The Golden State Through the Lens of a Young Photographer

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$Spot X at its best. I still can\'t believe how good this day really was. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Spot X at its best. I still can't believe how good this day really was. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Swamis Beach, Southern California: one of my favorite waves to photograph. This day I shot with a fixed 50mm lens and it turned out to be the perfect lens to capture all the action. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

$Cardiff, California.This day was supposed to be the day where I shot my friend, Ben Goldstein, surfing with a pumpkin on his head, but it turns out I really enjoyed the portrait shots I took and just stuck with those. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

$Justin Nash at a location you may or may not get shot at, but it is worth it for the tube. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Justin Nash at a location you may or may not get shot at, but it is worth it for the tube. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Joshua Tree, California looking very inviting to most hill bombers. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Joshua Tree, California looking very inviting to most hill bombers. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Rincon Point, Santa Barbara: where hipsters seem to migrate for the winter. It\'s one of my favorite waves to photograph at sunset, and, this day, everything came together. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

$To the hundreds of sessions I\'ve had at this dumb closeout, this seems to bring me back after every session. This is my favorite shot of this wave to date. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

$Jalama, Central California. Offshore winds, good hamburgers, swell, and camping. What more could you want? Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Jalama, Central California. Offshore winds, good hamburgers, swell, and camping. What more could you want? Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Jonah Valenzuela tossing up his board hoping to get this shot without the board landing back on him. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Jonah Valenzuela tossing up his board hoping to get this shot without the board landing back on him. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Jordy Collins: one of the best sessions I have ever photographed a couple minutes away from my house. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Jordy Collins: one of the best sessions I have ever photographed a couple minutes away from my house. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$There is not much to this shot besides a lighter, the sunset, and some wool. But I like it. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

There is not much to this shot besides a lighter, the sunset, and some wool. But I like it. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$The Arizona dunes are the worst conditions to shoot photos, but there is a special connection I have with them. I try to show it through my photographs. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

$Another one from the dunes, AKA the \"ruin the camera sensor.\" Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

Another one from the dunes, AKA the "ruin the camera sensor." Photo: Cole Ferguson

$One of my absolute favorite landscapes to photograph. The ocean at midnight slowed down to a 30-second exposure. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

One of my absolute favorite landscapes to photograph. The ocean at midnight slowed down to a 30-second exposure. Photo: Cole Ferguson

$Crisp, clean, and green waves keep me happy. Shot in Laguna Beach, California. Photo: <a href=\"https://instagram.com/iamcolee/\">Cole Ferguson</a>$

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

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