photo: Lynn Meinhardt

photo: Lynn Meinhardt

Captivated by the power, colors, and textures of the ocean since I was a child, I first started photographing waves as an art student at Humboldt State University in Northern California in the early 90s.  I used analog cameras and felt my way through the darkroom, learning the basics of traditional photography while exploring the remote beaches of Northern California and the lower Pacific Northwest.

I continued my education at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, where I studied commercial photography—portraiture, studio lighting and digital imaging. Bringing my technical skills and fascination for the ocean together, I started seeing and photographing waves in an entirely new way.

Using waterproof housings for my 35mm, medium-format and digital cameras, I photograph while I’m swimming, which allows me to position myself within the wave.  I’m continually fascinated by the behavior of light as it passes through different parts of the wave.

My work has been published in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Surfer’s Journal, and various other surf industry publications and websites. I show my photographs regularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Sold primarily to private collectors, I really enjoy the collaborative process of creating custom prints to fit a living space.  Please contact me directly if you are interested in exploring available options for your space.

Media links: