David Royal Photography

Paul and Tassa

Royal — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 05:08:17 +0000

Paul and Tassa’s post wedding kiss on Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

Surfers

Royal — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:57:31 +0000

I spent some time with Seaside-based artist Mike Garnero while working on my portrait series of Monterey County surfers.Mike told me some great stories about how as a kid he used to hitch rides to surf on the old Del Monte Express train. He would jump on as it passed Custom House Plaza and then jump off at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. Mike is another vault of surf stories and I plan on presenting this project as a mix of images and interviews.

Buoy 59

Royal — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:09:33 +0000

I went to see Buoy 59 live at Jose’s Underground near Cannery Row in Monterey last Saturday. The Monterey-based band swaggered through a set, swapping between punk and reggae in a jarring paradox reminiscent of the Bad Brains. The band is made up of surfers and their name is a tribute to a Buoy far off the coast of Northern California that gave a snapshot of the incoming swell twelve hours before before it hit. The buoy broke free from it’s mooring some time ago and no longer gives a report.

Bryce Hall, left, Paul Wetterau and Brian Gorrell rock out as random, stand in trumpeter, solos through a reggae jam at Jose’s Underground in Monterey, Calif. on June 18, 2011.

Coming Full circle

Royal — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:35:46 +0000

I shot some portraits for my former wrestling coach at Santa Cruz High the other day. His daughter was getting ready for her first communion. He worked with me for six years through junior high and high school. There I was, quite a few years later on the beach we’d run soft sand sprints on while training. Here are just a few of my favorites from the day. We had been shooting in the open on Cowell’s Beach when I suggested we try a few more frames under the Santa Cruz Wharf.It was at the very end that her mother said she was studying ballet. And it was then, with a symphony of seagulls, barking seals and the wharf creaking from the cars rolling overhead, that she started to dance.

Paul and Tassa

Royal — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:02:49 +0000

I had the opportunity to shoot some engagement photos of Paul and Tassa on Westcliff Drive in Santa Cruz, California.The area is rich with beautiful backdrops of the Pacific Ocean, one of those places where you could almost drop your camera and come up with a beautiful photo.It was cool that the area was a special place for them.And they had a lot of fun as we tromped around Natural Bridges State Beach.

CSUMB Women’s Basketball

Royal — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 07:15:54 +0000

I recently shot some portraits of members of the nationally ranked CSU-Monterey Bay Women’s for the Ventura County Star.

CSUMB Women’s Basketball Team members Julie Heurung, left, Michelle Santizo, Kris King, Amanda Padilla, Erika Ward, Molly Carson, Holly Holcomb and Jenna Bandy stand near one of the old decaying Fort Ord buildings which surround the campus in Seaside, Calif. on February 1, 2011. These team members have roots in Ventura County.

With head coach Renee Jiminez and assistant coach Tina Samaniego also coming from the Ventura area it is no wonder why so many talented players from one area have ended up on the team.

The campus occupies the former Army base which was closed by President Clinton and is still being dismantled. The campus is within walking distance of the beach, an area that was used as firing ranges when the base was still active. I was glad the team was excited about my idea of using the decaying base as a backdrop instead of just another shot with the ocean behind them. Who knows how long those buildings will stand, but for now they are a big part of the campus.

Alex and David

Royal — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:19:16 +0000

Here is a favorite frame from Alex and David’s wedding in Aptos, California.

A skateboard was leaning against a wall of the garage as we returned from signing the wedding license. Alex jumped on and David proceeded to push her along.

More images on the way.

Lizzy and Joe

Royal — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:47:19 +0000

Here is on of my favorites after my initial edit of photos from Lizzy and Joe wedding at Pajaro Dunes in Watsonville, Calif. on Friday September 10, 2010.

They got some great weather and were a fun couple to photograph although her veil was a bit uncooperative at times!

Mother and brother of the groom.

Bride’s shoes on the beach during the ceremony.

Putting the shoes back on.

The last rays of sun for the day.

Newspaper Work

Royal — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:16:49 +0000

Here is some recent work I have done for the Monterey County Herald. Once again I am reminded of how much I enjoy shooting all different types of stuff.

Steven Polkabla of Pacific Grove hangs out with his biker buddy Nicholas, a mini longhair black and tan Dachshund, before the start of the Pacific Grove Pet parade in Pacific Grove, Calif. on Friday July 30, 2010. “He does ride on the bike between us,” said Polkabla’s wife Vicki McKee.

Palma High School Football Team running back Jack Baird at the school in Salinas, Calif. on Friday August 20, 2010.

Paulo Boykin, 2, of Seaside, Calif. helps his mom Barbara Boykin work out above Del Monte Beach in Seaside on Monday August 30, 2010.

There really is nothing quite like being a newspaper photographer with the wild variety of photographic situations you get thrown into!

Erik and Ashleigh

Royal — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:59:53 +0000

Lots of weddings! Heaps of photos to edit!

Here is a favorite frame from Erik and Ashleigh’s wedding on Sunday. They are lucky enough to live above Monastery Beach in Carmel, California. So we took a few photos with Point Lobos in the background.