With the official end to combat in Iraq today I thought it would be appropriate to post a few photos from the brief time I spent there. I went there with no expectations, no biases, and an open mind. I spent time in homes, eating meals, and hearing stories from all walks of life- Christians, Muslims, Modernists, Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Deputies, Secret Agents, Sheiks, the rich, and the poor. Whether the war that “officially” wrapped up tonight with the President’s speech was “wrong” or “right,” Iraq is  home to people-people like you and me. Children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents. Some individuals I spoke to fought for Saddam because that is what they had to do to feed their children. Others cheered in the streets because they were freed from his tyranny. Still others rolled their eyes and spoke matter-of-factly about the U.S.’s desire for oil. We will for years be processing the War in Iraq, remembering the lives lost, and the life given. I will personally always remember the time spent there and the stories I heard. You can read some more from my trip in my archives or my Iraq Gallery on my website. Below are a few photos from that trip that do not do justice to the beauty that are the Iraqi people.

Sunset in Iraq.

Two children waiting for class to start. Somewhere between Mosul and Sulaymaniyah.

My friend walking home in the rain. Blood in the street. The contrast goes well beyond the image.

A lone rose sprouting from the concrete ruins of a gated prison where many were tortured by Saddam. A symbol to me of the Iraqi people now after the war.

Satellites were nowhere to be found during Saddam’s reign. A view from a rooftop now reveals at least one on every roof for as far as you can see.

The future of Iraq.

All photographs in this post ©photography by Chad Cress shot for Discover The Journey.

A few weeks ago I second shot an amazing wedding for Samuel Lippke Studios at the St. Regis Monarch Beach. Sepi and Amid had a traditional Persian ceremony with the Pacific Ocean and sunset as a backdrop, followed by a beautiful reception. White Lilac did a stunning job on the floral and design and Details Details made everything come together wonderfully. Check out more photos from this wedding and the rest of Samuel’s work at Samuel Lippke Studios.

Last weekend was my birthday so I did what I wanted to do….surfed all day (stayed in my wetsuit for eight hours straight), didn’t leave the beach from sun up till sundown, and hung out with family and friends. Other than some video I shot I didn’t pick up my camera except for a couple snapshots.

Below are some images from Megan and Lucas’ beautiful wedding in Napa. The vineyards that surrounded the outdoor reception made this wedding exceptionally natural and beautiful. These two were so easy to work with and I enjoyed every minute of this classic California summer wedding. (for a sideshow to music click HERE)

Much more to come from Megan and Lucas’s Napa Wedding.

Below are a few “side shot” type photos from my catalog shoot with Quiksilver Waterman Collection. The shoot was for Spring 2011 so most of the photos won’t be seen until then. I thought I’d post some of my favorite portraits as well as some classic Hawaiian vibe images. The images below feature Shayne McIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, and Makaha’s Mel Pu’u.

I got back from Hawaii a couple weeks ago and flew up the next day to Seattle, one of my favorite cities. I stayed at the Ace Hotel in Belltown with Katie and celebrated our anniversary. It was rainy, cold, and perfect. We sipped coffee, smelt fish, and walked the city Here are a couple images from when I picked up the camera.

I was able to go out to Hawaii with Quiksilver to shoot the inaugural Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection. The contest was two days of athleticism, expos, competition, and smiles. Over 600 paddlers from across the globe came to compete in front thousands cheering on the beach including Quiksilver’s Robby Naish and Jamie Mitchell. It was Danny Ching from Redondo Beach though that swept both the 10 mile Downwinder and the 50 mile Elite Race. On the beach, Hawaiian music filled the air and people mingled among the sponsor booths, relaxed in the shade, and tried their skills on SUP boards. It was apparent that this fairly new sport is here to stay.

Jaimie Mitchell

Robby Naish

Opening Ceremony

Gerry Lopez

Danny Ching running towards the finish

Last weekend I was able to get a way for a day and drive down south a bit. Katie and I had a great weekend camping, relaxing, and hanging out in Encinitas where we saw 180 Degrees South (which I highly recommend) at the famous La Paloma Theater.

I don’t think I’ve ever posted inspiration on my blog, but I thought I’d post Taylor Steele’s Castles in the Sky. Katie and went to the LA premier of this film, which is the follow up to “Sipping Jetstreams,” and if you see one surf movie the rest of your life, this is it. As someone that has been fortunate enough to travel a decent amount, I was almost moved to tears at the images of individuals and cultures that are featured. The culture pieces are so good that I forgot I was watching a surf movie, and the surfing is so good that I forgot why I even try to surf. You can buy the DVD on June 22.

CASTLES IN THE SKY from Sipping Jetstreams on Vimeo.