After growing up in the Malibu Hills, Aaron Howard ’11 came to UCSB to pursue his academic interest in earth sciences. This passion manifested into an appreciation for the natural world, which deepened as Aaron obtained his Bachelor's degree and enrolled in UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Management.
Aaron has dedicated much of his life to his travels, visiting places like New Zealand, Indonesia, and Costa Rica. Wherever he went, he was sure to bring his camera. Isla Vista Seasons is the culmination of Aaron’s dedication to connecting with the natural world around him through his camera lens.
Q: What inspired you to pursue your Master’s in Environmental Science and Management?
I’ve wanted to focus on that field of work since I was young. Before starting at Bren, I had just finished a Bachelor's Degree from the Earth Science department at UCSB and a Master’s felt like the next logical step. I wanted to do impactful work that I felt passionate about and the Bren School was the perfect fit. It also kept me close to the coast, which was a priority of mine.
Q: What was your experience in the Bren School of Environmental Management?
It was a rigorous yet rewarding program. I made so many amazing personal and professional connections and learned so much about both myself and the field. Instead of just learning about scientific theory, we took our teachings into the real world to consider how we could create social change. I really enjoyed that aspect.
Q: Tell me about one of your favorite travel memories.
There are a lot of favorites! Most of them have a common theme, which is that I would take photos of people, nature, and everything else I saw abroad. I have returned to some destinations with photos I’ve taken previously and surprised people I’d met. Some of them had never owned a photo of them surfing and cherished the portrait I took of them for that or another reason. That warm connection persists even with a language barrier. That is what I love about photography.
Q: What impact has photography had on your life?
It’s been an expressive outlet for my creativity. It’s given me a lot of peace and moments of solitude and reflection. I’ve also shared so many photos of people that I’ve captured with the subjects themselves, whether it's close friends or a stranger abroad. Photography has enabled me to give to people in different ways.
Q: Tell me about the making of your photography book, Isla Vista Seasons.
For years, I had the idea of creating this type of book but I never felt like I was ready yet. About three years ago, I started to think more about what the next step was for my portfolio. I realized that my strongest content was of Isla Vista and the concept was born. Then I had to think about chaptering the book and how I wanted to organize it. Even though our seasons are pretty temperate, there are still important visual distinctions between them like snow on the mountains or a clear sunset. Once I figured that out, I worked with a production manager and book designer who helped me work on my vision.
Q: What do you love most about Isla Vista, California?
There are a lot of aspects of Isla Vista that I love but I think I most appreciate that despite how dense the town is, there’s such a notable natural framework. There are lots of trees around and not too much neighborhood development on the bluffs around I.V. The Santa Barbara Channel is a geographically interesting area as it's the northern limit for southern species both in the ocean and on land. It is quite the mixing pot.
Q: What is on the horizon for your photography career?
What I want to do next with this book is create much larger prints on different mediums, like metal and canvas, that are available on a custom basis. My next step is to use this book as a foundation for that type of custom work. I even work with a local woodworker who can create frames out of fallen trees from the area. I’m really looking forward to it.