I was born in Tennessee, went through kindergarten and a big earthquake in Northern California, spent most of my childhood diving off the coast of the Big Island and living near Kilauea volcano, went away to boarding school for Hawaiian kids, then discovered photography.
Photography has taken me places I never would have thought. Swarmy photo work rooms in arenas, baseball stadiums chasing Barry Bonds as he tried to break Hank Aaron's record, sleeping on top of a Dodge Durango following pro cowboys for 2,500 miles, to the roof of the Hollywood Roosevelt to meet Bill Gates, and into the lives of cool and interesting people. I even got to play left field at Dodgers Stadium recently!
I shoot for editorial and commercial clients from the west to the east coast...and the Hawaii too. I have shot assignments for the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, Sports Illustrated, the NBA, Major League Soccer, and many other clients. I regularly assist several top editorial and commercial photographers. I'm lucky to have been taught about life and the business by the best photographers and photojournalists working today.
I like to surf and swim. My favorite place to eat is Canter's on Fairfax. I was raised in a really small town. I have a great family. I'm a native Hawaiian and proud of it. I'm also part Hillbilly and I'm proud of that too.
Currently based out of Carlsbad, CA where I work as an assistant for Sports Illustrated.
Recognition
• Finalist, “Student Photographer of the Year”, SportsShooter.com, 2007
• Carol Burnett Award for Ethics and Excellence in Journalism, UH Manoa, 2007
• Award of Excellence, Sports Portfolio, 62nd College Photographer of Year, 2007
• 1st Place News Photo, 1st & 2nd Place Feature Photo, 1st Place Photo Story, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Sports Photo, Ka Leo ‘O Hawai’i, UH Student Newspaper, 2006-2007
• 1st place “Student Week’s Worth” contest, SportsShooter.com, March 2007
• 2nd place Sports Feature Photo, SportsShooter.com Monthly Clip Contest, February 2007
• 3rd place “Student Week’s Worth” contest, SportsShooter.com, February 2007
• Finalist, “Student Photographer of the Year”, SportsShooter.com, 2006
• 1st place “Student Week’s Worth” contest, SportsShooter.com, October 2006
• 1st place “Shooter’s Choice”, SportsShooter.com Monthly Clip Contest, September 2006
• 1st Place News Photo, 1st Place Feature Photo, 1st Place Photo Story, 3rd Place Sports Photo, Ka Leo ‘O Hawai’i, UH Student Newspaper, 2004-2005
• 2nd Place News Photo, Ka Leo ‘O Hawai’i, UH Student Newspaper, 2002-2003