[waves crashing in the background]
ZAK: Hello?
MARIA: Hi Zak! Hey! How are you doing?
MARIA: Good! It's Maria from B&H.
Maria! How are you doing? I just got outta the water.
Let get my ear pods, then we can talk. MARIA: Okay, awesome!
[slow acoustic guitar and ukulele music]
MARIA: I heard you were speaking at this year's B&H's virtual OPTIC,
so I wanted to introduce you to the audience. Do you have time for 21 Questions?
Yes, I'd love to do the 21 questions!
MARIA: Amazing! So, what're you up to today?
I actually just got out of the water from shooting the sunrise at Sandy Beach.
It's one of my favorite places in the world to shoot at.
And it's where I learned to shoot water photography.
[waves crashing]
MARIA: That's so great! And you're so lucky to have that so close to you!
[Zak chuckles] Absolutely!
And we're very fortunate here in Hawaii that our cases are low, our beaches are re-opened
and our water has always been open.
So, totally legal and a lot of fun, and it's a very healthy and great way to stay outdoors
MARIA: That's great. And you're a Canon Explorer of Light, right?
So what kind of photographer are you?
I am a Canon Explorer of Light.
So, I am water photographer.
So I shoot surf, water... Anything and in between that involves water. That's me.
MARIA: That's awesome. And, has this quarantine affected your workflow?
How are you--Are you excited to just kind of get back out there with all the surfers?
Absolutely. I mean, I think that it's affected it a little bit,
But, with our beaches remaining open, we've had some amazing surf and swell.
And... there hasn't been too much effects in that regard.
But, you know, it's affecting everyone in different ways.
From work and job, I usually travel quite a bit. There's a lot of speaking engagements.
And a lot of it has had to change, but it's okay!
MARIA: And so, what got you started in photography?
[waves crashing]
My dad actually got me started in photography.
So, my dad is a commercial photographer.
And he shoots hotels, food and fashion.
And it's something that I fell in love with.
The ocean. And that's what brought me to where I am today of shooting.
MARIA: And then, what got you so passionate about going in the water?
Well, growing up on an island, you're surrounded by water.
So, being passionate about the ocean is very easy.
It's, it's just absolutely gorgeous over here.
And being able to be in the water, it's incredible.
MARIA: And, what was your first camera when you started to master your skills?
My first camera was a Canon EOS 630.
And that was a film camera. 35mm.
And my dad got me to shoot with film before I could go to digital
As it was just as I was starting to get interested in photography,
digital was just coming around, or I think it was a Canon 20D.
And he thought it was a good thing to kinda learn and hone my skills in film first.
MARIA: He's right. That's a good dad!
ZAK: Yeah! He's a great dad. [Maria laughs]
MARIA: And, what was the first water housing you were using?
[Zak sighs]
That was a homemade water housing by a friend. It was made out of fiberglass.
Now I'm using these AquaTech water housings, and
They're quite incredible. State-of-the-art, high-tech, can change all the lenses, all of the functions.
Um, can't beat it
Now, the technology is incredible to complement the camera technology.
MARIA: Yeah! So, what's your go-to setup now?
In this housing right now, I'm using the Canon 1DX Mark III
with the AquaTech EVO housing.
And... It's incredible.
It has a 50mm lens on it right now.
And using a Lexar CFexpress card.
MARIA: Cool! Is there a specific photo or series that helped you kind of put yourself on the map?
You know, I think it was my willingness to swim and go further.
Um, push myself further, be in the spot, find that position
and just really find those extreme moments, and putting the viewer there.
So there is a photo that I call the "Perfect Day", and it's of a surfer, who's a friend of mine,
Christian Redongo, and he's in the barrel in Tahiti
with a perfect rainbow over his head.
So, it's a hard one to beat as the "Perfect Day" for me.
MARIA: And, you mentioned that you do a lot of speaking engagements,
and you are speaking at this year's B&H's Virtual OPTIC.
Is teaching a big part of your career as well?
Oh, I'm very excited to speak at this year's Virtual OPTIC,
I am really looking forward to it.
Yeah, speaking is actually a big part of my whole career and what I do.
I love to give back. I love to teach others and expand
because this is a love for the ocean, as you can see.
And for me, it's like "how would you not want to share that with others and do that?"
As I'm looking out right now at Sandy's,
I remember shooting here 6-8 years ago being the only one in the water.
I see 6-8 people right now shooting in the water!
It wasn't because of me, it's that the rolling out of digital and becoming more readily available.
But, how can I help those ones shooting with GoPros or different items like that
to take it to the next step?
To take it to that Canon DSLR that they can put in their hands
and they can take it to the next level of photography?
MARIA: So, you mention you have a big passion about advocating and teaching,
and you have a pretty large following on social media now.
Has social media played a part in your career and helping you kind of send the message you wanna tell?
Absolutely. I think social media's a great platform.
Beforehand, we had magazines with 100,000 in circulation for a magazine a month.
That's how many people they're hitting.
Now, with several hundred thousand followers,
we can hit that several times a day and get the messages across.
We've become our own broadcasts, our own platforms,
and it's incredible.
[waves crashing] Yeah...
MARIA: And, you mentioned your dad is the one that helped you get into photography.
How has he played a role in your career and helped you kind of guide you through this?
Well, my dad has always been there for me.
He's been someone that has been such a supporter, no matter what I was doing,
whether it was photography or not.
And to me, that was the most incredible thing because
he was there when I didn't like photography, as well as when I did. Just the same, and passionately about both.
And that's what's incredible to me, to have that support.
MARIA: So, switching up gears a little bit:
What are some tips for someone looking to get started in water photography,
or sports photography, or wildlife photography like you,
and may be a little worried about their camera wet?
Absolutely, so I think, if you wanna get into some sports photography or water photography,
I think the best thing to do would be to get out in the water, feel comfortable first.
You know, before you take a camera out of any sort,
make sure you're comfortable with the water, make sure you're comfortable with the location.
Get out there and kind of feel it out.
For sports photography: know the sport. You're gonna know where they end up.
Sports photography is a lot more high-paced and high-action.
So you wanna know the sport. If you don't know the sport, you're gonna miss the action.
So, kind of know those moments.
MARIA: So, I take it that you're a pretty good surfer then?
I'm an okay surfer.
I love the ocean in all regards,
from surf, body surf, swimming. Anything to do with the ocean, I'm in there.
[Maria laughs]
MARIA: And so, I know you're a Hawaii native, and I hear the food's amazing.
What's your favorite?
Food is amazing here!
You know, it's such a variety. I love Japanese food, the Hawaiian food.
Everything in between. There's so much variety. We eat something different every day here.
[music in the distance]
MARIA: And, aside from surfers, you also photograph animals, right?
ZAK: Yes! MARIA: Which are your favorite?
ZAK: Yeah, some wildlife, some animal wildlife, underwater wildlife.
And, it's incredible.
To be in the water with these dolphins or turtles or whales... They're massive!
You know what I mean? You're in their home, and these are wild animals.
And so, showing them that respect and being that is something very important.
MARIA: Do you have a favorite to photograph?
I love filming dolphins.
My girlfriend and I, we love to go swim out and shoot dolphins in the wild.
And you know, you always wanna give them that due respect. But, if they come to you,
they're so friendly! They swim by you. It's quite an experience.
MARIA: And which are the most difficult to capture?
Probably whales. Whales are little more difficult.
They are very protected here.
So, it would be not in Hawaii, if you're filming whales, generally.
Um, if you're in the water shooting them, then just being very cautious.
They're bigger than school buses. So it's something you wanna be very cautious of.
MARIA: Alright, trick question:
sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise! We're at Sandy's right now for sunrise.
Just shot it. It's my favorite part of the day.
MARIA: And so, what has been some of the most challenging shoots you've had to do?
Some of the most challenging shoots are definitely ones that are outside of the box.
Um, I'm very adept and comfortable in the water,
but shooting Michael Phelps this past year was something of a challenge.
You know, shooting in the pool of someone that is the most decorated Olympian of all time,
was a little scary.
But, we got it done! And, I'm very stoked.
I was able to shoot it for a campaign around his new swim line.
And, it was a little scary though.
You know, to shoot someone at that stature in the pool, but I knew I could do it because I was comfortable in the water.
MARIA: Of course, that's awesome. ZAK: Yeah...
MARIA: And, you mentioned traveling to a lot of places. Do you have a favorite?
Tahiti. Definitely Tahiti.
That's my favorite place to be, go, see. I can't wait to get back there.
MARIA: And which have the biggest waves?
Hawaii has the biggest waves. We have THE craziest, biggest waves in the wintertime.
MARIA: And if you had to choose one to photograph forever, surfers or animals?
I would say...
Surfers. MARIA: Yeah
ZAK: There's a lot more unpredictability and action in that sense of a high-paced, action sport.
MARIA: And, if you weren't a photographer, what would you be?
If I was not a photographer...
I think I'd have to do something with the ocean.
Oceanography of some sort.
I love the weather patterns and the ocean currents and everything like that.
With my job, it's forced me to learn all of those, which I love.
MARIA: And, what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Best piece of advice is from my dad: shoot loose, edit tight.
MARIA: Wow, that's perfect!
MARIA: And, aside from your camera, what's your favorite piece of gear?
Aside from my camera, my favorite piece of gear?
Uh... it's probably be my iPhone.
I mean, I think I'm on it a little too much these days [Maria laughs]
But with work and everything going, it's something that is a necessity for everyday life.
MARIA: Sure! And, last question: who should we interview next?
Last question is who to interview next?
I think you guys should interview Larry Chen.
I think you'd have a very good conversation with Larry Chen.
And, he's a great friend of mine and a fellow Explorer of Light!
MARIA: Cool, absolutely.
We'll definitely get in touch with him.
Awesome! Thank you so much Maria!
And have a great day. I'm gonna jump back in the water.
MARIA: Amazing, thank YOU so much!
Alright, bye!
ZAK: Take care. Bye!
[guitar and ukulele music]