Catching Waves (Without a Surfboard) in Cleveland

As an aspiring photographer, I have always many goals and wish list shots to capture. Some are dependent on being in the right circumstances, and others are dependent on getting better and learning how to make my camera do what I want.

After a recent gear upgrade, I was finally able to check one of those goals off my list – capturing the splash of a wave on Lake Erie. Sure, anyone can take a picture of a wave but its usually pretty blurry since water moves SO fast. No, I wanted to capture a picture that shows the water droplets frozen in time… and I finally did!

After many many MANY failed shots, watching the waves roll in (and dodging the occasional splash), I finally got it. The settings, the lighting – just right to capture what I was after. The rush of water, the delicate arc of the spray—it was everything I had envisioned. And it hit me: if I can capture the movement of a wave, I can capture the movement of people too!

Photography is largely about motion. Whether it is waves crashing on rocks, the wind catching someone’s hair just right, or a laugh that turns into a full-on belly laugh—those are the moments I love to capture. That’s what makes a photo feel alive.

As an Ohio-based photographer, I’m always looking for ways to highlight the energy of the Cleveland area. From Lake Erie’s dramatic waves to the people who bring the city to life, there’s always a story waiting to be told. And I’m here to capture it—bad smells and all!