Kohjiro Kinno is a surfer, artist, and a Linksouldier. As a professional photographer for Sports Illustratedover the past decade, Kojo has witnessed some of the sporting world’s most memorable moments. In his day-to-day, however, he captures spectacular images that are rarely seen by most. A gallery of his work has been featured at the Linksoul Lab, which included a custom print he made just for us. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few from the man himself.
Name: Kohjiro Kinno Age: 38 Hometown: Fountain Valley, California
What is your background in photography?
Darkroom in my room, blasted through rolls and rolls of film, and sheets of Polaroids. I’ve studied every type of photography, journalism, fine art, etc. And the history of photography, too. My college library had 15 or so years worth of old magazines from Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and a huge collection of National Geographic. Every art book they had, I just sat there for hours each day flipping through them: Avedon, Penn, to current masters, Sugimoto, to artists I like, Rothko, Twombly, and Klimt. I have a wide interest in all the arts, not only photography. I assisted photographers while in school and assisted another 10 years or so after school before striking out on my own. Where everyone with a phone is now a photographer, I’m glad I started in the film days and had the privilege to flip through the print magazines in college and to assist various film photographers to learn the craft in the proper way. I don’t miss labeling each roll of 120 after being the only assistant during a three-day, 15-hour-day fashion shoot for a Japanese photographer/fashion brand in LA with only one back, with a light meter and color meter around my neck and two fanny packs of film with a sharpie in my mouth and a bounce card and getting $200 cash at the end of the shoot. I wanted to punch the guy.
And your current job?
Currently, I'm a freelance photographer shooting mainly editorial sports-related events, stories, and portraits.
How many golf tournaments do you shoot a year?
Every year varies, but in 2015 I shot nine tournaments, including the Masters and US Open near Seattle and the Presidents Cup in Incheon, South Korea.
What was the coolest tournament moment you ever got to shoot?
The 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, Tiger Woods’ last major. Shot from the Snoopy blimp all day. One Gatorade bottle. Also my first Olympics in 2004 in Athens, Greece.
What other events have you done?
A lot of different things, but the most fun and best event recently was the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles that were held in the summer of 2015. Smiles by everyone having a great time.
How long have you been surfing? 15 years
How in the world did you ever start waking up at the crack of dawn to shoot your water shots?
I’ve always liked to surf early in the day before the crowds. That and especially the wind. It's something I noticed when paddling around and got some various water cameras to experiment before getting a proper housing for my hires DSLR. Out of thousands of tries, I have approximately 300+ images in this current series I’ve been working on since 2012.
What does your perfect day look like?
Head out an hour before sunrise, slight offshore, 2-3 feet, glassy, slow rights, nobody out, warm, and sunny. Water: 75. Surf all day, snap some pics, head home, and call it a day.
When do you know if a photo is “the one?” It’s very rare, but when you know, you know.
Be sure to see more of Kojo's amazing work on his website. Disclaimer: Images above featuring Kojo are by Geoff Cunningham.
EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS HEAR IT FIRST
Giveaways like thisFirst dibs on new arrivalsEarly access to limited release productsNew markdowns & salesExclusive offers and promotions
WIN BUBBA'S 2021 AUGUSTA JORDAN IV GOLF SHOES
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT OR SALES PRESENTATION OF ANY KIND NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES (INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) AGE 21 AND OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Employees, and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related, of LINKSOUL, LLC ("Sponsor") are not eligible to enter or win. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which are binding and final on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD. The Sweepstakes begins on April 1, 2022 and ends at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time "(PT)" on April 10, 2022 (the "Sweepstakes Period"). Sponsor's clock is the official time-keeping device for this Sweepstakes.
TO ENTER:
A. Registering Online. During the Sweepstakes Period, you may register for and enter the Sweepstakes online by visiting https://linksoul.com/pages/lee-elder (the "Website") and filling out and submitting the registration form for the Sweepstakes. You will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes for registering online. Limit: Limit of one (1) Sweepstakes entry per person/per email address for registering for the Sweepstakes online.
B. Bonus Entries. Only after you enter the Sweepstakes by registering, you may obtain Sweepstakes bonus entries ("Bonus Entries") during the Sweepstakes Period, the following way:
1. Purchases made at linksoul.com. When you visit linksoul.com during the Sweepstakes Period and make a purchase you will automatically receive a bonus entry for every $100 spent on merchandise ("Bonus Entry Spend"), not including taxes or shipping costs. Limit: There is no limit to the number of Bonus Entries obtained by this method of entry.
C. General Requirements. Multiple entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than the permitted number of registrations/entries/Bonus Entries in the Sweepstakes by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations, or any other methods will void that entrant's entries and that entrant may be disqualified. No automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted and will result in disqualification. The submission of a registration/online entry is solely the responsibility of the entrant, and all data, Internet access and usage charges are the responsibility of the entrant. If you use your mobile device to log in to the Website, you will be charged according to your wireless service provider's standard data rates. Check with your wireless service provider for details on data rates and other applicable charges.
In the event of a dispute as to any entry, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. The "authorized account holder" is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Potential winners may be required to provide Sponsor with proof that potential winner is the authorized account holder for the email address associated with the potentially winning entry. If a dispute cannot be resolved to Sponsor's satisfaction, the entry will be deemed ineligible.
Once submitted, registrations/entries become the exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Except as otherwise stated in these Official Rules, personal information collected from Sweepstakes registrations/entries will be used in accordance with Sponsor's Privacy Policy (found at https://linksoul.com/pages/privacy-policy-terms-of-use and with any consent given by an entrant at the time of entry.
Please note that you may not be sent confirmation of receipt of a registration/entry; in the event that your registration is acknowledged in any way following submission, such acknowledgement does not constitute any representation by Sponsor as to the eligibility of your Sweepstakes registration/entry. Any automated computer receipt (such as a confirmation email) does not constitute proof of actual receipt by Sponsor for purposes of these Official Rules. Any illegible, unintelligible, incomplete, or garbled registrations/entries are not permitted and may be disqualified. By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Any registrations/entries not in conformance with these Official Rules will be disqualified. For a copy of these Official Rules, please print them from the Website during the Sweepstakes Period.
WINNER SELECTION:
One (1) potential Grand Prize winner will be selected in a random drawing by Sponsor, on or about May 1, 2022 from all eligible entries received throughout the Sweepstakes Period from all entry methods. Sponsor's decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received from all entry methods. Limit one (1) prize per person. Potential winners will be notified by email and will be required to confirm eligibility within twenty-four (24) hours. Potential winners must comply with all of the terms and conditions of these Official Rules; winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. Potential winners will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release (an "Affidavit"), and may be required to produce evidence of residency, within three (3) days of notification/verification in order to receive the prize. Sponsor may conduct a background check to confirm any potential winner's eligibility and compliance with these rules. By entering, you agree to cooperate reasonably with any such background check. If the prize includes participation in any public event(s) or publicity, or if Sponsor Entities intend to publicize the winner in any way, and if a background check reveals that a potential winner has engaged in conduct that could damage the reputation or business of any Sponsor Entity, as determined by Sponsor in its discretion, the potential winner may be disqualified and the prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.
In the event: (a) a potential winner cannot be reached by Sponsor within 48 hours from first notification after a reasonable effort has been exerted based on the information submitted by potential winner; (b) of noncompliance with the above or within any of the aforesaid time periods; (c) a potential winner is found to be ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or receive the prize; (d) a potential winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules; (e) a potential winner's prize notification or Affidavit is returned as undeliverable for whatever reason; or (f) a potential winner fails to fulfill the Affidavit-related obligations, the potential winner may be disqualified from the Sweepstakes in the sole discretion of Sponsor, and (time permitting) Sponsor may select and award the prize to an alternate potential winner by a random drawing from among the other eligible entries received. Up to three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded. Unclaimed prizes may not be awarded, and upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given, and Sponsor will have no responsibility or liability to that entrant.
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
Should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in Sponsor's sole opinion, compromised by non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, Administrator reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes (or any portion thereof) and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winners from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken. As a condition of entering, entrants (or their parent or legal guardian if an eligible minor) agree (and agree to confirm in writing): (a) that Sponsor and their respective parents, affiliates, prize suppliers, and advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize, including any travel related thereto, or participation in this Sweepstakes; (b) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages, other than for out-of-pocket expenses; (c) all causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (d) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, excluding attorneys' fees and court costs. By entering, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, participant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in San Diego County, California. Each winner, by acceptance of prize, except where legally prohibited, grants (and agrees to confirm this grant in writing if requested) permission for Sponsor and its designees to use his/her name, address (city and state), photograph, voice and/or other likeness and prize information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without further compensation, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide in perpetuity, without notice or review or approval.
WINNERS' LIST:
For the names of the winners (available after May 1. 2022), send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Destination Linksoul Experience, 530 S. Coast Hwy, Oceanside 92054, for receipt no later than June 30, 2022.
SPONSOR: LINKSOUL, LLC, Oceanside, CA 92054
ADMINISTRATOR: LINKSOUL, LLC, Oceanside, CA 92054