My New Year's Eve was spent photographing this beautiful wedding in Carrillo, Costa Rica. This shot was at the end of the night when everyone started getting their buzz on (well maybe the kids were sober, who knows?) I used a tripod and no flash because there was so much light coming for the fireworks and because the people were for the most part still.  Have a happy 2015!

Life in General

7 years later I am still kicking it down here in Costa Rica. My hair has started turning grey and my surfing hasn't really progressed. My quest for virtue also got sidetracked as I grew tired of complaining about the injustices in every day life. On the other hand, I got married, I had a daughter and life seems so much more settled as the big 40 approaches.

What have I learned about having a kid?  Well, I have learned that this is the reason most people still live with or near their immediate family. Sadly, it is not the case for me. My daughter, I love her to death, could easily drain the same amount of energy out of me as if I ran a marathon. So imagine running one every day. This is why every member in my family needs to pack up their shit and move to Costa Rica. I need a place to drop her off when I am beat. My wife works full time so I split parenting duties with her and a local nanny. The nanny gives us peace of mind and time to do things for ourselves like surfing and surfing (not really much else to do beside drinking and I have learned to do that while parenting). I would like to feel as though I have accomplished many thing during fatherhood of which I will list at the end of this blog.

I always envisioned my kid being really different and raised in a different way. I guess to some degree we do that but how full of shit was I to think that my parenting would be any different than anyone else. It is funny the stuff you say when you are single. It is also funny the stuff you say when you are married. I have learned not to say anything until you are married and with a kid. Not until then will you understand how full of crap you really are.

The only reason I am writing in this blog is because I googled my name, thinking the results might actually be cool and accidentally stumbled upon it.  It was after reading every post that I saw myself as a different person and I am. "Soy Padre!"(I am a father)

The things I taught my daughter and a few she learned on her own:

1. How to fart and say "Toot Toot Pazita"
2. How to play air drums and air guitar.
3. How to chew with her mouth open
4. How to slap the shit out of the Talking Tom Cat (relax, it's an application on the phone)
5. How to program and hack an iPhone or any other device (actually, kids learn this on their own)
6. How to scream like bloody murder when she doesn't get her way
7. How to piss on my bed instead of the toilet.

All in all life is good and even better with a kid. My daughter's name is Paz Del Mar. It means peace from the sea and she is the apple of my eye (or at least until she pokes it out)

Aug already?

June and July were full of raining making it feel like rainy season but ever since August rolled around the sun decided to show itself and the waves decided to bless us as well. Not sure my plans for the rainy season . I haven't been home in a long time and it would be nice to visit family.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's been a while but I'm still kicking and bitching as usual. Nothing really that excitingly different here in Costa Rica other than the weather being weird as shit. Rainy season started stopped kinda started then offshores started blowing to set us back into total confusion. If the world's going to end in 2012 then we better get some things done!

Got married, love my wife, love my dog, love my life. Hate greedy gringos living in Costa Rica that invade a culture and try to turn it into what they think is a perfect society. ... For god's sake my thoughts on this matter will never change, so please stop trying.

I spend every day making videos and sometimes I get to do photography. Did I mention how much I love taking photos? I never thought I would find a job that I enjoy until now.

Give me my surfboard, camera, and computer and I will figure out how to make a living or at least die trying!!!!

Enjoy the night, it's my birthday !
~g

Mac Vs PC

I have changed to Mac but I hold on to my Sony Viao Laptop out of habit. It was a well needed change for my photography as it seems to have simplified life a little. I'm always learning and growing in photography. I see so many different photographers with the most incredible styles and always wonder what exactly mine is. I have come to conclusion I just enjoy capturing any moment at any time whatever it be. Weddings, Houses, Surfing, Adventure I photograph it all and love every moment of it. Below is a new black and white process I have been practicing. Hopefully I continue to grow and maybe even make an honest living doing what I enjoy. ..

Nov Update late in Dec

It came and went like a summer breeze. Special thanks to everyone who helped make it a very special day for my new wife and I. November isn't know for rain, but this year has been really wet and around 4pm everyday it seems to pour as if it were July. The day of the wedding the sky grew dark as it rained nearby but not a drop was had in Playa Garza.

Marriage is a new journey for me and I am happy to have found someone to share my life with. Francela brings happiness to everything she does. I truly hope we can defy all the odds when it comes to successful marriages that are filled with happiness. No doubt its a tough journey but with simplicity, communication, and real love I think its going to come easy.

Somewhere in Costa Rica

October brings excitement to our world!

So imagine you're horseback riding in the USA. It would consist of large groups and horses so old that if they even thought about a gallop, it would mean heart failure. The pure thought of something happening outside the "Bubble Norm" would result in lawsuits and business downfall.
Now I bring you to my world. A small ranch outside of Arenal and San Carlos, CR where my Fiance's sister has managed to yet again give us something memorable. We were given our horses and told to follow. Having not been on a horse in years I said what the hell. Twenty minutes later we were all in full gallops and racing through the valleys. Never ending views of mountains and stream in the horizon as we raced to an imaginary finish line. There were four of us and an instructor.
It was one of the most amazing days until reality settled in. As I passed my Fiance and her sister I was victorious in my own head. But wait, Francela's horse is fiercely approaching and takes the lead. A closer look reveals there is no longer Francela riding the horse as the saddle bounces sideways falling to the ground. As I look back I notice she has fallen and appears to be in a daze. As I approach her I notice she is covered in mud as the giant mud pit at the bottom of the valley seemed to have broken her fall. Trying not to cry she says she's alright but I know from the speeds we were traveling that there was no way in hell she didn't take a beating. A small kiss to tell her I am sorry, as I reached for my camera and captured these photos below. Moral to the story is don't run horses downhill, value life everyday, and if you break out a camera it makes everything better! Enjoy the day.





Two days later I took a ride in this thing to finish a video job . I have flown lots in my life. Small and large plans but never like this. Feet above the ocean at about 100mph racing through the waves is enough to give anyone a hard on. It was the smoothest flight of my life. The German pilot seemed to be able to fly in his sleep.

Dia en Familia

Our Saturdays are not spent at the mall. They don't consist of traffic jams or imax theaters. This is a common weekend for us. Hell its also sometimes our daily routine mixed with a little bit of work. I really enjoy this quality of life thing.

Two Leos dancing in the sunset. Francela (right) took it to the next level when she invited Gabby (left) to a dinner party with our DISCO BALL! Later they broke out the hulahoops which was followed by Salsa. I have to remind Francela that , though I am really dark, I am still a white boy with no rhythm . I never would have imagined a life full of dancing and laughing but hell life is full of surprises and now I can't imagine a life without it. I just need to learn how to move my hips :)


The great thing about her is she just does what she feels like and where ever she feels like doing it. It is always with %100 passion.



And for this I am greatful because I could be teamed up with some money hungry cunt who only wants material things....

bienvenidos a Nicaragua

We packed our boards and headed for a 3 day venture into somewhat familiar territory.Three hours North of Nosara, Costa Rica is the border for Nicaragua. Slow rolling Costa Rica turns into Slower Rolling Nicaragua aka NICA. . Popoyo and Rancho Santana are not secrets in the surfing community, none-the-less we couldn't couldn't help but get excited seeing the chest to head high barrels breaking close to the beach.



A friendly hostel at 10$ a person was located directly in front of this break. Dinner rates were about 5-7$ a night. On the final night I splurged and bought lobster/steak for a pricey $10. Did we mention the food was incredible? Anyhow, while Nicaragua is no longer the road less traveled, it sure as hell made our Visa renewals a pleasant one.


Along for the ride was my good Costa Rican friend Alfredo who despite all the negativity with the two countries, decided to check it out. Life is full of surprises when you look outside of the box. I enjoy feeding off of other's energy

Paula and Fabi

In Nov I will become Tio Graham to these two girls. They both are full of life and energy and carry the biggest smiles on a regular basis. I at one point was stuck in a car in Downtown San Carlos with the alarm going off with just the two of them in the back seat. Instead of them freaking out crying during all the siren noises they decided to sing along. While they sang I was shitting my pants not knowing how I would ever get the damn thing to go off. Either way fun stuff.

Link to wedding!

http://www.momentville.com/FrancelaYGraham


here is a link for family trying to plan travels to our wedding..

Please pass this link to family in the UK as well.

Low Season = High Season in my eyes

May came and brought the rain. Well needed rain at that. Things turn green almost over night and the place comes alive. The tourist seem to scatter back to the states to enjoy the summer months making this place heaven. I've never been one to want to be cluttered with anything other than a shit ton of photos and memories that I can tell stories about and take to my grave. Live your life simple but live you life well. It's not hard and not for everyone , but if you are one who desires change then change. The clock doesn't stop ticking for anyone anywhere.

attempt 2

NosaraShack.com from projectgfs on Vimeo.

Attempt 1 gopro HD Nosara CR

This is for my mother. Thanks for the toy. I'm still learning the best way to position it but good things to come. Love and miss you guys, Graham

“If you want to be happy, be.”

Playa Pelada is still today one of my favorite places for many reasons. This just being one of them. Enjoy Easter See you guys soon!

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PHOTO WHORES GALORE!

And everybody here is a cloud
and everybody here will evaporate



you came up from the ground
from a million little pieces

have you found where your place is?

I Do

Sunset wedding North Pelada. Killing the time as I look forward to visiting the family in April then hopefully a couple of weeks in PAVONES in May...... May 6th is my birthday for any family member that has forgotten. I will be umm.. shit.. Old enough to have gray hairs but young enough to surf twice a day and run for miles :) ... Oh and I take paypal and credit cards if you are worried about getting my gift to me.. :) Visit nosarashack.com to see our daily surf photography. adios, g