Somewhere Between the Shutter and the Sea

I just had one of those rare October days where everything seemed to flow.

The kind of day where the weather is perfect, the ocean is alive, and time seems to slow down enough for you to actually feel it.

I spent the morning shooting the sea — the lines of swell stacking on the horizon, the texture of the water shifting under the wind, the way sunlight danced across the waves. The waves looked really fun, so I paddled out for a few waves of my own. Somewhere between the shutter clicks and the salt, I felt completely present.

That’s the part I chase — not the perfect shot or the perfect wave, but that quiet space in between. The one that reminds me I don’t need much to feel alive. Just the sea, some light, and a little time to breathe.

The more I do this — shoot, surf, repeat — the more I realize how much simplicity feeds creativity. There’s a rhythm to it. The ocean doesn’t rush, and neither should I. When I slow down enough to notice, inspiration comes naturally. It’s not about forcing an idea or chasing the next project; it’s about being open to what the day brings. Sometimes that’s a perfect photo. Sometimes it’s just a deep breath that resets everything.

There’s something honest about the ocean. It doesn’t hide its moods. It can be calm one moment and wild the next — and yet, it’s always itself. I think that’s what draws me back over and over. Out there, I’m reminded to be the same — to move with what’s happening instead of against it.

I left the beach with sand still stuck to my feet, a few good shots, and that quiet, steady peace that only the ocean gives.

Days like this are a gentle reminder, we don’t need more to feel full — we just need to be where we are.