Lifestyle
Photographer Kerry Wheeler takes us from the mountains to the sea in his cinematic hometown
“There are great natural elements at play with one another, and how we interact with them is what makes living here a lifestyle.”
“The walk from the Miramar to Hammond’s is amazing. We take every guest down that little hedged trail, across the little bridge. And the second they hit the sand, they fall in love with this place. I think it’s the best sunset you can find in California.”
“Santa Barbara has this rare thing—it’s laid-back but elevated. You’ll be driving a vintage car through the mountains with ocean views, and later you’re eating a hamburger at the beach or oysters at Brophy’s.”
“There’s still a small-town feel to it. You go out for coffee and see someone you know. You talk about the years, instead of the days. And it’s still a town that’s incredibly comfortable and familiar, even as you watch it change right in front of you.”
“Knowlwood has always had a soft spot in my heart. It is serious about tennis without trying to impress anybody. They’ve still got the same coaches who taught me when I was a boy. That’s what I love about it: 20 years later, they’ll still ask how your forehand is.”
“This place isn’t one thing. It’s layered, familiar, private. It’s a collection of memories and versions, different for everyone. These photos are just a few of those moments I happened to notice, on the rare days I had the nerve to walk through my hometown and really pay attention. And when you walk around this town with a camera, you can’t help but stop and notice how wonderful it truly is.”
“When you grow up in a place, there’s a kind of quiet intimacy you want to protect, like a secret between you two that you’ve always known.”
For more of Kerry Wheeler’s photography, visit @worldofkerry
