Marcus Bockman is a recent Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB) graduate of the journalism program, specializing in photography.
“Whether it be event photography, abstract photos of household items, ocean landscapes, or general/sports photojournalism, [photography] has always held a special place in my heart,” Bockman said. “I was initially in the art program at CSULB, aiming to earn a degree in photography. However, the very specific fine-arts focus of the program and what I saw as an inadequate emphasis on the emerging digital photography medium drove me away from earning a Fine Arts BA at CSULB. I chose journalism as a focus in college studies because I’m passionate about written expression, and journalism seemed more practical.”
Bockman said the ocean has been a “home away from home” for him for a long time. “From age 14 on, I always wanted to surf as much as possible, most often on a bodyboard,” he said. “Thus, taking photos of ocean scenes is a specialty of mine. If nothing else, I find being in or around the ocean cathartic. The ocean plays a large role in my life, alongside photography. Both have yielded many friendships and countless hours of entertainment.”
Bockman said the sea and photography are so important to him that he bought waterproof housing for his digital single-lens reflex camera and film single-lens reflex cameras so that he could take photos of waves and surfing while physically in the ocean.
He currently has a piece hanging at Lisa’s Gallery in Manhattan Beach and works as a freelance photojournalist for Patch.com’s sites for Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Bockman can be contacted at MarcusBockmanPhoto@gmail.com. His ocean- and surfing-related blog, which focuses on the South Bay of Los Angeles, can be read at SouthBayCentral.blogspot.com.
