Based in Malibu, California, Eric Myer specializes in location and portrait photography. He has traveled extensively throughout the world for commercial and fine art assignments. Awards and recognition include those from Communication Arts, Graphis, American Photography, The Mead Show, Photo District News, The AR100, New York Art Directors Club, Chicago Art Directors Club and Los Angeles Art Directors Club.

Eric attended UCLA and is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.  He has been an instructor and member of the Art Center faculty and scholarship advisory board. He served on the board of the American Photographic Artists, Los Angeles Chapter and as chairman of the Malibu Cultural Arts Commission.

The inspiration for Malibu After began a few days after the Woolsey Fire, which burned through Myer’s home town of Malibu in November of 2018. This firestorm destroyed more than 80% of the wildlife habitat of the Santa Monica Mountains and claimed three lives. It forced the evacuation of almost 300,000 people, destroyed over 1600 structures.

Half of the homes were lost in Eric’s immediate neighborhood. After being evacuated for two weeks he arrived home with his wife and dog to a house that was still standing but charred to the front doorstep. Eric felt overwhelmed with a combination of grief and gratitude. The house was dark and smoky, there was no power, running water or heat, rotting food in the refrigerator and animal carcasses in the pool. Myer realized that the destroyed homes of his friends and neighbors would be cleared in the near future and wanted to use his skills as a photographer to somehow help. He contacted a few friends who had lost their homes to get their opinion about his idea of a photo essay. After receiving their support, he decided to pursue the concept.

Forty-two Malibu area families and individuals allowed Eric into their lives to be photographed amidst the rubble of their destroyed homes. The subjects represented a cross-section of the community: young and old, celebrities and artisans, newcomers and long-time residents. Structures that were lost ranged from multi-million-dollar mansions to mobile homes.

Amidst the ruins of 42 destroyed homes, Eric created ultra-high-resolution panoramic environmental portraits of individuals and families and photographed artifacts rescued from the blaze along with post-fire abstracts. With Canon and The Malibu Foundation as sponsors, he created superlarge prints (up to 60” x 150") and had a showing on the one-year anniversary of the fire.

Eric wanted to “bear witness” to this catastrophe and through his photography capture its profound physical and emotional impact. Every person or family that Myer photographed had a unique and compelling story.

These images illuminate a dominant issue of our time and put a face on the reality that is global warming. It is now common knowledge that wildfires are increasing in size and frequency in California and around the world because of climate change.