout the day. It's these small differences and subtleties that really get me excited to shoot on Maui and the Big Island.

This particular shoot was with a young family of four visiting from California. It was definitely early in the morning, right around sunrise -- which made for these very soft and pastel-like hues over the water. The kids were great sports throughout the early shoot and we wrapped up with a handful of shots of just Mom and Dad. Awesome start to my day, can't wait for my next family shoot!

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

Maternity for a Friend

Favorites from a recent maternity shoot I did with a good friend of mine and his wife. It really is cliché, but I have to say this -- watching my close friends evolving into their careers, relationships and roles (in this case as parents) really hits a note for me perspective-wise. It's grounding, motivating and awe-inspiring all at the same time.

We had amazing soft light throughout the shoot and then were lucky enough to catch some serious fire in the sky for sunset. A best of both worlds type of scenario as a photographer to be honest! A great shoot with some awesome people.

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

swirling through morocco

A couple of years back I was fortunate enough to pull the trigger on a trip that I had been dreaming of for years. It all stemmed from lusting over the opening portion of my favorite surf movie. The location seemed so different from what surf films were usually all about, nobody was in the water and the waves were pumping. From the first time I watched Taylor Steele's "Sipping Jetstreams" I knew where I needed to go and surf -- Morocco.

What i found when I went was a very deep and rich culture. Heavy French influence (in the best way possible) found within the cuisine and organization of shops, town centers, etc...While maintaining a distinct identity all of its own. My time there was really varied, from the blue city of Chefchaouen nestled in the Rif mountains of the North, to the noisy and dusty souks of Marrakech. I found everything I was looking for and more. I can't wait to get back.

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/