Amy Cale-Huebner maintains a dual career as a writer and photographer based in Santa Barbara, California. She published her first piece in The Surfer’s Journal in 1994, and her writing and photography have since appeared in SAND, The Kelp Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, The Baltimore Review, and The Smithsonian.

 

She holds a BFA in Photography from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, a foundation that shaped her creative vision. Her passion for image-making has taken her across continents, with assignments in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. She spent two years in Germany photographing products for BAYER and later worked on a six-month film project with director Wim Wenders.
 

Amy recently completed a Certificate in Creative Writing from the UCLAx Writers’ Program. Her debut novel, Escape from Tonga, launched on December 4, 2025, and is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
 

Surfing has long been a central thread in Amy’s life. She learned to surf in Santa Cruz, California, and after college joined O’Neill’s European surf school tour, photographing the journey alongside Richard Schmidt, Jay Moriarity, and Wingnut through France, Spain, and Portugal. After moving to Santa Barbara, she began freelancing for NOAA, collaborating with scientists to develop education and outreach exhibits for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
 

When she isn’t writing, editing, or taking photos, you’ll find her at the beach or in the forest birding.

​

Visit her on Substack  @amycalehuebner.substack.com