The Sea Ranch:
Sea Meadow

In October of ’25, I spent a magical two days with a few friends at this beautifully maintained 1980s Sea Ranch house.

Originally named “Sea Meadow” for its position at the head of a broad meadow, the home’s inspiration was said to have come from two large, protruding rocks nearby and earned the nickname “3rd Rock.” An earlier work of architect Obie Bowman, it exemplifies a more restrained, and in my opinion, refined vision of his designs at The Sea Ranch. The way the eastern aspect of the house slowly rises from the earth, blending it into the meadow, is peak Sea Ranch aesthetic and embodies TSR’s mantra: “Live lightly on the land.”

During my stay, I got to know the residence in intimate detail, learning that it didn’t present well at blue hour. Two hours before sunset was really the time for this home to shine. This experience is my ideal way to photograph a commission, spending time to fall in love with it so I can truly capture its soul.

The edit and color grade was largely inspired by earlier photographs of The Sea Ranch from the 70s and 80s. The rich, contrast and saturated colors of slide film in its heyday are very iconic, much like the development itself.