I’m Daniel Mekis, a construction and surf photographer based in Castro Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area, originally from Santa Cruz, California. I photograph the things that have shaped my life: the people who build our roads and infrastructure, and the waves and coastlines I grew up around.
My work has been recognized multiple times in the ENR Year in Construction photo competition, and my images are used by contractors, owners, and crews to tell the story of their projects—and by surfers and collectors who want images that feel honest and alive.
Construction Photographer
By day I work in the heavy-civil world and spend a lot of time on job sites. Eventually I started bringing a camera. What began as quick snapshots for coworkers turned into a focused practice: documenting construction workers, equipment, and job sites with the same care usually reserved for fine art.
Today I photograph:
- Construction Portraits highlighting the people who dedicate their lives and bodies to the trade
- Road, bridge, plant, and infrastructure projects
- Crews paving, pouring concrete, welding, tying rebar, and operating heavy equipment
- Night work, shutdowns, milestones, and completed projects
My goal is simple: show the real people and real work behind the finished structure, with clean composition and strong light that makes sense to both workers and clients.
Surf Photographer
I learned photography while chasing waves. I still split my time between the camera and a surfboard, shooting from the beach and in the water.
My surf photography focuses on:
- Everyday surfers as well as standout sessions
- Critical moments—barrels, turns, airs, and the split seconds in between
- The feeling of a session: empty lineups, stormy days, and quiet paddles back out
I enjoy sharing images with the surfers in the photos and creating work that’s good enough for a wall, a brand campaign, or a simple text to friends after a good swell.
Fine Art Photography & Prints
Alongside construction and surf, I create fine art photographs—landscapes, industrial scenes, and abstract details that stand alone as finished pieces. These images are designed for prints and framed work in homes, offices, and project spaces.
If you’re interested in prints, we can talk about sizes, paper, and framing options that fit your space.
How This Site Helps
This site brings everything together:
- Portfolios of construction, surf, and fine art photography
- Stories and articles about how images are made and how they’re used
- A way to plan new shoots for projects, crews, or surf sessions
If you’d like to commission construction photography, set up a surf shoot, or order prints, reach out through the Contact page. Tell me a bit about what you’re looking for, and we’ll figure out the best way to photograph it.
