Today we’d like to introduce you to Cliff Oliver.
Cliff, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As with most families, I grew up with pictures being taken of the places we visited and the events of our life.
Interestingly my father used “Kodachrome” slide film, and we would have “slide shows” on a rather ancient slide projector. From there it was onto a Kodak “Brownie” camera which my sister and I thoroughly enjoyed. My deep dive into photography was part of a rehab assignment after my appendix ruptured while in the US Army. Immersing in a homemade black and white darkroom was the perfect antidote for 13 months in the hospital.
Fast forward to the early 90’s, while I was living in Encinitas and practicing Integrative Health Care at the De Anza View Medical Center by Mission Bay. I would often drive by Torrey Pines and the La Jolla Cove to watch the shore birds and pelicans. One day I saw 9 dolphins riding a wave and just happened to have my 35mm camera ready and caught a single frame of the action. This was a life-changing moment. It was so thrilling that I decided to regularly visit the beaches in hopes of capturing more images of the shore life.
In the 70’s while attending SDSU I started shaping surfboards and purchased a boat to surf off of Point Loma. To capture the action, I started filming from the water with a Nikonos underwater camera and a movie set-up. These adventures led to some interesting footage but lacked in quality, so I had the late great Warren Bolster supply some awesome footage for my projects.
While filming pelicans it became apparent that there were some very necessary skills that one needed to learn to get stunning images. This led me to Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico to study with the acclaimed bird photographer Arthur Morris. This was over 20 years ago and has led to a great friendship, and it continues to be a joy to see his books and blogs.
My Statement of Purpose is, “To Learn and to Share” so I started teaching photography for the San Diego Natural History Museum. During this time I was also teaching Holistic Lifestyle Coaching in Australia, New Zealand, England, Denmark, Sweden and of course, the USA. I captured wonderful pictures to share with my patients, friends and to use in my lectures.
Five years ago I was asked to attend a photography workshop on Molokai, HI and was super excited to meet one of the instructors, Dewitt Jones. I had been to his presentation at the North American Nature Photographers Association conference and collected his writings in Outdoor Photographer for many years and often utilized the concepts he presented in my classes on Mindfulness. I believed the emphasis on Molokai would be on digital processing using Lightroom and Photoshop; however, the lady running the accommodations called and said that at least half the time they would be using iPhones for the photography and processing with powerful easy apps. I was sold and had a blast for 2 weeks on the island staying at the beautiful Hui Ho’olana retreat center.
Upon returning I gave up all of my other camera gear including Canon digital and film cameras along with a Pentax 6×7 system and dove head first into iPhoneography. I haven’t looked back and now have taught the skills and art of iPhone photography at Hollyhock, Canada’s foremost retreat center, The Art Lounge in Encinitas, The Talmadge Art Show, and quarterly at the La Jolla Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest hurdles has been convincing regular photographers that they can get high-quality images from such a small, handy, portable device. The other big one is letting people experience their creative side with “photography”. So many adults, teens and children have been judged very harshly in their lives when they tried to be “creative.” The iPhone allows one to get out of the way of past judgments and to immerse in the process of taking images, editing, turning them into works of art that they can be proud of.
The Center For Balance – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is named, “The Center For Balance” and is about helping people enjoy a richer, fuller and more meaningful life. A number of techniques are used to accomplish this goal including, lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, meditation, love and joy), right/left brain integration, enhanced creativity and balancing the autonomic nervous system.
Playing music and iPhone photography play an integral part in this process. I teach regular iPhone photography classes at the LJ Athenaeum, art events, retreat centers and private sessions. Private sessions can be in person at places like Windansea Beach or online. Corporate team building also lends itself to iPhoneography along with convention break out sessions.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The Ah-Ha moment when my patients and students get it!!!
Pricing:
- Private iPhone photography sessions start at $65 per hour
- Prints $25+ depending on size and media
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drcliffoliver.com
- Phone: 858-272-2333
- Email: drccoliver2@icloud.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/centerforbalancecliff/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cliff.oliver.96
Image Credit:
Ann Pirruccello
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
