The Golden State Through the Lens of a Young Photographer

Spot X at its best. I still can't believe how good this day really was. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Swamis Beach, Southern California: one of my favorite waves to photograph. This day I shot with a fixed 50mm lens and it turned out to be the perfect lens to capture all the action. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Cardiff, California.This day was supposed to be the day where I shot my friend, Ben Goldstein, surfing with a pumpkin on his head, but it turns out I really enjoyed the portrait shots I took and just stuck with those. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Justin Nash at a location you may or may not get shot at, but it is worth it for the tube. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Joshua Tree, California looking very inviting to most hill bombers. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Rincon Point, Santa Barbara: where hipsters seem to migrate for the winter. It's one of my favorite waves to photograph at sunset, and, this day, everything came together. Photo: Cole Ferguson
To the hundreds of sessions I've had at this dumb closeout, this seems to bring me back after every session. This is my favorite shot of this wave to date. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Jalama, Central California. Offshore winds, good hamburgers, swell, and camping. What more could you want? Photo: Cole Ferguson
Jonah Valenzuela tossing up his board hoping to get this shot without the board landing back on him. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Jordy Collins: one of the best sessions I have ever photographed a couple minutes away from my house. Photo: Cole Ferguson
There is not much to this shot besides a lighter, the sunset, and some wool. But I like it. Photo: Cole Ferguson
The Arizona dunes are the worst conditions to shoot photos, but there is a special connection I have with them. I try to show it through my photographs. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Another one from the dunes, AKA the "ruin the camera sensor." Photo: Cole Ferguson
One of my absolute favorite landscapes to photograph. The ocean at midnight slowed down to a 30-second exposure. Photo: Cole Ferguson
Crisp, clean, and green waves keep me happy. Shot in Laguna Beach, California. Photo: Cole Ferguson

I’m a 16-year-old surf and adventure photographer from Southern California. Living a close 2-minute walk from the beach, surf photography came natural to me. It all started out 4 years ago while I was taking photos with the family camera. From there on out the passion grew. I shoot water, landscapes, and portraits with Canon cameras and SPL waterhousings. I have a crazy passion for photo and video and I try to show it through my work. Here is a small selection of some of my favorite photos taken up and down the California Coast.

For more of Cole’s work, check him out on Instagram: @iamcolee