I was supposed to be back in Orange County, slaving away for a month to get 3 credits in some mundane general education class that would count towards me completing my college degree. I still “earned” 3 credits this month but instead of sitting in a classroom for 5 hours a day, 4x a week, and studying useless information which would slip through my head faster than that dodgy taco you at at that hole-in-the-wall that at gave you food poisoning, I got approved for an independent study course to team up with four documentary production classmates from Chapman to help them shoot a short doco on a freediver / underwater photographer (sea life) based out of Kona, my hometown. It was such a blast, trekking around the West shores of the Big Island to help shoot this doco, and was obviously heaps of fun to have friends to “tour” around my favourite spots on the island.

During this month, I also teamed up with Alison Teal and some other girls to shoot underwater and lifestyle photos for Odina, a sweet line of eco bikinis which made of plastic bottles and other recycled materials. We were blessed with a week of decent swell in Kona and some vog-free days that cleared up the view of Mt. Hualalai, making for some perfect photo opportunities.

And talk about last-minute: The last Friday of the month, I was scheduled to depart to Orange County but instead was flown to San Francisco on a day’s notice to help shoot and edit some video blog content at the Macworld conference for Melbourne Geek, an Australian online tech and review blog site run by my friend, Josh Janssen, who I met back in September while visiting in the city. Also got to re-connect with my hyper-talented friend from Kona, Eda.

Now back in Orange County, I’m stoked to be living a street across from my favourite OC surf beach, and getting ready to work on a project that’s going to be taking me out of the country again in March.

Best acai bowls ever @ Basik Acai in downtown Kailua-Kona.   This is their Islander Bowl with kiwi and bee pollen.

A late afternoon session at Pine Trees with the lovely Alison Teal!

Sunset magic at Kua Bay.

Mike, finally married.

Morning session at Pine Trees with Tina.

Camping in front of the rock at Pine Trees for New Years! 2011 was a blast.

Also met up with Alex Frings, a highly talented surf shooter based out of Byron. So impressed with his work, check his website: http://www.alexfrings.com/

&new ‘business cards’ for the water. :)

photo by hannahphoto by kyle

check out the shell jewellery Nadia designs here!