SBMM Welcomes Chuck Graham for a Photographic Journey by Kayak
“From the Kayak, and Through the Lens” explores three decades of photographing California’s wild coast from the water
SBMM will welcome writer, photographer, and longtime kayaker Chuck Graham for the January installment of its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, January 21, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. SBMM members are invited to a pre-lecture reception from 6:15–6:45 p.m.
Tickets: Free for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email.
For reservations, click below, email reservations@sbmm.org, or call (805) 456-8750.
Graham will present “From the Kayak, and Through the Lens: A Photographic Journey with Paddle in Hand,” sharing stories and images from three decades spent photographing the Channel Islands and other wild landscapes from the seat of a kayak.
For Graham, the kayak has become far more than a means of transportation. It is a way to reach places inaccessible on foot or by larger boats, move quietly through sensitive environments, and photograph wildlife and coastal landscapes from an intimate, sea-level perspective.
“The Channel Islands National Park was and has been the testing ground for accessing places not attainable on foot or even by boat,” Graham said. “A kayak has given me the ability to paddle into all those nooks and crannies.”
During the presentation, Graham will explore how his sit-on-top kayak allows him to move among shorebirds, sea and river otters, pinnipeds, dramatic seascapes, and island landscapes while keeping his camera equipment close at hand. His photographic journeys have taken him from the Lost Coast to the northern Channel Islands, as well as onto rivers and lakes throughout California.
Over the years, Graham has learned to work with the natural elements rather than against them. Wind, currents, tides, swell, and even kelp can help hold a kayak in position or allow him to drift quietly into the right place at the right moment.
His photographs reveal not only the beauty of these environments, but also the patience, adaptability, and awareness required to capture fleeting encounters in the wild.
Graham is a freelance writer and photographer based in Carpinteria, California. He has photographed and written about Channel Islands National Park for 30 years and has led kayak tours at the islands for nearly 25 years.
His work has appeared in publications including Backpacker, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal, High Country News, Outdoor California, Westways, and Natural History. He also writes the monthly column Unpredictable Wilderness for the Coastal View News.
Graham is the author of the award-winning book Carrizo Plain: Where the Mountains Meet the Grasslands. His most recent book, Paddling into a Natural Balance: Stories of Kayaking and Conservation around Channel Islands National Park, chronicles his personal paddling journeys around the islands alongside the recovery of plants and wildlife within one of North America’s least visited national parks.
Visitors can also experience Graham’s photography in Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey, on view December 10, 2026–March 28, 2027, in the art gallery on SBMM’s mezzanine. The exhibition brings together photographs and firsthand stories from Graham’s years exploring California’s coast and Channel Islands by kayak, offering another perspective on the landscapes, wildlife, and moments that have shaped his work.
The January program offers audiences a chance to see California’s coast and Channel Islands from a perspective few experience firsthand—low on the water, paddle in hand, camera ready, and attuned to the constantly changing conditions of the sea.
Event Details
Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series
Chuck Graham: “From the Kayak, and Through the Lens: A Photographic Journey with Paddle in Hand”
Thursday, January 21, 2027 | 7:00 p.m.
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
Most individuals attending the lecture will be able to find seats on the main floor. When overflow seating becomes necessary due to larger than normal attendance, guests are invited to view the lecture from the museum’s Munger Theater. All lecture seating is first come, first served. SBMM members are invited to enjoy a pre-lecture reception from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., which provides early access to the event. Learn more about becoming a member.
The Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series is sponsored by Marie L Morrisroe.
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