Earlier this year, Los Angeles-based photographer Eric J. Smith was able to capture the incredibly rare moment of a surfacing humpback whale just a foot or so away from a sailboat. The photograph, covered by global publications like The Telegraph, The Huffington Post, and ABC News, went viral, it's popularity based on its message rather than the endangered species itself. Sitting on the nearby boat is a man so engaged by what's happening on his cell phone screen that he's entirely oblivious to the whale. Smith posted the image on Instagram with the caption, "A sign of the times." The photograph was able to start a worldwide dialogue about our dependency on technology.
Smith, an award-winning director, designer, and photographer, is able to tell a story through a single photograph. Over the past 20 years, he's traveled the world and worked with everyone from Oprah Winfrey to James Cameron and created a signature style in his documentary images. Recognized by National Geographic, Smith was invited to participate in their "View From Above" Exhibition at O'Hare Airport. Presently, Smith serves as the Vice President/Creative Director of EcoMedia.
We asked Smith to explore the idea of putting a new spin on a traditional way of life and apply it to the culture he experiences in Los Angeles, and were thrilled when he agreed. To Smith, these atypical black and white surf shots taken from the Pier in Manhattan Beach, California, truly reimagine tradition.
