On the Beach with Leica M9

It has been quite some time since I picked a camera and went out to take some photos. In fact, since coming back from New York, I have barely touched my camera. I wasn’t inspired, and as a result, I stopped making an effort to go out and capture whatever my eyes saw. I stopped walking out with my camera when leaving my house. 

Last weekend, however, I promised myself that I would try and overcome whatever creative block I had that was preventing me from taking photos. As it so happened, it was also time for the annual True Ventures offsite. Every summer, the True team gets together for a couple of days in Stinson Beach to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate. 

I have been making this annual trip to Stinson Beach for 15 years — twice as a founder and the rest of the time as a member of Team True. We skipped two years — once because of the pandemic and another time because we decided to move locations to realize our folly quickly. I love going to Stinson — what’s not to like: cold, foggy mornings for a long walk along the ocean. Wonderful sunny afternoons to have lunch. And the rest of the time, talking and learning from your partners and colleagues. 

That said, I have never found it to be photographically exciting. I have tried — after 15 trips, you know I have tried — and come home with anything I would label as a portfolio-worthy photo. Knowing that I wouldn’t get anything amazing, I packed light — my usual Leica M f2/50mm APO- Summicron lens and an old Leica M9 camera that I have not used in years. A great lens, a great vintage sensor, and a vintage set of eyes — what could go wrong (or right?) 

The sunset over the Pacific was a great opportunity to create an homage to Sugimoto, albeit in color. It is the feature photo. However, my favorite photos are the three images of the patterns I found in the sand — clear, crisp, and untouched. These patterns stopped me in my tracks, and I spent a long time looking for the right pattern — I found three compositions that were worthy of b&w transformation. Here are photos I liked from the visit to Stinson (and a quick jaunt to Bolinas.) 

June 25, 2025. San Francisco