One evening I was sitting down to eat dinner with my family, but while talking with my wife I noticed the incredible dancing colors behind her as the sun was beginning it’s descent.  Even from my kitchen window I could tell this was going to be a sunset like never before.  In a -comically hysterical- rush I mumbled an incoherent explanation and rushed out the door, grabbing my camera bag on my way out.  The image I got was completely worth the cold dinner, and that’s saying a lot because there is few things I enjoy more than my wife’s cooking. By the time I got there the sun was still shining bright and the water was unusually blue and crystal clear. The clouds did nothing to darken the sky but they did seem to absorb the colors of the sun beautifully.   Between the warm sky and the cool ocean the scene just became a heavenly marriage of color. My eyes found the lilacs and yellows somewhere in between and I was just instantly drawn into nature’s beauty. The glassy reflection of the sky above on the wet sand stitched together the deep blues with the pastels of the bright setting sun. The little piece of escaped heaven was token enough to grant me forgiveness for my disappearing act.

Carlsbad CoastlineJackson Finn Art: Carlsbad Coastline

This image was taken out on the Del Mar Jetties toward Camp Pendleton.  This piece is titled “Little peaks” for the way the two caps of the swell seem to resemble a small mountain range.  I caught them right as they were beginning to roll back out into white water, creating this crisp edge at the top, like the peaks of two mountains.  The clear lines in the waves make them seem to loose all motion, transforming it from a snapshot of a rushing wave, to a still-life of a steady landscape. My favorite part of this piece though is actually the two small hidden treasures.  If you look closely you can the lone seagull flying off toward the horizon, toward the even less visible naval ship in the background.  It’s subtle, yet ominous appearance is a clear contrast to the joyful picture of the two waves depicted.   Little PeaksJackson Finn Art: Little Peaks

September South Swell was taken one evening just last year as the swell was rising fast.  The soft light of the coming sunset was shining so clear  through the crest of the waves, it was unbelievable. The way the warm yellow light blends in with the sea green hues creates this beautiful blown-glass effect instead of the powerful wave that it really is. The irony of the warm, peaceful tone of the image, and the true nature of the wave makes for true art. September South SwellJackson Finn Art: September South Swell

Cardiff Light- I captured this image one evening after an especially long surf session.  The sun was setting but the sky kept this warm golden light, it looked more like the early hours of the morning sunrise than an afternoon sunset so golden and warm it felt like midday. The water reflected the yellow sky so clearly it felt as if I was surfing on liquid gold. This image is just full of warm surfer’s bliss and nature's unpredictable beauty. Cardiff LightJackson Finn Art: Cardiff Light

Oceanside Abstract was taken by the north side of the pier during a powerful swell caused by some heavy winds and rains. A bad cold confined me to the shore with my camera instead of in the waves with my board.  Of all the great shots I got that day, this one just really stuck out to me with all the movement. Using a slow shutter speed I followed to wave rather than keeping the camera stagnant and I was able to capture the geometric shapes in the scaffolding while keeping that obscurity to the piece.  This combined with the distorted horizon line as well as the soft focus of the breaking waves created this elusive, abstract image.  It was the perfect addition to my abstract series.

Oceanside AbstractJackson Finn Abstract: Title Oceanside Abstract