By Aaron Chang

Throughout my life, it has always been my goal to capture tack sharp, technically perfect photos.

Back in the days of 35mm, this was no easy feat… I often chose to manually focus my Nikon lens, which made shooting in the surf that much more challenging.

Fast forward many years, I realized that I now wanted to convey something different about what I see through my lens…

… it was how I experienced the movement of water and its feeling of power, grace and beauty.

I have been honing the technique of capturing the senses ignited in and around the ocean in my abstract photos for many years now… 

Abstract imagery allows the viewer to experience the feeling of the moment through the heart more that seeing it with your eyes.

On this dark winter’s morning, I was at the beach in Carlsbad at 6:00am sharp, just in time to capture the fleeting beauty of this moment. 

Rose Quartz was captured with the first click of my shutter.

I love the soft rose-toned mist flying off the face of a gilded wave… set against the neutral grey canvas of the cool Pacific Ocean,  it was a moment of true beauty I will never forget.

Aaron Chang is an American-born artist, known for his exceptional ocean photography and stunning visual art. An internationally acclaimed artist, Chang has collectors all over the world and his work has been published in hundreds of books and magazines. Respected as a creative force who helped visually define the sport of surfing, Aaron spent 25 years as a senior photographer at Surfing magazine, traveling to the far reaches of the globe. During this time, Chang set new standards for modern ocean photography.

Interwoven throughout Aaron’s career, have been years of commercial photography work, partnering with top art directors and design agencies all over the world. The campaigns were multi-tiered, spanning from branding to marketing to advertising. This experience has facilitated Aaron’s ability to produce and direct on many levels from the creation of his iconic photography to directing teams to execute his vision to producing his art on an array of mediums.

Today, as a fine art photographer and in-demand commissionable artist, Aaron owns two thriving art galleries that feature his work, while creating custom collections for clients worldwide. Aaron’s passion is to share his love and intimate connection with the ocean and nature. Whether through photography or multi-media sculpture, Aaron’s work touches people with hope and beauty.