MIKE O'HARA

MIKE O'HARA IS AN INNATE PHOTOGRAPHER, FILMMAKER, AND WILDERNESS JUNKIE. A CALIFORNIA NATIVE, MIKE WAS EXPOSED TO THE OUTDOORS AT AN EARLY AGE. GROWING UP IN BAKERSFIELD; THE SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST AND YOSEMITE VALLEY WERE JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY. THESE VAST DESTINATIONS BECAME MIKE’S PLAYGROUND AND WHERE HE FOUND HIS ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT AND LOVE FOR NATURE. YEARS LATER, HIS FASCINATION WITH WILDERNESS EVOLVED WHEN MIKE’S FAMILY RELOCATED TO LUSH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. IT WAS HERE WHERE HE BEGAN TRACKING AND WATCHING THE VARIOUS BIRDS OUT OF HIS SECOND STORY WINDOW. TO THIS DAY, MIKE IS STILL LOGGING HIS BIRD SIGHTINGS. IT WASN’T UNTIL A HIGH SCHOOL “INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY” CLASS THAT MIKE REALIZED HE COULD TAKE HIS PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS TO A NEW LEVEL. LEARNING TO WORK WITH 35MM FILM, SHOOTING, PROCESSING AND DEVELOPING HIS IMAGES BECAME HIS NEWFOUND LOVE. REALIZING HIS PASSION AND FINDING HIS NICHE, MIKE HEADED TO THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BROOKS INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY WHERE HE STUDIED BOTH FILM PRODUCTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY. MIKE’S APPROACH TO HIS WORK IS TO MAKE THE VIEWER FEEL WITHIN THE PICTURE; WHETHER STILL OR MOVING. A TRUE NOMAD AT HEART; NOTHING MAKES MIKE FEEL MORE ALIVE THAN THE SOLIDARITY OF BEING ALONE IN NATURE WITH ONLY A CAMERA BY HIS SIDE. HE IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO CAPTURE THE MOMENTS HE SEES, EXPERIENCES AND FEELS. HIS GOAL IS SIMPLE; SHARE HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE WORLD, LET MINDS WANDER AND PUSH THEM TO EXPLORE -- WWW.MIKE-OHARA.COM

[mikeoharastudio]

Dreamy scenes from the Eastern Sierra (📷 taken in February) #exploremore #california #getoutstayout #adventuretime #easternsierra https://www.instagram.com/p/BwaNTY3HQgk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uj4qkemow9u6

[mikeoharastudio]

California 😍 #getoutside #adventuretime #getoutstayout #exploremore #bigsur https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUokvUHQrp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8mjww9rpuors

[mikeoharastudio]

And to think, these aren’t even the tallest ones #getoutside #adventuretime #getoutstayout #california #bigsur #exploremore https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNRTb0nYEK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9ufwpjet01mw

[mikeoharastudio]

You think it would get old driving the same stretch of road year and year.... nope. It sure doesn’t #getoutside #adventuretime #getoutstayout #california #bigsur #hwy1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLIMC6n2Pi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11hqvot2bce7w

[mikeoharastudio]

Life’s simple things #california #getoutstayout #adventuretime #getoutside #easternsierra #bikepacking https://www.instagram.com/p/BwDDvjtnkaF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ejfskkzwefl8

[mikeoharastudio]

Took the maiden voyage on the bike this weekend; bikepacking from Alabama Hills to Grays meadow (almost). Things learned: Slow speeds are the norm. Wear more sunscreen on calves. Don’t run over cow patties. Sandy roads going uphill = no fun. Non the less, epic times peddling around the Eastern Sierra #california #getoutstayout #adventuretime #getoutside #easternsierra #bikepacking (at Lone Pine, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAlC7VHH3b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1s5qo8gpnu9a4

[mikeoharastudio]

Strange, yet fascinating landscape here. I’m always puzzled how life sustains itself in the desert 🌵 #getoutside #adventuretime #getoutstayout #california #desert (at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzY-exnJkG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yuoeznk72yh5

[mikeoharastudio]

The original skyscrapers; trees 🌲 #california #getoutside #getoutstayout #morrobay #adventuretime #exploremore https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkgAW5n11_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qsuohkjv7cz1

[mikeoharastudio]

Lots of energy out there #california #getoutside #adventuretime #ocean #centralcoast https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvh4Y3AHaw8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mk27fu5ws1wa

[mikeoharastudio]

Slowing down time #california #getoutstayout #adventuretime #getoutside #centralcoast #ocean https://www.instagram.com/p/BvfT7KtnGjJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nlbfqssontsa

[mikeoharastudio]

No moon = more stars ⭐️ #california #easternsierra #getoutstayout #adventuretime #getoutside https://www.instagram.com/p/BvQZxg_nPCT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zfcd1aiv27zb

[mikeoharastudio]

Pre super snow moon was, pretty super; illuminating the Eastern Sierra 🌝 #easternsierra #california #getoutstayout #getoutside #adventuretime #exploreinyocounty https://www.instagram.com/p/BuFBR93HBql/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r9j3pfdnylyd

[mikeoharastudio]

Warm tones, cold tones; blue tones, orange tones #california #getoutside #getoutstayout #adventuretime #exploremore #easternsierra #exploreinyocounty https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCQ0wZn3JE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fzspyp03v0sn

[mikeoharastudio]

Frozen fingers and toes, numb face, runny nose; mornings where you find your water bottle frozen solid. Miserable, you may think. I disagree. These stormy days are the best days #california #easternsierra #getoutside #getoutstayout #exploremore #adventuretime (at Coso Junction Rest Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt_oWGqHS-p/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ixk8a6s5vaqq

[mikeoharastudio]

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Camping through Sierra’s eyes 👀 #california #getoutside #optoutside #getoutstayout #travel #exploremore (at Ojai, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtbgYMRnQl6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=azb9di24depo

[mikeoharastudio]

Adventure-land #california #getoutside #travel #exploremore #getoutstayout #adventuring (at Lone Pine Peak) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtRndQSnz89/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6lnaer5cgo19

[mikeoharastudio]

Home is where you park it (insert trailer emoji here) #getoutside #getoutstayout #exploremore #travel #adventuring #teardroptrailer #california https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs56a9VHjYn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b3hqcksuempi