Eric Vallely

I am a 4^th generation Newport Beach resident and I have a huge passion for the ocean. I began surfing at about the age of 5 at Blackies, which is located next to the Newport Pier. As a surfer, it’s hard not to notice the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets over the water and the different shapes that waves take with the various tides and wind conditions. Over the years, I’ve traveled the world surfing many beautiful places and each time I would come home with the most amazing memories. However, I wanted a way to document those memories better so that when I looked back on them, they would be much more vivid. Before going on a surf trip to Indonesia, I bought my first camera. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was determined to figure it out. I read some articles and asked questions to other photographers that were willing to share information and set out on my way. It took a few years to really begin capturing images the way I imagined them, but slowly things started to come together. Looking through the viewfinder in a camera changed the way I looked at everything around me. As I moved around my hometown of Newport Beach, I wanted to try and capture the essence of our city through all of the things and places that I love about it. Everyday is different, which is exciting for me as a photographer. It keeps me searching for the next shot.