Blog | Jakob Berr Photography

After the memorial on Wednesday, I went up on the pier to try and get some pictures of the surfers. I had this idea of a top-down shot with a longer shutter speed that I hope to do when I photograph Terry surfing, and I wanted to try it out. I really like what’s happening with the water and the motion in these images, and I hope that I will get a chance to photograph Terry like this. There are two shots that I’m torn between – in the first one, I like the second person in the upper right corner and the tension of the surfer, but it’s also a lot more blurry. In the second one, I like the light on the wave and the reflection on the wet suit. Hopefully, it’ll all come together when it counts…

Matteson Morey, of San Clemente, Calif., surfs near the San Clemente Pier, May 11, 2011.

On Wednesday, we went down to the pier after work. There was a paddle-out memorial for Jeff Kargola, a star in the freestyle motocross scene who recently died after a crash. The memorial was mostly over when we got there, and there were only few people left on the beach. I got one shot that I liked:

People gather at the San Clemente beach after a paddle-out memorial for Jeff "Ox" Kargola, a young motocross driver who died last April, May 11, 2011.

I know it’s a little late for these, but I still wanted to put these pictures up. On May 2, Terry asked me over to his shop for his birthday party. He had some friends over, who brought a cake for the “princess,” and I had a great time meeting all of them. I also used the opportunity to work on some of the shots that I still wanted to get from his shop.

Terry Senate lights the candles on his birthday cake with his friends at his surf shop in San Clemente, Calif., May 2, 2011.

Terry clinks glasses with his friends on his birthday at his surf shop.

Terry touches up a surfboard that one of his friends shaped and brought in his shop to show him.

Tommy Witt, of San Clemente, Calif., picks up his new board at Terry's surf shop.

Terry takes a picture on his new smart phone of Brianna Coleman, of San Clemente, Calif., holding her boyfriend Tommy Witt's newly shaped board in his workshop.

Terry and his friends celebrate his birthday at his surf shop.

I was at Terry’s surf shop again today to follow up on some of the pictures I took earlier. I still have one or two pictures that I want to work on, especially the wide angle shot of the two workshops (second shot) and the last shot. I wish Terry was in the frame somewhere. I’m going to camp out there and see if I can get him closing up shop.

Terry Senate in his surf shop in San Clemente, Calif., Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Terry Senate, center left, and Chuck Johnson, right, work in Senate's surf shop in San Clemente, Calif., Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

Terry Senate planes a custom-ordered surf board in his workshop in San Clemente, Calif., Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

Terry Senate works on a custom-ordered surf board in his workshop in San Clemente, Calif., Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

Terry Senate's surf shop in San Clemente, Calif., Tuesday, March 15, 2011.