Capturing moments of beauty, intrigue, glamor, and natural wonder has kept photographer Michael Haber traveling the globe, camera in hand — and often with a surfboard tucked under the other. Though the New York City native’s decades-long career has proven his success in the competitive world of professional photography, Haber delights in the simplicity of home right here in Santa Barbara. The father of three (mostly grown) kids balances time between celebrity shoots, glossies, and brands like Target and Olay with low-key beach days at his Rincon Point home, leisurely brunches with friends at Lucky’s, crewing for the win on Taxi Dancer, and treks up Hot Springs trail. He has an uncanny ability to spot the artsy side in all things, appreciating the aesthetic of classic collectible cars just as much as the design subtleties of modern architecture, and can turn mundane moments into frame-worthy portraits.
Haber now shares his eye for refinement and talent behind the lens through his latest project, The Elements ( haberfineart.com/the-elements-book ). On Saturday, December 11, he celebrated the publication with a release party at Summerland’s Field + Fort garden café.
We caught up with Haber and had a chance to get to know him a bit better. Here’s what he said: