Surfer and photographer Todd Weaver has transformed his passion for California's waves into a stunning collection of photographs that capture the Golden State's coastal magic. His exhibition "Fade to West," currently on display at Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles through September 13, showcases dreamy images ranging from ombre skies reflected in ocean waters to crashing waves and rising full moons.
Weaver's unique approach combines his love of surfing with experimental analog photography techniques. Using half-frame cameras and underwater equipment, he creates one-of-a-kind impressions that transform familiar California vistas into meditative artworks focused on movement, time, and atmosphere. His pre-exposing process creates distinctive colored stripes that serve as artistic signatures across his work.
Many of Weaver's most striking images were captured at First Point in Malibu, his favorite surfing spot. "Cloud in Green Stripe," taken in 2018 with his half-frame camera, showcases what he describes as a "one of a kind" color that he believes he "couldn't repeat in a thousand tries." The image demonstrates his signature stripe effect created through his unique pre-exposing technique.
The photographer's work spans various iconic California locations, from Malibu's peaceful surf breaks to Santa Barbara County's Rincon View. His 2023 image "Rincon View, Red Stripe" was part of a special project called OneRollZine, featuring every photograph from a single roll shot on a half-frame camera. Weaver notes how the sparkles on the water in this image remind him of "Los Angeles at night if you are looking at it from Mulholland Drive."
Weaver's photography equipment includes a Nikonos film camera, originally developed by Jacques Cousteau for underwater use. Unlike many surf photographers who swim out with fins, Weaver prefers to paddle out on his surfboard with his camera. This approach allowed him to capture "Half Submerged but Fully in It," a 2020 Malibu photograph taken after sunset where he slid off his board and submerged his lens halfway to create a dramatic effect reflecting the ombre sky.
The exhibition features images spanning over a decade, with the oldest piece being "Century Above, Los Angeles," captured in Griffith Park in 2013 during a hike. The photograph shows an elegant century plant looming over the city against beautiful clouds. Weaver's work also includes natural phenomena like the 2019 "Superbloom on Poppy Mountain," which he describes as "the largest superbloom that I have ever seen in Los Angeles."
Weaver's artistic vision extends beyond traditional surf photography to capture California's diverse landscapes. His "Indian Cove diptych" from 2024, taken during a Joshua Tree camping trip with his oldest brother, showcases his love for half-frame cameras that allow him to take two nearly identical photos that appear adjacent, separated by black frame lines. He refers to these pairs as "the world's shortest movies."
Having started surfing ten years ago and maintaining a routine of going out a couple of days a week for the past seven or eight years, Weaver's photography project has evolved alongside his surfing obsession. His work represents what he calls "color experiments with film project, with the ocean and surfing as the subject," creating a unique intersection between athletic passion and artistic expression that captures the essence of California's coastal culture.
