Artist and Photographer Aaron Chang has fine art collectors and fans all over the world. Chang has been recognized as one of the world’s leading ocean themed artists. Respected as a creative force that helped visually define the sport of surfing, Chang spent 25 years as senior photographer at Surfing magazine, traveling to the far reaches of the globe.  During this time, Chang forged new frontiers and photographed exotic surf and landscape destinations worldwide. Today, as a fine art photographer, Aaron owns two thriving galleries, one in Solana Beach and one in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and continues to travel the world, having melded his passion for surfing and the visual arts into a successful lifelong career.

Aaron’s passion to help people in times of crisis started when he broke his neck in a surfing accident. Aaron broke his C7 vertibrae and came dangerously close to severing his spinal cord. With a lot of physical therapy and over time, Aaron made a full recovery. He vowed never to take the beauty of life for granted again. He made it his mission to remind others that life is worth fighting for. He aspires to show people the beauty in the ocean and in nature that surrounds us each and every day. 

Commissioned by some of the most prominent hospitals and corporations around the US to capture local landscapes, Aaron’s art inspires people to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds them, even in times of crisis. Art is a critical component in the healthcare environment, which can aid in the healing process of patients. One art installation in a new healthcare facility spans 10’ wide x 15’ high. It is a lenticular image of a wave that’s breaking as the viewer moves alongside the piece. With the trend toward biophilic design, Aaron’s inspirational art is aligned with the concepts that focus on the energy and power of the ocean.

Aaron is poised to become the next industry leader because of his artistic skill, ability to work with teams of people to execute his vision within their parameters and his heart to help people heal. 

“Social media and AI are the new tools for accessing information and nature images. Local artisan Aaron Chang is a treasure for those living here in San Diego,” commented Greg Reitman in the case of meeting Aaron Chang. Blue Water Film Festival curates films based on water, ocean, nature and content for change, inviting us to find ourselves in stories we would never have known otherwise. Led by Greg Reitman, the programming team is driven by imagination and a sense of humanity for this planet coupled with the responsibility to make the world a better place.