Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1077792
Singular Focus J USTIN HOFMAN REMEMBERS THE MOMENT THAT A PHOTOGRAPH CHANGED HIS LIFE. THE PACIFIC GROVE BASED TOUR LEADER AND ARTIST WAS ON AN EXPEDI- TION IN INDONESIA, WATCHING CLIENTS SNORKEL ON A SWELTERING AFTERNOON, WHEN A FRIEND SAW A SEA- HORSE NAVIGATING THE FLOATING STICKS AND SEAGRASS. HOFMAN GRABBED HIS CAMERA AND HOPPED IN THE WATER, BUT AS HE FOLLOWED THE TINY DRIFTER, TRASH STARTED ROLLING IN WITH THE WAVES. THE SEAHORSE CLUTCHED A COTTON SWAB. HOFMAN TURNED HIS LENS TOWARD THE SCENE AND CAPTURED WHAT HE CALLS "LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE." "RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THE PHOTO AND GOT BACK INTO THE BOAT, I TOLD MY BUDDY, RICHARD, 'I'M GOING TO WIN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR WITH THIS,' " HOFMAN REMEMBERS. 164 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9