Clayton Philip Photography

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Clayton Philip Photography

Bay Area Photographer

12/22/2023

“Winter, 2019, California.”

12/11/2023

(1) “The Shark, California, 2023.” (2) “Baby Shark, California, 2023.”
Deep in the heart of California’s rugged Santa Cruz mountains, clusters of sandstone formations lie scattered amongst the coastal redwoods. 🌲
My climbing goals have largely been performance related over the past year, so I’ve spent a lot of time by myself out there and lost a lot of skin testing myself on the area’s classic gritty boulders. 🪨
It was really special to climb and hike up there today with my family and friends, and to watch my son climb his first boulder unassisted. ⚡️
From cuddling on crash pads and climbing around in caves to five alarm nuclear-level toddler meltdowns, this has truly been a day I’ll never forget and I’m so grateful for all the amazing people who joined me. I love you all. ❤️

12/01/2023

“First Family Trip to Yosemite, 2023.”
I’ve dreamed about this trip since the day my son was born, given the special place Yosemite holds in my heart. 🏞️
Over the years, my little man has seen countless photos, heard innumerable tales, and read several books about Daddy’s favorite place. He recognized Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Falls from his prior exposure and hearing him yell, “I love Yosemite!” while throwing rocks into Bridalveil Creek was a lifetime highlight - even if I prompted him to say it. 😛
We rode bikes around the Valley, watched the sun set on Half Dome, sipped hot cocoa by the fireplace at the Ahwahnee, visited the Ansel Adams Gallery, saw the icons, saw the fall colors in full bloom, and just had an incredible time, overall. ⚡️
Last - but certainly not least - I want to deliver a special thank you to my beautiful wife for all of her help, patience, kindness, and love during our first family trip to Yosemite. I truly couldn’t have done it without you, darling, and I had an incredible time with both of you. ❤️

11/28/2023

“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” - Abraham Lincoln

11/17/2023

“Sunrise, Yosemite Valley, 2023.”
Morning poured into the Valley as the sun rose above its rim and splashed the south-facing cliffs with amber; warm light cascaded slowly down the massive granite walls before drenching the tips of the trees. The birds sung their songs, as if to rejoice in the passing of the darkness, and campfires roared to life as tired campers fended off the last of the cold. I just sat there in the middle of it, happy to be there at all. Yosemite always provides.
📸

08/16/2023

“Douglas Iris, California, 2022.”
I still vividly remember the first time I saw these beautiful perennials in the wild. Years ago, when I was just getting back into hiking, I went out exploring in a new location, got half-lost and ran out of water. Sh*t…
Anxiously, I started working my way downhill along the creek bed, only faintly aware that it would lead me to safety. In doing so, I came upon a regal carpet of Douglas Irises and thought to myself, “These are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen.” That brilliant violet, contrasted against the dark and colorless riparian zone, completely transformed my attitude. As luck would have it, I found my car again about five minutes later.
After my son was born, I was overjoyed to discover that this was his birth flower. I took him hiking recently and he got to see a “purple iris” for his first time. He then proceeded to call out every single one on the trail, even before I saw them myself - I think it’s his favorite flower, too. Life sure has a way of bringing things full circle.

08/05/2023

🎉 Birthday Post 🎉
I’m feeling particularly grateful this year as I reflect. I have a happy, healthy family, a perfect little boy, and the love of a beautiful woman. I have awesome friends, I enjoy my job, I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m making good choices, and I’m progressing in every area of my life by every measurable metric. I’m excited for the future and all of the possibilities it holds. I’m feeling really happy, so Happy Birthday to me. 🙂
I didn’t know I was being photographed here and, when I saw this photo, I almost cried. Seeing myself physically climb out of the darkness and into the light in Yosemite is not only a wildly accurate and highly symbolic representation of my journey over the past five years, but it’s also a beautiful composition and I’m grateful that my new friend was there to capture it.
📸:

08/02/2023

“Upper Yosemite Fall, 2023.”
As I worked my way clockwise around The Valley floor, I came upon a small family of ducks bathing in a large puddle just off-trail; the reflection of Yosemite Falls looped continuously as they skittered about. Seeking respite from the midday heat, I sat alone in the shade of a magnificent old Pine tree and watched them.
The Upper Fall swelled with the rising temperature and its low, reverberant roar filled The Valley. The sun was shifting Westward and the wind blew hard, creating patches of light and darkness in the amphitheater that I was able to amplify and capture with my telephoto lens. So, I stayed for awhile longer.
Eventually, a fellow visitor walked up and stood silently near me, likewise enraptured by the sights and sounds of the Falls, and the perfect little duck family, and all the majesty all around us. After a minute or so, my impulses won me over and I heard myself utter clumsily, “This feels like a perfect moment and I have to acknowledge it.” The stranger smiled. Through a thick European-sounding accent, they replied, “I’m glad you did.”, and walked away. Another little moment of magic. Yosemite never fails to impress me.
P.S. I see an alien king sitting cross-legged in the mist from the Fall 👽 What do you see?

07/06/2023

“Portrait, Spring 2023, California.”
Secret time - I’ve been on the fence about posting this photo.
On one hand, I’ve worked my ass off over the past several years to transform my body into something I’m proud to display. I’ve dropped over 55 pounds, eviscerated my body fat levels, and built muscles I never even knew existed. I found myself in arguably the most beautiful and excusable place to take a photo like this and, frankly, I’m really happy I took the opportunity to do so; I feel powerful and proud of myself when I look at it.
On the other hand, I’m a married 33-year-old man and father posting what is essentially a shirtless thirst trap on social media. Even the person who took this photo told me I look like an Instagram influencer trying to sell technical pants. Posting flexed out photos is, admittedly, a move almost exclusively reserved for egotistical do******gs of the highest order. And so the plot thickens.
I came to the conclusion that my decision should be based upon my intention for sharing the photo in the first place. And, ultimately, I decided that my desire to publicly celebrate myself and all of the hard work I’ve put in far outweighs my desire for others to “like” how I look, or my fear of how I’ll be perceived. So, here it is. Though I’m not officially advertising technical pants, I do own four pairs of these Zion Stretch pants and they are, in fact, the best. So, you can definitely suck it, Rob. 🤣💪🏻
📸

04/27/2023

“Basecamp, Eastern Sierra, California, 2023.”
Windless, lightless, oh
I tremble as I look up,
up to the mountains.
Chapels of granite
silhouetted by starlight,
accepting of all.
It’s old here, untamed;
an indigenous vortex
of wild energy.
I inhale deeply
and hold it within me,
then I return it.

04/20/2023

“Wildflower Superbloom, 2023, California.”
Pulling off of I-5, I knew I was in for a treat. Here and there, woven into the landscape of desert chaparral, entire carpets of colorful wildflowers started to emerge.
By the time I reached the National Monument, entire mountain ranges were painted with shining yellow hillside daisies and golden fiddleneck scorpion weeds. Patches of bright purple lupine and stork’s bill added dashes of contrast, and the orange poppies so frequently associated with California were selectively scattered amongst the rolling hills.
I haven’t seen a single photo that’s done it justice and mine is no exception. I only captured it to remind myself it was real, though I’ll never forget this moment anyhow.

04/18/2023

“My Beautiful Wife, California, 2020.”
The fire burns in her.
She wasn’t meant to be kept.
Yet, she chose me still.
Wild and spirited,
Full of p**s and vinegar,
A train off its tracks.
We burn together.
I’ll light the whole world on fire
just for you, baby.

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