This was my final image of 2014. Every time I look up at the moon, I can’t help but be mesmerized by our universe and in awe of the explorers that landed on the moon in 1969. It’s hardly a surprise that my fellow explorer @laurenfarmer coincidentally took a very similar image from halfway across the world.

As I look back and reflect on 2014, I’m surprised by how quickly the year flew by, and also grateful for all of the beautiful moments I experienced and the people I shared them with.

Thank you for following and for allowing me to share some of my favorite moments. I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful 2015 filled with adventure and exploration.

All My Best,
Reuben (at Los Angeles, California.)

The first light of 2015 #happynewyear #losangeles ✌️ (at Griffith Observatory)

2014 A Year in Review

2014 | A Year in Review

Greetings from California! When I look back at 2014, I can’t help but be surprised by how quickly the year flew by. It’s quite startling actually. I’ve decided that moving forward I need to reevaluate and work on my relationship with time. I need to savor the adventures a bit more and stop more frequently to soak up, enjoy, and live in the moment.

I’m also incredibly grateful for all of the beautiful moments I experienced and the people I shared them with. One thing I’m proud of is how much time I was able to spend with my friends that live on the west coast. I took 7 trips out west to CA this year, mostly for work. But more than ever, I realize that cultivating friendships and community takes a lot of work and energy, but is also meaningful, necessary, rewarding, and quite possibly the most important aspect of life. I want to be intentional about cultivating relationships and one way I will do this is by designing adventures specifically for that purpose. This past year I finally summited Half Dome with my friend Matt and in 2015, I will head to South Africa, Tanzania, and Zanzibar with my friend Drew to conquer Kilimanjaro and hopefully get some great views of “big cats playing ball”. 

One of my major highlights of 2014 was the time I spent as the Photographer in Residence onboard the M/S Expedition ship in the Arctic, 600 - 800 miles from the North Pole. It was truly a transformative experience spent in the wild, beautiful, and fragile polar environment, and made me realize firsthand the importance of safeguarding the future of our planet. I’m so excited to embark in a few weeks on a 2 month adventure and photo residency back onboard the M/S Expedition down in Antarctica, which has been on my bucket list ever since I was in 4th grade and is also my final continent to explore. It will definitely be a meaningful experience that will undoubtedly shape my life and future work.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure and for allowing me to share some of my favorite moments. I wish you a beautiful, adventurous, and transformative 2015! 

The photos above are my top 10 favorite images of 2014 with captions below.

All My Best, 
Reuben

1. Polar Bears in the Arctic, photographed about 100 meters away from a zodiac and one of the most challenging images I’ve ever captured (Svalbard, Norway)

2. Dr. Tom Smith, rifle master and naturalist, once saved a polar bear’s life by punching it in the face (Svalbard, Norway)

3. A mountain peak emerges in Inglefieldbreen, Svalbard, less than 800 miles from the North Pole

4. NYC Ballet, Jen Trahan for Reuben Hernandez Studios, NYC

5. Yosemite’s Half Dome summit with Matthew Morgan (California)

6. Blood Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse, photographed from Southern California

7. Christopher “Push” Costa at PMT Dance Studio, NYC

8. Spiderman Parkour Self Portrait, Brooklyn, NY

9. JR’s Inside Out Project at Millions March NYC 

10. 9/11/2014, NYC

PLW Blog | Share Your Thirst: Reuben Hernandez

Project: Living Well asked me what I thirst for and this is what I said.

\ PHOTOGRAPHS \

Going through our analog family history with my brother was a fascinating experience and a reminder of how precious and meaningful photographs are.

It’s been said that if your house is burning down, one of the first material possessions you will grab are your photographs.

I hope you’re having a beautiful time creating meaningful experiences and memories with your loved ones as this year comes to a close.

#apictureisworthathousandwords (at Los Angeles, California)

\ HOME \

These are the colors of my youth
Shared with friends and lovers
They draw me back here
Where nostalgia finds me
And I learn to love more each time
This is where I discovered adventure
Uncovered hope
Dared to dream
And found my courage
Where my soul longed for the universe
Home is not where you grew up
But where you grow to find yourself

#reubenwrotethis

(at Dana Point, California)

Set your life on fire
Seek those who fan your flames

- Rumi

(at San Juan Capistrano, California)

This is Greg, who used to be my boss. Almost 5 years ago, I filmed myself tendering my resignation to Greg in a conference room, and here we are stand up paddling nearly 5 miles around Dana Point, my old stomping ground. The water is freakishly warm, and we’re pretty happy to say the least.

(at Dana Point, California)

\ summer’s gone \

I dare you to leave everything behind
This is your chance to start all over
Hop on a plane
I want to know seasons
I want to feel things I’ve never felt before
We will believe tonight, tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
This is our chance to start all over

#reubenwrotethis

I’ve decided to reevaluate my relationship with time going into 2015…  

(at Williamsburg)

12.13.14

Millions March NYC

The people, united, will never be defeated

“There is a community of the spirit. Join it, and feel the delight of walking in the noisy street, and being the noise.” - Rumi

(at New York, New York)

BlackRapid Double

I reached out to the team at BlackRapid and asked if I could try out their Double camera strap during my photo residency in the Arctic this past summer, and they were so kind enough to send me a strap. I was really impressed by how functional and comfortable the strap was, and it truly allowed me to take photos much more quickly and efficiently and made my job easier. You can miss a lot of shots in the Arctic if you’re too slow because the wildlife doesn’t seem to wait around. The right equipment can truly help make or break your shot!

I have a lot of friends and colleagues that shoot with 2 camera bodies without a double camera strap system, and it seems inefficient and challenging from what I have observed (one of my friends recently purchased the Double and another BlackRapid strap and is extremely satisfied). I’m excited to head down to Antarctica next month with the Double, especially since Antarctica is my final continent to explore and has been on my bucket list ever since I was in 4th grade!

I highly recommend the BlackRapid Double strap and outline some pros and cons below:

PROS

• The Double is extremely comfortable (much more comfortable than using 2 separate camera straps) and distributes the weight of heavy camera/lens combinations quite nicely. In fact, it is the most comfortable strap I have used when using a heavy DSLR camera and long telephoto lens combination.
• It is highly functional, easy to adjust, well built/designed, and lightweight. It’s a very secure way to use 2 cameras and allows you to access either camera body both quickly and efficiently.
• The Double can easily be transformed into 2 separate single straps if you only want to use 1 camera.
• It is very well priced, and worth every penny. Think of it as an investment into your body. Your back and neck will thank you for it.

CONS

• If you bend over at the hips, the camera bodies will swing forward with your body and can potentially bump into objects in front of you, ie, if you bend over a railing to look down.
• The metal carabiners (that lock the cameras to the strap) scratch easily but this is purely cosmetic and really a non-issue. It won’t affect the performance of the strap.

Live Adventurously,
Reuben

“Hello my name is Siobhan and I reside in Shanghai, China. I have also lived with a Masai tribe on the outskirts of Amboseli NP, Kenya. Despite the language barrier, what really touched me was how humble and kind the Masai are, and it made me realise that travelling isn’t just about scenery and wildlife, but also about understanding the diversity of human culture on our wonderful planet.”

Some of my polar essentials after returning to the ship from an Arctic expedition. I’m prepping to embark next month on a 2 month adventure and photo residency in Antarctica, which is my final continent to explore #thisarcticlife #antarcticaordie (at Somewhere Near the North Pole)

One of my favorite sculptures (at Storm King Art Center)

Hop on the magic school bus

Photo by @rurrnandez

#reubenonthings (at Austin, Texas)

Giving thanks for a photo that changed me:

This is Cecilia, one of our patients at a vision care clinic in Salinas, Ecuador. I had the opportunity to document stories for @onesight, an organization dedicated to providing free vision care for underprivileged individuals around the world. After Cecilia received her glasses and the gift of sight, her disposition transformed instantaneously.

The stories we documented were life changing and heart breaking, and I realized I had found my calling - to tell meaningful, compelling human stories in the most creative and beautiful way possible. This was a pivotal moment in my life.

Less than six months after returning from Ecuador, I somehow found the courage to quit my job, moved out of my house, said a lot of goodbyes, and took a nine month soul-searching journey around the world. It was a difficult thing to do at the time, and took all the courage I could muster up, but it was one of the most fulfilling decisions I have ever made. At the end of my travels, I fulfilled my long time dream of moving to New York City, to pursue a creative career and make a living doing what I love. I actually drove nearly 16,000 miles across North America to NYC and sold my car upon arriving. I haven’t looked back ever since.

(at Ecuador)

“Only from the heart
Can you touch the sky.”
- Rumi

(at Gruene, Texas)

Thankful to be able to explore, create, and do parkour.

Photo by @rurrnandez

#reubenonthings (at Austin Texas)

A 35 mm film scan by @mtmorgie (at Storm King Sculpture Park)