World Champion Solo Canoe Race

Hey everyone, I wanted to share this video with all of you. It's incredible what these guys do! The competitors paddle their canoes for 4 to 5 hours straight! This footage was shot by the talented Devin Graham and handed to me to edit. Devin was responsible for the sound design and direction. I hope you enjoy it!

Also, make sure you watch it in HD! You can do this by selecting the resolution located in the bottom right hand corner area. :)

Another day at the office

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a place called Kualoa Ranch. It's 4,000 acres of awesomeness. It sits on the island of Oahu and has been family owned for 6 generations. I recently had the opportunity to experience this location for an entire day. I was helping to shoot a commercial for the location and in doing so got to do some really cool things!

Perfect spot for a Wal-Mart! Everyday low prices.

This place was used during World War II to spot oncoming attacks. They built some huge bunkers to hold munitions and such. Deeper into the valley are many film locations used for TV shows and Movies. Jurassic Park, Godzilla, LOST, and Pearl Harbor are just some of the projects that were shot here. Up until seeing this place I had only experienced the coastal area of Oahu which, don't get me wrong is absolutely amazing! However, I'm so glad I got to go inland and explore areas that feel preserved and hidden from the world. It's absolutely breathtaking to experience such a place.

This is the log from Jurassic Park... yes there is a specific log. It was used by the actors to hide from annoying dinosaurs. If I remember correctly the dinosaurs ate them all and the movie ended.

Basically Kualoa Ranch has lots of activities that visitors can partake of. I spent the day filming these activities with Devin Graham. The morning started off with a horseback ride through the valley. Devin and I followed in a sweet van getting shots of the ride as it progressed along the trail and eventually back to the ranch.

Horses swam to the island back in the late 1800's during the great horse depression. This is fact.

Afterwords we took a boat tour across a giant Hawaiian fish pond that was built by hand using lava rock. Basically they built it so that small fish would swim in, but would then grow too large to ever get out. On the other side of this pond the boat we were on docked on the edge of what is referred to as "the secret island beach". It is a private island that visitors can pay to spend time on.

This is the same pond used for all the submarine shots from the show LOST.

We walked across the island where we boarded a "catamaran" which is a specific type of boat. The catamaran took us out into the ocean traveling full steam ahead directly into the waves. This was extremely fun because the boat feels like it's catching air as it slams through the waves. With every wave the front of the boat would rise high into the air and then slam down causing lots of water to splash over the edge. It was ridiculously fun. However, I quickly found out that it's difficult to keep your balance and film at the same time. I did my best, but I was almost thrown overboard on several occasions.  Normally they don't let people film on the lower portion of the boat, but they made an exception for Devin and I. It was scary to take my uninsured camera down there with nothing but my rookie sea legs underneath me, although I somehow was able to get some rad shots. Also I didn't throw up, and that's always a solid victory. 

One of my roommates James Choi. This dude can cook up a storm!

This is what a Catamaran looks like.

Upon returning from our Ocean Voyage, we took to the land in some crazy military cargo vehicle that blasted us into the jungle, taking us to the top of one of the peaks. On top you can look out and see both sides of the island, I wish I could explain how amazing it was up there, but alas I lack the writing ability to do so. It was "neat".

This is what "neat" looks like.

Sadly by the end of this jungle excursion I had plowed through all three of my batteries and my camera turned into nothing more than an expensive paper weight. I was bummed out because we still had two more trips to take. That's the problem with being so passionate about film and photography. Sometimes it's hard to enjoy what's around me if i'm not capturing it in some way. I'm sure lots of friends hate going places with me because I'm constantly taking photos or shooting video. What else am I supposed to do!? Anyway, I forced myself to just relax and enjoy my surroundings. I'm in Hawaii for crying out loud!


What followed was a bus tour through the valley that shows off all the TV and Film locations, stopping occasionally to let the passengers exit the bus to check things out. After this we finished up the day riding Four Wheelers around. It was an incredible day that I was lucky to have experienced. I will try and get some video uploaded as soon as I get some time to edit it together! Thanks to everyone for reading, I hope you enjoy the blog!

This Is Why

Recently someone asked me what it is about photography that interest me so much. At that moment I didn't know how to reply. I gave them a very generic drawn out answer on the spot, most likely leaving them with regret for having asked me the question int he first place. Since then I've really contemplated the question, and even though I knew the answer, I realized it's much harder to explain than I thought.

Why do I love photography?

Remembering the details...

Think about any random day. You woke up, some things happened, and then you went to sleep just to repeat the cycle. Now apply this to your entire life. You are born, some things happen, and then you die. It's in that small frame of time where "things happen" that really matters. As time goes on we accumlate memories. Like dreams, memories can be difficult to recall as time passes on. Maybe you used to be able to remember your first real kiss as if it was yesterday but flash forward a handful of years and suddenly you realize the details have slipped your mind such as the song that was playing, the way the other person smelled, or the way it made you feel, all lost in your subconscious where you can no longer retrieve them. That's how life works. These experiences help shape the people that we become but unfortunately we lack the capacity to consciously store all these moments.

By now you probably know where I'm going with this. The reason I am drawn to photography is because it gives me the ability to not only capture a single moment of life, but I am able to capture it exactly the way I see it. It's not from anyone's perspective but mine. This gives me the chance to share with others how I experience the world and people around me. I also enjoy editing photos just as much as I do the process of taking them. It gives me that much more ability to manipulate the shot, so in the end it represents exactly what I want it to represent. However, many times while editing I will find that the true potential of the shot was something much different than I thought going into it. I'm never stubborn with photography. If the picture decides it wants to be something different than what I wanted it to be, I let it.

I fear I would have forgotten about this moment had I not taken the picture...

Before.

After.

I always hesitate to say yes when someone asks me if I'm a photographer. It feels like the term comes with an identity that I don't want to be associated with. Someone that has thousands of dollars of equipment, and treats people like they are lucky to spend 5 minutes with them and their camera. What makes a photographer anyways? Is it just anyone who owns a camera? Do you have to understand every technical aspect of film, processing, and development? Must you have a degree in photography? I personally believe that being a photographer means you enjoy the experience of using a camera to not just capture a moment, but to do that moment justice. For every photo I share with the world, there are 100 that I don't. I've taken some shots that I was very eager to share, but once I got home, edited the shot and was really able to examine it, I realized that I just didn't get it right. Maybe some moments aren't meant to be captured, maybe a single photo lacks the ability to contain and say everything that we want it to. Then there are those shots that I take on a random whim, shots that seemingly have no significance or interest. After I see them up close, and spend a little time with them I find that they are some of my favorite photos.

I discovered the potential of this shot days after it was taken.

It doesn't always have to look clean.

Experimenting with flash and long exposures.

My approach to photography is far from "professional". In fact it's down right unorthodox. But that's because I am an unorthodox person at times. I have an odd sense of humor, and I give the world the benefit of the doubt.  I know I'm not without faults, and I understand that the rest of the world around me has it's fair share of faults as well. I use that to my advantage. The fact that I am able to express how I see the world around me with a camera brings joy into my life.
I have no interest in changing the way I take photos.

 I'm always amazed when someone says they enjoy my work. It's very rewarding to know that a photo I've taken has had an impact on someone. To know that we share emotion in that single frame of life is worth a lot more than a 1,000 words.

So there is my answer. That is why I enjoy photography so much. It's something that makes me happy, and the best part about it all, is that sometimes my photographs make people around me happy as well. What could be better?

My "tourist" video.

I was debating on posting this video or not because the quality certainly isn't where I would want it to be. Then I realized that I just wanted to share with friends and family a quick look at some things I've seen since I arrived in Hawaii, and it doesn't need to be professional quality to do so.

The reason the quality isn't that great is because I haven't went out with the specific goal of shooting video, rather I've taken many photography excursions where I will sometimes flip the camera over to record and grab a few shots.

So, I hope you enjoy my rather "touristy" looking video. Also I want to credit Devin Graham for the underwater shots that he recorded while we were snorkeling the other day.

Letting go

This post is a bit personal, but I have no problem sharing my experiences both positive and negative especially since this is a topic that pretty much everyone can relate to. However, I won't be hurt if you decide to skip this one, I think it's more for me than anyone.

Light at the end of the tunnel...

I've recently had to let go of someone I love very much. Doing this easily ranks as one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. When going through such an event it seems so easy to feel lost, lonely, and torn down. Almost as if we've had a piece of our life crumbled into dust and taken by a passing breeze.

The last 6 months of my life have been filled with so many ups and downs. I now find myself living in Hawaii and completely surrounded by the unknown and way outside my comfort zone. However, instead of feeling vulnerable I feel empowered. Being pushed to the edge of what we think our limits are puts us in a position to see how capable we are as individuals. Had someone a year ago handed me a script of my life, I would not have believed I would be where I am today. I'm impressed with myself.

Letting go of someone I love is certinaly difficult, but I'm finding that it's up to me to discover the positive things from the loss. I've learned so much about myself because of this relationship, and I will be able to apply this knowledge in any future relationship that might arise. I'm ready, and excited for what's to come.

I know that it's not going to be easy, and I wouldn't want it to be. Struggling makes us stronger, so long as we don't give up and keep fighting. The best part, is that I know I did everything I could and I will never lose sleep knowing I did all I could. Eventually we find the light at the end of the tunnel and realize the struggle is what makes life worth living. I'm excited to move on with this knowledge knowing that not only will I benefit from this, but someday somebody very close to me will benefit from this as well. 

A Day Below Sea Level

To say I've been overwhelmed by all there is to see here on the Island of Oahu since I arrived would certainly be an understatement. It would take years to explore this island, and with something amazing around every corner one might find it difficult to stop once they start. Today however I was introduced to what is below the water rather than what is above.

I'm bringing my spear gun next time, because all I see is dinner.

The day started with my roommates Devin, Nate and myself piling into the awesome van that we cruise around the island and headed towards the North Shore. Our first stop was at Shark's Cove. Although the name sounds rather intimidating and aggressive, once you get out there it's surprisingly calm and relaxing (aside from the constant shark attacks). The reason we went to Shark's Cove was because it's known for it's amazing snorkeling. Now, i've never snorkeled a day in my life, needless to say I felt about as clumsy as I ever have. Trying to move around with giant flippers on and breathing through a big plastic straw proved to me that I may just be a little more handicapped than I had hoped. Luckily I pick things up rather quickly. So after about 15 minutes I got the hang of it. It was so impressive to see all the life that exists just feet below the surface. Schools of fish, turtles, jelly fish, and eels were just some of the animal life we encountered. The best part of it for me was how relaxing it felt. I almost felt as if I was meditating. With the water level above your ears all you can hear is your own breathing and the waves as they move over your body. Snorkeling is definitely something I've fallen in love with, and I'm excited to do it more times in the near future!

Turtles really like the spotlight, and can't stand not being the center of attention.

This is Nate swimming through the cave at Shark's Cove

 After snorkeling we decided we needed some food in our stomachs. We drove to the town of Holaeiwa where we got awesome sandwitches at a cool little bakery. Then Nate and Devin took me to a shop called Matsumotos which is world known for it's shaved ice. This I found a bit odd since I didn't really know there was anyone keeping track of the best shaved ice joints on the planet, but apparently there is. It was really good though, and the twist is that you can have ice cream added to the bottom so if the first half/pound of sugar wasn't enough, you get another slap in face of sweetness once you reach the bottom.

The line is always out the door and flows out onto the street.

To wrap up our day you drove to Waimea Beach where we originally were just going to chill and relax, but that turned into deciding to jump of a cliff. At first I wasn't really feeling up to it, a little hesitant to jump into a body of water that I had only met just a few days ago for the first time in my life. Oh also, did I mention it's a cliff?  So I decided to stay back and watch the camera gear while Devin and Nate jumped. Nate stepped up and jumped right off with hardly any hesitation. Then Devin stepped up and hesitated just a *tad longer than Nate, and took the plunge. Watching this I decided I needed to see what the fuss was all about, so I climbed to the top, got to the edge, and before my brain had time to register what I was about to do, and before it could initiate electricity to the common sense zone I jumped! It was absolutely a crazy good time.

This sign is written in Hawaain and translates to. "ATTENTION: Jumping/Diving can cause serious euphoria and awesomeness to flow through the body. For your own good please stand on the highest point and jump!"

I'll be returning to this spot very soon.

So that's how my Wednesday went, not a bad day's work if you ask me! :)


*range of actual time anywhere between 1 and 2 hours.

Making a Mess and New Friends

What's the first thing you think of when you think of Hawaii? That's right! HUGE mud fights!!! I didn't waste time getting involved in a little island mud slinging action!

For those of you who are wondering why in the world we would do such a thing, the answer is simple.... it was fun. Also, as a bonus my friend Devin Graham and I shot a video of the event for his youtube channel which you should all check out if you haven't already. Devin is working on the edit and will most likely be posting the video next week. I'll definitely link it on here so check back Tuesday!

There are so many opportunities for adventure out here, but what makes these types of experiences so great are the people that you share them with. The people out here are so friendly. Everyone I meet is so kind, and have such a positive vibe about them. I'm excited to get to know them as I continue working on projects out here!

So take some time out of your week to go on an adventure of some sort. Grab someone you like and bring them along for the ride. You'll be glad you did! Stay tuned for the final video of this event, it will truly be EPIC!

A life changing day.

I landed in Hawaii yesterday, and I've now been here for a full 24 hours. However, I still don't feel like I have arrived. It's just so much to take in. The beauty, the people, the weather. Turns out Hawaii looks slightly different than Utah (strange that nobody told me that). I keep waiting for it to snow, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon.

Jace meet Ocean, Ocean this is Jace.

 I imagine traveling to Hawaii would be a life changing experience for anyone, but for me it's pretty much the equivalent of strapping me into a space shuttle and launching me towards some unknown planet. As of Friday May 13th I was roughly 10,000 days old (27yrs) give or take a few leap years, and I had never stepped foot onto an Airplane, I had never been outside the lower 48 U.S. States, never been yelled at by a foreign woman who clearly was unhappy with the image on my shirt, and I had never seen the ocean. Then, within one passing day I had experienced all of the above!

Just like that, things that seemed so out of reach just days before all came to fruition in a single day. This has taught me to never underestimate the power that one day can have. Now I'm not saying that you're not living life unless you're jumping on the next flight to (fill in the blank). I'm saying that we really don't have any excuses to let a day slip by without making it worth while. We need to leave a mark by completing a challenge, confronting a fear, expressing feelings to a loved one, or just taking 5 minutes to ponder about something we've never taken time to think about. Of course this is WAY easier said than done, but I believe taking this approach to life will create positive ripples in the water.

This crab was totally making the most of his day.

 We all have our shackles. The things that weigh us down and hold us back. The people who are closest to me know exactly what mine were (and to some extent still are), or at least the major ones. I won't go into detail about that now, but I plan on it in a later post. My shackles kept me from doing things I wanted to do. Do you think I had never seen the ocean or flown on an airplane before because I thought those things were lame? Wrong. I avoided those things because I spent so many years allowing my shackles to get tighter and tighter making me fear things that were new to me. But there comes a time when we have to chose to either give up or start creating an escape plan. It took me a long time, but after experiencing the worst few months of my life, I am now experiencing what I expect to be some of the best.

I am thankful for shackles. They make us fight for what we want. I know that I've finally escaped mine, but I also know there is another pair waiting for me. They are most likely already on my wrists slowly tightening down. I believe that breaking through these shackles make me stronger as a person, and will allow me to break more challenging, heavier barriers in the future.

I feel the need to mention that I could have never made it through these challenges on my own. I have a family that by divine intervention I have been placed in because I would not have lasted in any other. My friends are composed of the most compassionate, smart, loving, and caring people that could possibly be pulled from the gene pool. I can't thank everyone around me enough for helping me through this life. All I want to do is give back to them, and hope I am able to.

If our lives are a book then I've definitely just completed a chapter. I'm very excited and eager to start the next one! Starting it off in paradise isn't all that bad either ;) <-- "winkey face emoticon"

The Adventure Begins

Hello everyone! So I've had some folks request that I keep people up to date on my experience in Hawaii. I'm going to be making short videos on a weekly basis (if I have time) and I figured that I would go ahead and start a blog where I could both write and post video content of my experiences.

I will be flying out on the 13th of May, and I will be living in the city of Laie, which is located on the North Shore of Oahu. The reason that I am moving out there is because a fellow videographer and friend of mine Devin Graham has been out there shooting a Surf Documentary since November 2010 and he has asked me to join forces with him. So for the first couple of months I will most likely be helping him finish the documentary and after that the sky is the limit! I imagine we will be shooting all sorts of awesome/crazy/cool stuff in the near future.

Here is a trailer for the documentary which is currently titled "Transcend"

I'm very excited to be a part of this, and also to do something that is going to push my abilities. I'm always looking for projects that will force me to adapt and learn as a filmmaker and videographer. I'm excited to share my experiences with friends and family!

And remember I'm going to be posting videos here as well, so check back often to see what shenanigans I'm getting myself into. Also feel free to post comments, questions or just whatever!