“One giant leap for mankind” #coachellaastronaut #coachella #coachella2014 #missionpk14 #escapevelocity #vscophile #vscocam #vsco #reflectionfield

Self Portrait Series

Stand up paddling my old stomping ground with @evanburgher @gopro @gopole #gopro #selfie #goprooftheday #SUP #danapoint (at Dana Point Harbor)

My first Coachella experience was magical and very special. I know that sounds so cliché, but it’s also very honest. Here’s the back story:

Two weeks ago I was having lunch with my friend Lauren in the West Village, and I ran into a client that I haven’t seen in a year. That client emailed me the next day and asked if I was available to film something for Coachella. I gladly accepted the job, secured a pass, and I was well on my way. My friend Cheree (pictured here in this double photo) and I went to college and studied abroad in Florence together. She was so gracious and invited me to crash with her and some friends at a cottage in Indio. Phil, a really nice guy dressed up as Cupid, took this Polaroid picture of us, and handed it to us like it was no big deal (thanks for the memorable souvenir, Phil!). The first day I rode a bike into the festival and got 2 flat tires. Thankfully, a stranger was kind enough to give me and my bike a ride home at the end of the night. I actually ran into him the next day, which is pretty crazy given that 90,000 people attend the festival each weekend. I offered to buy him a drink and he politely declined. Tim, another friend that flew out from NY, was so generous and patient with helping me navigate my first Coachella by answering all of my questions including what to wear and where to park. What I’m getting at is that the Coachella community is incredibly kind, gracious, generous, happy, and giving. I experienced so many random acts of kindness, meaningful human interactions, and genuine smiles this weekend that I could have sworn I was in some kind of utopia. And it’s not just any smile, but it’s a smile that you exchange and immediately you know there’s a connection that you share that’s much bigger and significant than ourselves. I almost forgot to mention that there’s also incredible music and non-stop dancing for 3 days straight. Two and a half weeks ago I had no idea I would be attending Coachella this year. It’s funny how I’ve lived in So Cal for most of my life but never made it out to Coachella until relocating to NYC. I now fully understand why people love Coachella so much and I definitely hope to be back! And let’s be honest - where else in the world would you be photo bombed by Yoda in a Polaroid picture? The experience is pure magic.

#shakeitlikeapolaroidpicture #coachellove #coachella #coachella2014 #polaroid #lomography #filmisnotdead #yodaphotobomb (at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival)

Magic hour in every sense of the phrase during a crazy dance party with @capitalcities. I’m at the front of the Outdoor Theatre and this is my view of the main stage. Up next is @lordemusic #coachella #coachella2014 #magichour (at Coachella Outdoor Theatre)

Escape Velocity is moving art, literally @CoachellaAstronaut #missionpk14 #escapevelocity #vsco #vscocam #coachella #coachella2014 #coachellaastronaut (at Sahara Tent)

Getting some pre Coachella aerial shots with my talented aerial cinematographer @evanburgher for Harper’s Bazaar. #shopbazaar #bazaaratcoachella #coachella #coachella2014 #harpersbazaar (at Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs)

Self Portrait Series

Getting geared up for Coachella with a rooftop hair cut. That’s how we roll in NYC!

Empire State of Mind

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made

RED Epic Triple Threat

Scenes from Red Studios while on set in Hollywood, California.

“I said goodnight LA.”

Scenes from Red Studios while on set in Hollywood, California. Studio K was the staging area for our camera crew.

Exactly 4 years ago, I left my native California and embarked on a 9 month journey around the world, in pursuit of adventure and the human story. I hopped on a plane bound for South Africa and Mozambique, and then took a 15,653 mile road trip across North America. I sold my car upon arriving in NYC, and haven’t looked back ever since. #neverstopexploring #roadtrip #canigraduate #wanderlust (at New York City)

Self Portrait Series

Going Up, a self portrait inspired by @laurenfarmer. I love these handmade Rag & Bone boots! #ragandbone #raleighdenim (at Williamsburg)

Check out the Oakley Disruptive by Design campaign video that I helped film at Red Studios in Hollywood, CA, produced by Evan Burgher and The Wonderland Group. We had a solid crew and had such a blast shooting this. Huge thanks to Evan and The Wonderland Group for flying me out to California to be a part of this fun project!

Filmed on RED Epic digital cinema cameras by Jes Stockhausen, Dave Brumbley, Eric Ulbrich, and Reuben Hernandez
Edited by Dave Brumbley Produced by Evan Burgher and The Wonderland Group for Oakley, Inc.

Photo by Evan Burgher - In honor of parkour class, here’s a photo of me exactly 4 years ago on my last day working at Oakley, after quitting my job to pursue a creative career in NYC. The decision to quit my job has been one of the most significant and rewarding decisions I have ever made. If you’re unhappy with your life, I hope you find the courage to break free and do what you love.

Here’s an excerpt from my farewell email that I wrote to my coworkers on March 26th, 2010 with teary eyes: “Everything, even the best things in life, must come to an end at some point. I’ve decided to pursue a creative career full time, at least for now. I’ve always been a creative person and it’s not a life that we choose for ourselves in the words of Barbara Streisand. It is a difficult path, but it is who I am and what makes me come alive. I can stay up all night on a work night working on a project or play music until the early hours of the morning and even wake up before the sun comes up to take pictures. So next Friday, I will hop on a plane bound for NY, South Africa, and Mozambique to embark on a new adventure, travel for 9 months, and film a documentary about the human experience. I will also have the opportunity to take a road trip across the states, which has been a long time dream of mine. Afterwards, I will move to NY which is something that I’ve always wanted to do at some point in my life. I’m really going for it and taking a leap of faith.”

The last 4 years have been absolutely incredible, and I have never looked back. 

Banana cake with whipped cream and a latte. おいしい!!! #onthetable #morningslikethese (at House of Small Wonder)

Women Are Heroes

One of my first photo assignments was in Santa Ana, El Salvador for OneSight, a charity dedicated to providing free vision care for underprivileged people around the world. This woman was one of our 18,691 patients and this image portrays her as an empowered, beautiful, happy, and courageous mother. 

“We use old machines, we take our time, and we love what we do.”

Huge thanks and shout out to Raleigh Workshop, for taking such great care of me. Not only do they make the best jeans (I’ve been searching for years), but they have some of the best customer service I have ever experienced and will take great care of you. All of their jeans are handmade in small batches, with the highest level of craftsmanship and extraordinary attention to detail. Each pair is signed and numbered, made from the finest selvedge denim from Cone Mills’ White Oak plant. Every pair of jeans tell a story, and I can’t wait to break this raw selvedge pair in this summer in the Arctic!

Foster the People giving us a reason to dance on the eve of their new record release, Supermodel, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. I don’t know Mark Foster personally, but he hooked us up with free tickets and VIP passes so he seems like quite a swell guy. Check out their new album that drops today!

Here are some photos from a collaboration I did with Juliette Donatelli for Harare, a NY based fashion brand.

Photographed on location in NYC,  © Reuben Hernandez

Self Portrait Project

A fun little 38 second slow motion video I made of my friends owning the streets and beaches of Miami. Filmed entirely on the GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition in 60 - 120 fps. Keep it fun!