About me? Hmmm, what can I say.... let's start from the beginning. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area - a Nor Cal boy at heart. I don't think I can ever remember not having holes in my cords - that's right, cords. I once got lost in a department store and it was one of the scariest times of my life. And this was just last week. Pizza and McDonald's were always my favorites. I was always fasci
nated with art and constantly drawing, painting, and creating. I remember my first camera at about age 9 (good ol' Polaroid), and attempting to produce my own stop-motion movie using my Star Wars action figures and elaborate backgrounds. As I got older, we moved to the foothills of Sacramento where I went to High School and I think I was the only one who resisted the New Wave. I was too busy listening to Beastie Boys and Run DMC. Ok, maybe I did sneak a little Duran Duran in when nobody was around. This was also a time where I took full advantage of the rural wonderland of the foothills and emerged myself into the realm of dirt bikes and motocross. After surviving high school, I knew for sure I wanted to go into the creative industry. I was interested in some sort of fusion between the arts and the computer. Lo and behold! At Sacramento Sate I found this thing called Graphic Design. I jumped in head first where I also started taking my first courses in Photography and the just-emerging Digital Photography (This was the early 90's after all - Apple Quicktake 100 anyone?). These days, I'm still that little kid with the holes in his pants. If I'm not wearing my flip-flops, I'll be wearing my vans. Neil Diamond said it best - Forever in Blue Jeans. I love the outdoors, the beach, and the sun. I can't believe I ever sold my jeep. That's ok, because until I get another, my motorcycle keeps me company. I'm definitely a computer nerd - I love my Mac and Photoshop. My weaknesses are peanut butter cups and a good beer buzz early in the morning - just kidding - but it is true, all I want to do is have some fun - thanks Sheryl Crow. I still love Pizza and McDonald's, but I can never resist Mexican, and you'll find my fridge and cupboards packed with organic goodness. I also try to stay fit and exercise - the battle of the bulge. My favorite animal is a wolf, although I do have an affinity for lizards. A Bearded Dragon is next on the list. And if you ever run into me, you can bet I'll have my camera with me. Oh, yeah, which brings me to why you started reading this in the fist place - Photography. Although I've been shooting and working with Digital Photography for many years, it's only been in the last few years I've been doing it professionally. Because of my Graphic Design roots, I love the digital workflow and post-production magical effects (the digital darkroom). I'm constantly pushing my creativity and learning. I never take a picture - I capture the moment. The visceral qualities and make-up of photography has always captivated me. And if I can succeed in sharing my personal emotions with another through that photo, then I've succeeded. I mostly shoot Event, Landscape, and Fine Art/Conceptual photography. But I love to experiment and find my boundaries. How else are you ever gonna get the "out of bounds" whistle blown? Thanks for taking the time to read my zany info page! Check out some of my work (I like to call it Play), and let me know whatchya think. I'd love to hear from ya! Most of my time during the week is spent in my creative studio in Pacific Beach. Feel free to stop by or give me a holler. In the meantime, I'll have my Mind in the Shutter...
Jason de Alba
