Chris Bishow Photography

Laguna Beach

2012-01-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

January Calendar

2012-01-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

Starting the year off right. This was taken at the start of our annual New Years morning paddle. There's no better way to start the year than a cruisy 10 mile paddle. We weren't sure if the fog was going to lift, but it was almost as if we parted the fog with our wakes.It's going to be a good year.To download this image to your desktop, click HERE

2011-12-05T18:13:00.001-08:00

This shot is an out take from a shoot for Catalina Island Company. Catalina is only 22 miles or so from the California Coast, but it is another world entirely. The weather patterns and lighing change dramatically through the day. The way the light changes reminds me of the North Shore, where changing the angle that you are shooting just slightly can make a world of difference. Gillian Gibree somewhere off the coast of Catalina.To download this image as your desktop, click HERE© 2011 Chris Bishow Photography

November Calendar

2011-11-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Lifeguard competitions; where 50+ year old men will make you feel like a silly fat ass who can barely swim. Thanks guys.Click HERE to download this image for your desktop

The View from Cabanaland

2011-10-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

So, half way through the elite distance race at last weekends Catalina SUP Festival, I started going down hill. Conveniently, the turnaround buoy for the open race was beckoning me only a few hundred yards ahead. Ok, so I wussed out. My hat goes off to everyone who completed the elite distance race, especially to those who barged into my room at 3 AM. As I limped into a 2nd place finish in the open race, I was greeted with a cabana with one of the best views in California (thanks Catalina Island Company) for me and my friends. Here, Chuck Patterson summons the strength to finish strong, as seen from the cabana.Hands down the best paddle event that I have ever been to.

Kriztina Zur

2011-10-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

An outtake from Stand Up Paddle Magazine photo shoot with Olympian Kriztina Zur

2011-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Connor was absolutely gassed after the closest Battle ever, the top three finishers; Connor Baxter, Jaime Mitchell, and Danny Ching were separated by seconds, and battled each other the entire race.
It was amazing to see both Danny and Jaime SO genuinely happy for Connor after such an intense battle.

Eddie Solomon: Gone too soon

2011-09-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

As a young kid growing up at the beach, I always idolized Eddie Solomon.
Eddie was a skinny, soft spoken guy who would quietly show up, catch the best waves, and be gone as fast as he came.
As the years went by, I got to know Eddie little by little. I learned that his friends and family were the most important aspect of his life, and I learned that there was very little that he was afraid of.
I remember specifically on one trip to Cabo, Eddie and Andre Botha were pulling into shore break that make Wiamea shore break look friendly. We all watched in awe as these guys repeatedly got pounded and came up smiling each time.
On Friday, Eddie lost his battle with cancer despite his amazing attitude and the unbelievable rallying of funds by his friends.
Eddie, you'll be missed.
Edddie is survived by his wife Tamara and son Eddie Jr.

September Calendar

2011-09-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

This month's calendar is from a little two day paddle excursion to Catalina Island. Everyone on the trip, including Dane Morrissey, Dave Boehne, Lance Erickson, and Gillian Gibree (all pictured here) can't wait to get back to this epic paddle location, and all around great getaway. We had all types of conditions from sheet glass exploring, to a perfect downwind setup. This image was taken near Two Harbors, which was the start of our downwinder. The island has a perfect setup to take advantage of the afternoon west winds.

Download this image to your desktop HERE

August Calendar

2011-08-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

This months calendar features EJ Johnson doing some hard training off the California coast.

Download this image to your desktop HERE

July Desktop Calendar

2011-07-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Chuck Patterson enjoying a late evening surf as we get into the swing of summer.

To download to your desktop, click HERE

Dick and Dane DeBoer

2011-06-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Dick and Dane DeBoer for SUP Magazine. Outtake. Shot at lifeguard headquarters in San Clemente, Ca

Mitch Kahn for SUP Magazine

2011-06-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

Mitch Kahn for SUP Magazine

June Calendar

2011-06-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

June is the time for south swells. Take advantage of each and every drop of energy pushed your way, like Kolohe Andino did. Blowing it up at Lowers.

Download this months calendar HERE

Photo © 2011 Chris Bishow
shot on Fuji Velvia, 1/1000 f5.6

Competitor Magazine Cover and Feature

2011-05-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to work with the amazing crew over at Competitor Magazine while shooting Brian MacKenzie for the cover for the June issue. They also ended up using my images for the feature as well. Many thanks to the whole creative force over at Competitor for being awesome throughout the entire process, and for allowing me creative freedom.
There's nothing better than working as a team and having all of the collaborative efforts pay off. Nice work over there boys and girls.

Check out the digital edition of this magazine for free HERE
Be sure to check out the extremely well written article starting on page 44.

May Calendar

2011-05-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

May’s calendar is straight out of the camera. Shot on the last day of April at the Waterman’s Paddle for Humanity Surf Aid benefit. I really like that the water in the foreground is in focus, leaving the paddlers slightly fuzzy. It kind of gives the feeling of being very small and insignificant in the vast open ocean.

Go HERE to download the file to your desktop.

Faces of SUP

2011-04-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Some goofy images from the Hovie SUP Festival

April Desktop Calendar

2011-04-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

This month's calendar image is from a recent afternoon of swimming around in some big shorebreak.
To download the full size image as your desktop calendar, click HERE

Man and his Craft: Ron House

2011-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

March Calendar

2011-03-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

This months calendar features Ironman triathlete and all around adventure woman, Sara Davis. Sara is doing great things with her friends at We Three Walkabout. These girls are doing amazing things, and raising money for some great causes along the way.

You can view the full size image and download it as your desktop calendar HERE

2011-02-21T20:50:00.000-08:00

It's an hour after dark, and there's only one car left in the lot. It's the same car that will be the last one in the lot 9 times out of 10.
I'll admit, it's not the best photo ever, but it gets the point across: Rob Rojas is a bad ass.

This is a 90 second exposure, and I popped the flash as Rojas walked by.
Click HERE to view full size

February Desktop Calendar

2011-01-31T21:12:00.000-08:00

Tyler Anderson is perhaps the most stylish traditional paddler on earth. He is so fluid that he makes you forget just how big a human he is. You are quickly reminded as he powers by you though. His Bark unlimited surges forward and rises out of the water with every stroke. I would imagine that this is the stuff that Joe Bark's dreams are made of.

To download this image to your desktop, click HERE

Download the January Desktop Calendar

2011-01-03T20:15:00.000-08:00

This month's calendar features Chuck Patterson stalling for a wintertime barrel in California.

To download the image as to your desktop, click HERE

The 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers of 2010: Part 5

2010-12-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

"I'm sorry but I do not feel comfortable being put ahead of guys like Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, and even Sparky."

Danny Ching

Does anything really need to be written here? Well, actually, yes.
In this young sport of Standup Paddling, never has there been someone so influential. Never has a man carried a brand on his back, nor has anyone ever made it look so easy.

The resonating image of Danny for me occurred shortly after the Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point. In the middle of all the chaos, at a time when all the other elite paddlers were swarmed by fans and friends, Danny was tossing a football around with a young boy. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he had just won the biggest race in the sport. His oversize check lay on its side behind some beach chairs as he tells the kid to go long.

Danny is quietly changing the way we SUP. In fact the only time that he seems to make a noise is when he has a paddle in his hands.

It would be hard to have a better year competitively than Danny had this year, and it would be hard to find a better representative of our sport. To you, Danny, we tip our hats.

When It Rains, It Pours

2010-12-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

The rain did not stop this kid from doing what he loves. Don't let it stop you.

'Love Letters' Feature: Standup Paddler Magazine

2010-12-20T20:01:00.000-08:00

Check out the new (Winter 2011) issue of Standup Paddler Magazine to see more shots like this one of some the best women in SUP.

The 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers of 2010: Part 4

2010-12-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

There are so many good paddlers from Hawaii right now, but among the best of them is...

Slater Trout

Narrowly beating out the likes of Jaime Mitchell, Dave Kalama, and Connor Baxter, Slater is well deserving of his spot on this list. Just in case you are not familiar with what this guy did in just his 15th year of life, here's a quick reminder:
* 1st Stand Up World Tour, Hulakai Trials, Sunset Beach, wave contest, Oahu
* 2nd Maui Brewing Company North Shore Challenge, race from Maliko Gulch to Kahului Harbour, Maui
* 2nd Maui Interscholastic League Surfing Championships, longboard wave contest, Maui
* 1st Gulf Coast Championships, race, Madeira Beach, Florida
* 7th Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle Hawaii, race, Oahu
* 2nd Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle Hawaii, SUP relay race (Slater Trout, Candice Appleby, Scott Gamble, Matt Becker), Oahu
* 1st 2010 Hennessey’s US Paddleboard Championships, 14′ class race, Redondo Beach, California.
* 1st San Clemente Ocean Festival, 14′ class, 10k men’s open race
* 1st San Clemente Ocean Festival, SUP sprint race
* 1st San Clemente Ocean Festival, 14′ class, 3.5 mile race
* 2nd San Clemente Ocean Festival, SUP relay race
* 6th San Clemente Ocean Festival, SUP wave contest, 35 and under.
* 1st LA County Junior Lifeguard rescue board race, boys A, El Segundo.
* 1st California Surf Lifesaving Junior Regionals, rescue board race, boys A, San Diego.
* 3rd US LIfeguard Association Junior Nationals, rescue board race, boys A, Huntington Beach.
* 1st H20 Overdrive SUP Cup, 14′ class race, Park City, Utah
* 2nd Sea Paddle NYC Surfer’s Environmental Alliance, 28 mile race around Manhattan for Autism
* 3rd 2010 Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, elite race, Dana Point, Calif.
* 2nd 2010 Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, distance race, 14ft class, Dana Point, Calif.
* 1st 2010 Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, SUP team relay with Jamie Mitchell, Brandi Baksic and Kelly Margetts

Results alone, however, do not make the boy a man. If you see Slater, take the time to chat for a few minutes and you'll quickly realize that it's not the results that are important to him. At 15, he has realized a truth that some never find; life is about the relationships. It's not how he does in the race that sets him apart, but what he does after. Slater is a solid ambassador of the sport, from surf to race, and always has a smile on his face.
Im pretty sure that Slater and Connor Baxter have some sort of a smile contest going on, because these are the only two guys who actually smile while they are racing.

With a solid family behind him, and the genetics of a thoroughbred, Slater has the makings of an elitist and a true waterman.
Some people are saying that Slater is the future of our sport.
I'm pretty sure he's the now.

The 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers of 2010: Part 3

2010-12-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

Part three of our fun little pole brings us to perhaps the hardest working man in SUP.

ROB ROJAS

Completely confident, a friendly smile as he's surrounded by friends, yet somehow standing slightly awkwardly. He gazes at the horizon as if called to look there. As the group of friends banter casually in conversation they don't notice that Rob has slipped away. By the time they notice, he is a speck, heading towards the horizon. Not looking the least bit awkward.
His narrow set eyes tell a story, something urges you to dive into them and drown in the depth of their blue. It's as if he knows something more, something great, but he isn't ready to give up his secret just yet.

I've heard stories, and although I cannot prove any of them, I believe them to be true. Stories of impossible night time swims, stories of showing up to peoples houses via the ocean, and stories of ridiculously long solo training paddles.
It doesn't really matter weather these stories are fact or fiction, because it is instantly apparent that Rob has a special relationship with the ocean. He has a comfort level in the water rarely achieved by even the most dedicated of watermen.

An enigma of sorts, Rob's influential qualities come from hours piled upon hours of immersion in what he considers a necessity. It's not only the time spent training and paddling, but the intensity at which he travails. What's more impressive is the dedication to the full time career and full time family duties that take precedence over the calls of the ocean. An unmatched work ethic and dedication to every aspect of his life make Rojas a role model for the ages. He's as influential as they get.

December Calendar

2010-12-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

With winter finally upon us, I thought I'd bring you an image from a recent freezing cold morning. My toes are still fantastically numb. Gotta love winter.

To view full size, and to save as your desktop image, click HERE

The 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers of 2010: Part 2

2010-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

EVERY SINGLE PERSON who listed a woman in their top five paddlers, wrote down the name of

Brandi Baksic

Brandi is the standard by which all other female paddlers are measured. As a matter of fact, Brandi is often used to measure up the men as well. I remember the first time I came in ahead of Brandi in a race, and the multiple people who came up to me and said, "dude, you beat Brandi!"

So what makes Brandi influential? Well, just ask her. She'll tell you. Point blank.
She's as subtle as a kick in the teeth, and has the charisma of a Peterbuilt. But I doubt if she has ever told a lie in her life. Brandi's brash assertiveness is what makes her a great competitor and an even greater friend.

Just after the finish of a neck-and-neck "fun" race, I bumped Brandi off her board. This was partly in frustration (because she beat me) but mostly in good fun. It was my way of saying congrats, well done, nice race champ!
I will never do that again.

It's not all about winning though. After a tough 2nd place finish at the Battle of the Paddle, following an epic battle with Candice Appleby, Brandi was all smiles. I asked her after the race if she was bummed that she didn't win. Her reply, "Are you kidding? Best day ever!"

The 5 Most Influential Standup Paddlers of 2010: Part 1

2010-11-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

With the immense growth of standup paddling over the last year, it has become a large percentage of my business in 2010. SUP has changed my life for the better in many ways. I love this tight knit community, and I hope that this little piece will bring us all a little closer.

I will be photographing the five most influential standup paddlers of 2010. The images and a short story about each will be posted here once a week until the end of the year.

Although this is my idea, in no way did I decide who the five paddlers would be. This is the most influential paddlers as voted by their peers. If you would like to vote, feel free to leave a comment, or send me a message, but time is running out!

So, in no particular order, here we go:

Chuck Patterson

From surf to race to business, Chuck is consistently leading the way. He is arguably the most diverse SUP surfer in the world, one of the most consistent racers, and his opinion is sought after by shapers and businessmen alike.

To outsiders, Chuck might appear a bit self indulged: the huge lifted truck, the Arnold-like physique, the spray-on perfect tan, etc, etc.
However, I know firsthand of Chuck's generosity, and willingness to help others.

At last year's International Paddle Championships, Chuck had a bit of bad luck, and looked frustrated after the race. As all the other competitors rushed off to the food, beer, and awards, Chuck took the time to show a few kids how to paddle. He even grabbed them a board and a paddle, gave them pointers, and talked with their parents as the kids beamed with excitement.

I could repeat this scenario a dozen times over. The truth of the matter is that Chuck's love of everything SUP is extremely contagious, and his passion seems to be eternally fueled. In fact, on a trip earlier this year, I was beginning to wonder if Chuck ever slept. After a solid day of tow-ins and SUP surfing, I got my answer. (He does, occasionally)

Even though he's an intensely competitive person (don't even think of talking to him immediately prior to a race), Chuck knows that there's more to winning than being fast.

Remember the Feeling

2010-10-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Remember the feeling when you were a child waking up on Christmas morning? There's nothing quite like it.
Now that I'm a dad, I live for giving these moments to my son. All the getting up early and staying up late working becomes even more worth it when I see the overjoyed look on his face when he gets something new.
However.
Filling up the change jar and sliding a few extra dollars into that dusty old mug in the closet for months on end will eventually have it's payoff. So what gives you that Christmas morning feeling? Is it some new electronic gizmo? Clothes? Maybe a night on the town? Or a new board.

So pinch your pennies and sneak a few bucks into the old shoebox here and there, and before you know it, it will be Christmas morning.

Athlete Portrait: Mark Healey

2010-10-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Download the October Calendar

2010-10-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

To download to your desktop click HERE

The Buzz

2010-09-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

I love the buzz that the Battle of the Paddle creates! It's over a week away, and things are hoppin' around here.
Absolutely everybody is in town! It's a great time to see old friends, make new ones, and enjoy this nice little SUP community that we have created. It's also a great time to take care of some business, quickly and efficiently.
I am making myself available from the end of the Hennessey's International Paddle Championships this Saturday through the BOP weekend. I would like to quickly share one success story from last year to show you how I can help promote you and/or your business.

Last year I was able to do a quick little photoshoot with Lahui Kai, which only took about an hour, but yielded BIG results! Images from this shoot have been used as store displays, point of purchase imagery, multiple internet articles and stories, and these images were even used to make a four page article in Standup Paddle Magazine.
Contact me anytime to set something up! Don't let this great opportunity pass!

-Chris
chris at photobishow.com

Oh yeah, don't forget! Both Jamie and Shakira WON the BOP last year!! (No extra charge for the good luck!!)

Check out a few of the photos:

Behind the Scenes: US Open

2010-08-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

August Desktop Calendar

2010-08-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

Death Valley Training
To download the image to your desktop, click HERE

Laguna Beach at Night

2010-08-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Engagement Photos-Santa Ana

2010-07-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Complete and Absolute Silence

2010-07-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Death Valley. Just the name of the place is a bit intimidating. So much preparation goes into such a trip, and so many things can go wrong, that it's easy to forget that you are driving into such an awesome place.
If you ever have the chance to visit Death Valley, please, JUMP at the chance!
I had a great time with great friends and got some great images, which I would not trade for anything, but there was a moment early in the day that I will never forget.

After five hours on the road, I stopped near Badwater to shoot a few photos and stretch out a bit. As I was walking up a small hill near the road I remember thinking about how loud and clear the sound of my shoes walking on the rocks was. The rocks were small, sharp and porous, almost like a lava rock except white. There were a few small shrubs around, and that's about it.
I clicked the shutter on the camera. It was the loudest clearest 'click' that I have ever heard. I looked at the photo on the screen that I just took (above) and it hit me. There is no noise. It is completely silent. No cars, no people, no noise at all. I sat down on a rock, and I could hear myself breathing. I looked at the shrub next to me and I realized that there is not even a breath of wind.
And so I sat.
I was almost waiting for something to happen, something somewhere to make some noise.
For five minutes I sat in silence, and I just kept thinking that I may never be in complete silence ever again, so I am going to sit and enjoy it.
After a while I heard the road noise of a car faintly in the distance. I looked at the horizon and could see a car through the heat coming off the ground.
I sat for a few more minutes until the car passed. They must have thought I was a friggin' weirdo, sitting in the middle of the desert in 110 degree heat by myself.

Its funny how such a simple image can mean so much.

This is why I love photography.

July Calendar

2010-06-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

From the International Paddle Championships in San Francisco. Tyler Anderson leading Jamie Mitchell. Tyler set the pace for the first half of the race, until he ran into a submerged rock and broke his rudder.

To download the image as your desktop, click HERE

In Action

2010-06-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Craig Coppola

June Wallpaper

2010-06-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to download file.

This months wallpaper is sponsored by Watermans Applied Science

Training for Death Valley

2010-05-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Some people are not very smart. They decide to do things like run across Death Valley in the middle of summer.
Ok, that's fine, but now I'm being dragged into this ridiculous adventure. I don't really want to go anywhere that has the word 'death' in the name. I'm not even sure if I like the word 'valley' all that much.
Ok, truth be told, I'm actually getting excited about all this. This photo is from a recent training run in Palm Springs with Brian Mackenzie, whom is neither stupid nor crazy. We will call him 'special'...

Big Mike

2010-05-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

Big Mike is a good guy to know. First of all, he's big. Secondly, he's the man over at Becker Paddle Surf.
Becker did a great job with this shop, using the large space to the fullest. They have surf and race boards of all sizes from just about every manufacturer. If you are new to SUP then Becker is the best place around. You can rent boards for as long as you would like, and the rental fees go towards the purchase of a board!
Check 'em out here:
beckersurf.com

Product Shoot Time Lapse Video

2010-04-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

A Few Randoms from Ironman CA

2010-03-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite random photos from the California Ironman this past weekend. Great weather, awesome vibe, and some really, really cool people. Here's 4 quick photos, which one is your favorite?

Video Project; Take 1

2010-03-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Over the next week or 2, I will be going behind the scenes on a little video project. I just want to show everything that goes into making a short 15-20 second video.
Below is a little teaser. Check back soon for the final video and some BTS stuff.

From the 'Waves' Collection

2010-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Addding another Dimension to Portraits

2010-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

Portraits are an interesting thing. Its just a picture of a person, yet a good portrait can tell the viewer a lot about the subject.
This particular assignment was to get a portrait of paddleboard shaper Mick DeBetta. Sounds simple enough, except for the fact that Mick is completely overshadowed by his flagship team rider, Jamie Mitchell. Jamie is pretty much the man when it comes to paddle racing, a national hero in his native Australia, so when it came time to get a good portrait of Mick, I wanted to make sure that he was not overpowered by Jamie. I also wanted to include Jamie in the photo because he has been instrumental in the success of Mick's Lahui Kai brand.
For this photo, I had no choice but to shoot in direct sunlight, but it actually ended up working to my advantage. I chose to fill in the shadows on Mick to make him stand out in the photo. Making him the brightest part of the image makes the viewer's eye go there first. After the lights were set up, I just told Jamie to grab a board and start walking towards the water. Now we have a nicely composed photo that tells a story, and helps the viewer see into the life of Mick DeBetta.
Cheers

Tyler Anderson

2010-02-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Sara Davis: Triathlete

2010-02-18T20:26:00.000-08:00

I had my first shoot with Sara Davis the other day. I have been shooting mostly video, but some photos too. The plan is to put together a little vid with both still images and some video. Here are a few from the other day.
We met at 7:00 and Sara had to be outta there by 8:15, so I made sure I knew what I was doing. I ride my mountain bike in this area, so I have a general idea of the layout, but its just rolling hills. I like to scout areas at the same time of day that I will be shooting them, which proved really valuable here. So many good spots, so little time.

Empty Wave

2010-02-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

I was inspired to post an empty wave photo by my buddy Rob. Check him out here
This one is shot off a pier just before sunrise.

Canoe and Kayak Magazine Product Shoot

2010-02-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

Check out the March issue of Canoe & Kayak Magazine!

Finding Clean Surf in Maxing CA Waters

2010-01-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

Its 7:00 PM. I just finished dinner, and about to sit down and do nothing for once when the phone rings. Chuck Patterson. I already know why he's calling. I answer the phone and get up to start charging batteries and cleaning camera gear.
It's midnight as I drive to Chuck's house and I'm going over everything in my head to make sure I didn't forget anything...
1:00 AM Chuck, TJ and Bryce Saemen and myself are off into the darkness...

After loading up the skis, we were in the water by 6:30. We still had not seen the surf as it was dark the whole way up.

We had high hopes on the way out as daylight revealed sunny skies, offshore winds and PLENTY of swell. It was hard to tell what the conditions were like because there were waves bouncing off the jetty and nearly 20ft seas. It ended up being just too bumpy. This wave is usually a huge barrel, but it just wasnt happening today. After 4 hours of bobbing around, I just couldnt take it anymore, and after Bryce hits the bottom we decide to head in.

We headed back down south in search of cleaner surf. We finally found what we were looking for in Ventura. This is TJ and his wet wetsuit.

The waves were scraping the top of the pier

TJ on a wide one

Chuck races the section on a solid one

Even though we didn't get the big tow waves we were looking for, it was a great trip with a great bunch of guys. I can't wait for the next one!

Trip to the News Stand

2010-01-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

If you get a chance, pick up the latest issue of Standup Paddle Magazine and check out my photos!
Also going to print this month, I have a Waterman's ad in Standup Paddle Mag, another one in Triathlete Magazine, and a product shoot in Canoe and Kayak.
Check em out!

Shoot with Brian MacKenzie of Anaerobic

2010-01-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

I recently had a shoot with endurance athlete and owner of Anaerobic, Brian MacKenzie. Brian has vast amounts of experience not only as an insanely crazy endurance athlete (we are talking 100 mile runs here folks) but as a gym owner and coach.
His new gym in Ranch Santa Margarita, Anaerobic, is unique in that it caters to the serious athlete. Runners, triathletes, Ironmen and such flock to Brian for his unique training methods and his different outlook on endurance training.
Waterman's Applied Science is backing Brian because they have seen firsthand what he can do with their athletes.
If it all sounds a little crazy, check out Anaerobic's website for all the info, and daily workouts that you can follow.

Quickie

2010-01-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

One of the best pieces of film, ever.

2009-12-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

Band of Brothers.
I just finished watching it for at least the 10th time. For those who dont know, Band of Brothers is a miniseries that aired on HBO several years ago. It is 10 episodes, about an hour each, and follows the 101st Airborne through WWII.

Exquisitely done. An absolute masterpiece in every respect.

I discover something new every time I watch it, and this time this scene stood out. I cant believe that I never thought more of this, the opening scene to Episode 9 titled "Why We Fight." If you have never seen it, watch it.
This scene is about 3 minutes, involves a whole town, Beethoven's String Quartet in C-sharp minor, some incredible cinematography and sound engineering...oh yeah, its all done in one cut.
Can you imagine being the guy (or girl) pulling focus for this scene!! Talk about stressful.

The first time that you watch this scene, it feels simple, calm, and melancholy. Watch it again, and its amazing that they were able to pull those emotions out of such a crazy set. I mean camera is doing friggin' circles!!

Stacy Clark Interview on Peta2 Blog

2009-12-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Uber cool chick and amazingly talented singer/songwriter Stacy Clark is getting more publicity! This time from Peta2. I am fortunate enough to have had the chance to shoot with Stacy a few months back and my photos have been popping up here and there ever since. Stacy is one of those people who just makes things happen. She likes absolutely everyone, knows almost everyone, and will go out of her way to help just about anyone.
If you are one of the few who doesn't know of Stacy Clark, check out this quick interview with on of my photos, then head on over to her site and turn up the sound!

Interview

Stacy*Clark

New Feature to Superdorkify my posts

2009-12-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for ways to be as nerdy as possible, and I deserve a pat on the back for this one. Now I can show you cool photos, like the one below of professional triathlete and coach Roch Frey.

AND I can show my lighting set up!!!!! WooHoooooo. I know you are all high fives and Arsenio Hall fist pumps right now so I'll end this post here. I hope you can sleep tonight.

This photo is from a shoot for Waterman's Applied Science for a single page ad to be in a national magazine. I will share more on this shoot and show the final ad after it runs.

Short Film, Starring: My Family!

2009-11-30T21:34:00.000-08:00

Although it is easier than ever before to make cinema quality videos, it doesn't mean that it's cheap. There are reasons that it costs near one million dollars to make a 30 second commercial. Equipment, crew, production, editing, the list goes on.
Its all about working with what you've got.
I love shooting with my family, and I wanted to do something that shows both how much fun it is to be a dad, and something that reminds you of how cool it is to be a little kid and discover each and every little thing. Its amazing how much joy comes out of walking through the leaves.

Firefighter Portrait

2009-11-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

Family portraits.
Hmmm...
Building your portfolio is all about seizing opportunity. When a friend told me that his stepfather was retiring from the police force and they wanted some family portraits, I jumped at the chance.
All in all it was a great day, and Im glad to have been able to do this for a friend. I gave them some great portraits, but I was really excited to get a photo like this:

A Fresh One

2009-10-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

Its photo Friday again!! Todays photo is a fresh one. Taken today. Chuck did a huge roundhouse around me today during his marathon session.
There's something great about coming home after you surfed all day. Bloodshot eyes (from the sun), slightly burnt skin, and salt and sand in your hair. If it were up to me I'd go straight to bed, but I think the wife is gonna make me shower first...

For more on Chuck visit BeatChuck.com
Including an exclusive interview and photos!

Mick DiBetta Portrait

2009-10-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

I recently had a chance to shoot with Mick DiBetta, paddleboard and SUP shaper, here in CA. It was a rare opportunity to shoot with a great group of Australian athletes, which included Jamie Mitchell, Sakira Westorp, and James Billy Watson. I planned to take full advantage of this opportunity with a behind the scenes video, but I was very, VERY limited on time.
I had 30 minutes to set up for portraits, shoot, tear down, and then shoot paddling/lifestyle. It was a mess!!
Even though both the client and I are happy with the end result, I feel like I could have done a few things better.
Here's what I learned from this shoot, I hope some of these help some of you:

-if you are shooting someone even remotely famous in any way, you WILL be short on time

-no matter how many scenarios you are prepared for, something will come up that you are not expecting...so be prepared!

-no matter how big your plans, be prepared to scrap it all and work with the minimum amount of gear

-a good assistant makes you look good; a confused assistant makes you look like a dumbass (my asst was good)

-keep the flow of the shoot, even if what you are doing is not working. Dont stop to scratch your head

- the most important part of shooting a portrait is establishing a relationship with your subject. Practice being instantly comfortable with people. Establish rapport.

A Cutback and a Half

2009-10-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Oliver Kurtz: Tearing Lowers to Shreads

Oliver is the man. One of the best up and comers for sure. I met him about a year ago. He was 17 years old, and a happy little kid...
As you can see, Oliver is more than some little kid doing airs. Man sized turn.

The Future of Photography

2009-10-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

If you think you are on the cutting edge of photography, your wrong. Professional photographers are still patting themselves on the back for learning how to shoot a decent video, but all of a sudden that's not good enough anymore.
Photography as we know it is changing, perhaps more now than ever. It is easier than ever to take good pictures, as evidenced by the hordes of people that think they should be paid for their work. The line between an amateur and professional photographer is thinner than ever, but that line is about to be turned into a canyon. A huge canyon...one might even say a GRAND Canyon.
If you are a photographer, what side of the canyon are you going to be on? How do you make sure that you are keeping up with the industry?
Im not sure of the exact answer, but in the next few weeks, I will be showing you what I'm doing to stay ahead of the game, so make sure you subscribe so that you don't miss a beat.

International Paddle Championships: San Francisco

2009-09-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Watermans Applied Science sent me to San Francisco to cover the Hennessey's International Paddle Championships last weekend. I wasnt sure if this was going to work out, but I booked a flight Thursday afternoon for the next day, and everything else just worked out!
There were so many things going against us, and I didnt think we could pull it off. I had to be back Sunday morning, so that meant that I would only be in SF for 24 hours.
It was a whirlwind of a day, but I think we pulled it off! Many thanks to Pete Stirling and his wonderful family for a great dinner, good company and a nice place to stay.

If you missed the race, you missed a good one. Lucky for you the Battle for the Paddle is this coming weekend, Oct 3&4th at Doheny Beach. You can come say hi and check out Watermans great products at the Watermans Sunscreen booth.
See you there!

The Big Guns

2009-09-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

Ive been shooting light lately. Lightly, that is. Small speedlights, zoom lenses, and keeping things to a bare minimum. Shooting like this feels good, but when I had a chance to shoot portraits of some of the best surfers in the world, I felt like I had to bust out the big guns.
The thing is, I still needed to be mobile. John Lucarelli was my human lightstand and overall assistant for this shoot. Thanks John.
We walked about 1.5 miles between 5:45 and 8:00 AM. So here's my gear, followed by a sample photo.

All photos were shot with a Canon 5D MkII and a Canon 90mm Tilt-Shift lens
For light, we used a Profoto Acute B 600 pack and an Acute B head with a Profoto Beauty Dish attached. We put the power pack in a backpack on John's back, and attached the light to a monopod.

Although this was by no means a large production, these great tools allowed us to be extremely mobile, yet not sacrifice in quality.

Pat O'Connell

Karen takes 3rd in RSM 5k!!

2009-09-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

My amazing wife, Karen, took third in her class at the RSM 5k this morning! Nice work babe!

Overcoming Creative Block: Shoot with Tyler

2009-09-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

We all get into funks. Some are harder to get out of than others. I suggest finding a Tyler, and spend an hour goofing around.

You can see the rest of the photos from this shoot HERE

Me: in action

2009-09-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

There's been a bunch of waves recently, and I wanted to show you a few from Lowers. I met friend and photog John Lucarelli down there and he was kind enough to send me the photo of me shooting with Kolohe Andino. I thought I would show you both angles.
Shooting surf can be frustrating at times, and this week was especially frustrating for me. I was up at 5AM every morning for over a week, and this was the only day that I shot a decent photo. I just got skunked everywhere I went. So much has to be right for the waves to be good for shooting. You need sun, waves, the right wind, and a willing subject.
Even though I missed the best day of the swell, I still came back with some good stuff.
Thanks for stopping by!

Out with the new and In with the old

2009-08-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all get caught up in all the new gear, and trends, and forget how cool it is to just shoot some film. Shutter, f-stop, focus. Thats it, and focus is a loose term with this camera. When you think about it, all the stuff that people hated about this camera; bad vignetting, light leaks, etc. are the things that everyone adds in post nowadays.
These photos are from the Dear and Yonder premier at the Surfing Heritage Foundation. This was an awesome event put on by Roxy, and by the way, these girls RIP!

Sometimes Ya' Just Gotta Go

2009-08-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Its so easy to sit at home on the computer, but sometimes it really pays off to get off your butt. And sometimes, you just have a really good evening, and come back with a pretty cool photo. I had so much fun hanging out with the family on this night, that the photo was just icing on the cake. Glad we got off our butts. Laguna Beach.

The Wonderful World of Product Photography

2009-08-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Im not a big fan of product photography. Well, maybe I shouldnt say that. Im just not used to it. Im not one who enjoys sitting in the studio all day, so I thought I would show my take on a product photo.

New Blog Layout: Changes Amidst Changes

2009-08-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

A ton of changes going on around here, so I figured I'd change the look of my blog as well. I haven't had time to post on here lately, but I will make it a priority.

One of my projects has been BeatChuck.com, a blog all about standup surfing and paddling. That blog is co-written by Chuck Patterson. If you dont know Chuck, he is a phenomenal athlete and person. Go check it out!

Here's a photo of Chuck to get you started.

And a Video:

The Simple Basics

2009-04-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

I decided to get back to basics for a few photos. Its so easy to get caught up in all the equipment that I need, lights I can set up, effects...the list goes on.
Sometimes it feels good to get back to basics. No fancy effects, no fancy equipment. One camera, one lens, and a good pair of shoes.
OK maybe a few effects :)

Promo Video

2009-04-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

My first attempt with my 5D Mk II. I hadn't even shot a single photo with the camera when I shot this video.

5D MkII Short Film from Chris Bishow on Vimeo.

Dissect My Light

2009-03-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Portfolio

2008-12-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

So, I have a website, a blog, a client proofing site, published work, and a decent client list...

Do I still need a portfolio??

The answer is probably. It really depends on what you want to shoot. Do you want to shoot weddings? Then yes, you absolutely need something in print. Do you want to work for a newspaper? Then yes. Fashion? Yes. Product? Yes.

No matter your goals as a photographer, if you want to get more work, then show up with something in print. Print is powerful. Sometimes we forget the power of a printed photograph. Its too easy to sit on our computers and go from photo to photo saying, "She's not THAT good", or "cool photo" as we click on to the next one.

I recently went to a little photo and lighting show where manufacturers had displays and hands on sets, etc. Profoto, Leaf, Hasselblad, Canon, Nikon, and others. Canon was displaying a new printer, and was printing out various photographers images from the Hasselblad masters series. I had seen most of these images before on the web, but never in person.

I was blown away. Some of these photos I have seen dozens of times on my computer screen and never really thought twice about them. I'm telling you, there is power in print.

I used to take my laptop to meetings with brides. At some point, most brides will ask if they can see more of my photos. (I dont put too many wedding photos on my site) I thought a slideshow on the laptop was a great way to show them my work.
Recently I started bringing a book. I have booked every meeting since.

One more point:
If you are shooting, uploading, editing, posting, and stopping there, then you are selling yourself short. Printing your work is one of the best ways to grow as a photographer. You will learn a lot about your work by printing it.
There's a great article on Fashion Photographers Blog about what people are doing with their portfolios these days, as well as some different ways to stay ahead of the game. Check it out.

More on printing to come...

Getting Back to Basics

2008-12-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am extremely motivated. I have set some lofty goals for the new year. January 1st is a great time to move forward with a business. Its a new year, a clean slate, and a great starting point for you to keep track of your successes and failures.

I am getting ready to go forward with my biggest marketing "campaign" ever. So what if its my only marketing campaign, I have big plans and even bigger goals.

I know what you're thinking, "So what are you going to do already?!!"

All in good time people. I will share every detail of every aspect of what I am doing, but before we get ahead of ourselves, I want to make sure that we are all doing the little things correctly. One day not too far down the road, when we are all uber successful, we will be really glad we did the little things right today. And on top of that, these little things will help us measure our success more accurately.

The Website:

So everyone knows that a website is a must. For me, having a website that I am proud of makes me WANT to hand out business cards to everyone I meet. I had an OK site for a while, but I didn't like the way that it displayed my photos. They were small, soft, and the setup was all wrong.
Here are my priorities when looking for a web service:
-Photo display (size, quality, fast loading, sharpness)
-Ease of use (it needs to be easy to update, and change)
-Customizability
-Price (not too expensive, not too cheap)

There are many options. I dont want to tell you what to do for your website, but here are a few options. Clickbooq, Bigfolio, Livebooks, Show-it, and the list goes on. Please post experiences with these or other website services.

We could go on forever here, and we will. But not today. Look for future posts on very important aspects of a successful website.

One last thing I want to talk about is Google Analytics. Google is great. They gave me a free blog, free email, and now free website tracking tools! Im still not quite sure how they make so much money by giving away so much free stuff...
Anyway, Google Analytics is a great tool. It tells me how many people visit my website, blog, and proofing galleries each day. Not only that, but it gives me every last detail about everything!

The best thing about this tool is that I can use it to figure out which, if any, of my marketing campaign's are working. If I send out a mass email, I can see if my traffic goes up. If I do a charity event and hand out 45 business cards, I can see how many of those people actually go to my site. GET THIS NOW!!!

Tomorrow we will talk about portfolio's.

Here's The Deal:

2008-12-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

A Brief Introduction:

For those of you who don't already know me, or who haven't checked out my site, here is who I am and what Im about.

My name is Chris Bishow. I am a semi-professional photographer based out of Southern California. I have been in love with photography since I was about 12 years old. I have taken one photo class, and other than that I am completely self taught. The photography has always come easy to me, and what I lack in skill, I make up for in passion and practice.

I work 40+ hours a week as a machinist to support my family, and schedule photo jobs in the evenings and on the weekends. I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

I have the photographic skills. I know I do. I also know that I do not have the business skills to quit my day job and support my family on photography alone. I also know that I will never get anywhere working 8-10 hours a day, and trying to manage a business in the hour between being a good husband/father and absolute complete exhaustion.

The Plan:

One of the good things about spending all day in a machine shop is that it gives me plenty of time to think. I have SOOOO many business ideas, and so little time.

So what do I do? What is an effective business plan? Where should I spend my hard earned money? Gear? Marketing? An expensive website? Software? Workshops? The list goes on. There are hundreds of amazing blogs and websites that can help an aspiring photographer improve their skills and increase their knowledge, but what about the rest of it? What about the businessman (or businesswoman)?

There are many amazing photographers out there to look up to. Everyone has their idol or mentor, or "I wanna be like that guy" photographer(s). One of mine is Chase Jarvis. Most of you probably know of him already. If not, check out his site. He shares so much information, and I am very grateful for every ounce, but he's not going to say how he landed the REI gig, much less reveal his expenses, or profits, or any of the multitude of other intricate business aspects of a shoot that big. And understandably so. In my opinion, Chase has given more than enough.

I feel like there is a large amount of "semi professionals" like myself, so if you feel like you are in a similar situation, then this blog is for you. I am going to show you everything that I am doing on a daily basis to go from odds and ends, get published here, shoot a wedding there, semi-professional to a successful commercial photographer.

I am going to make many, many, many mistakes along the way. Like I said before, passion and practice. My goal is to help as many of you as possible along the way. One thing is for sure, this is going to be a learning experience.

Comments encouraged people!
Oh yeah, there will be a photo here and there too.

Things are about to change.

2008-12-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

OK, so this blog is about to take a dramatic shift. I know that shouldn't be too hard since I have one post per month, and I dont write anything...
Here's the deal. There will be a blog tomorrow explaining everything in great detail, but here is a preview.
I have been shooting alot of everything. Anything that I can get my hands on. Weddings, babies, Christmas portraits, blah, blah, blah. Yes, I am making money, but I cant entirely support my family on photography. On top of that, Im not even doing what I want to do. I may sound a bit down right now, but its actually just the opposite! I have had an idea in my head for a while now, and this morning David Hobby of strobist.com stole my idea.
Check back tomorrow for the full scoop.

One of my favorites

2008-11-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Cylinders

2008-11-02T19:30:00.001-08:00

Items for Sale: Canon 30D and STE-2

2008-08-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

I have a lightly used Canon 30D for sale for $550. This camera is in fantastic condition. The only sign of wear is on the hotshoe which is from normal use. You can see below in the photos. Comes with one battery, charger, user manual, and strap. I also have the Canon software from the 40D that I just bought if you would like.
The STE-2 transmitter is brand new. I have used it once, and it works and looks perfect. The only reason that I am not keeping it is because I ended up buying Pocket Wizards, so I dont really need both. I am selling it for $200, I will pay for postage. Ste-2 comes in original box with cover and manual, just as it would from a store. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Thanks
chris@photobishow.com

Cole, Cole, Cole

2008-08-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

You can now check out what Cole has been up to whenever you want, on his new website...
COLE'S WEBSITE!!!

Or you can check out the PHOTO GALLERY of Cole, which will constantly be updated

My first Fourth of July

2008-07-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

Its a boy!! This is Cole Harrison, born on July 1st. 6lb, 12 oz 19" long. As you can see, this is his first fourth of July. Many, many, many more pictures to come.

Lowers

2008-06-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Lowers has been going off with all the little kids in town for the NSSA. Here is a quick preview, but there will be more to come soon, including Kelly Slater and Tom Curren!

First Post in a While

2008-05-04T10:57:00.001-07:00

I know that I havent posted anything in a while, but I should be back on track this week. Here is one to get it started.

Evening

2008-04-01T07:22:00.001-07:00

North Shore

2008-02-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the North Shore of Oahu, and all photos are up NOW!! Click HERE to visit the gallery, then click on the slideshow button in the upper right corner and enjoy!
MUST SEE FULL SIZE!!!
This is a small church at the Punchbowl Memorial Cemetary. Six photos stitched together.

Rainy Day

2008-02-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of photos from a shoot last Sunday, January 28th. It seems like its raining everytime I try to shoot now. These actually turned out better because of the weather. Check out the full photo shoot here
Please click on images for full size view!!

My first Limited Release Print!

2008-01-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

-PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL VIEW-
This is my first Limited Edition, Limited Release Print. There will be only 10 of these released. All will be printed 20 x 30, signed and numbered. Price is $300.00. If you are interested, please send me an email with 'Limited Edition' in the subject. Look for another Limited Edition to be released in a few weeks.
Chris

Obligatory Sunset

2008-01-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

Surfing

2008-01-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

Just a fun little day at Creek over the holiday, enjoy!

Big Surf

2007-12-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

As many of you have heard, we have had some big surf over the past few days. Conditions were not all that good in SoCal, and I wasn't getting anything that I liked very much. Here are my 2 favorite so far.
One of the great things about this blog is that I get to show you photos that will not show up on my website. I can also tell you about the process a bit. For example, sometimes when you are staring at the same things as everyone, such as on this day, you tend to feel like you aren't looking at anything special. There was probably about 100 people taking pictures and watching the waves this morning, but I felt like I was wasting my time. Sometimes when you take the time to turn around and notice everything that is going on you get rewarded.
So here is my advice for the day, Turn around, and be rewarded!

Please click for full view!!

Kevin Update

2007-11-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, Kevin, my brother was in a motorcycle accident about a week ago. A car pulled in front of him and he hit the side of it. His injuries include: concussion, broken ribs, pneumothorax, two broken ankles a shattered pelvis (broken in 8 places) and a bunch of road rash.
Kevin has been moved to UCI Medical Center, for his surgery to repair his pelvis, which will be Friday Nov.22nd. He has had ups and downs over the past few days, but this surgery will help him get to a point where he can start healing. Thank you for all of your prayers thus far, and please continue to pray for Kevin's peace of mind. He is having anxiety and fevers because of the upcoming surgery.
Sunday we will be doing a photo shoot for Kev. We will be doing pictures of everyone and anyone at my parents house hopefully mostly on Saturday. Please make it a point to come by. These will be uplifting, happy photos. All photos will be put on a poster size print and in a book. Please feel free to bring your pets, crazy clothes, hats and any other goofy funny items.
Please let me know ASAP that you will be there. These will be group shots, individual shots, or anything else you can think of. All pics will be done in the garage, and it will be a quick in and out thing.
Directions are here
Address is: 2 Sequero RSM, CA 92688
My email: chris@photobishow.com

Portraits at the Park

2007-11-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to thank Eric, Jen and family for a super fun shoot last night. We ran out of light pretty fast since the sun is setting earlier now, but you guys were awesome! It was actually more fun after it got dark, and I think we came up with some good stuff. Here are my favorite two.
I try to learn something every shoot, and on this shoot I learned to carry a lighter in my camera bag from now on. Who knew?!

Cartoon look

2007-11-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

I was just messing around with my brother, Kevin today, trying to work on some lighting stuff and some effects in photoshop. I've been trying to get this effect down for a little while now and I'm getting close I think.
If you are visiting from Freedom Club, Thanks! Hope you enjoy my new blog. I would love to hear your comments and feedback, so feel free to leave a message!

You can click on any photo for a larger version...