Category Archives: Hawaii

Beautiful Photography of Hawaii

Cliffs in Hawaii

Posted on November 28th, 2016 by

Geologic Beauty

It’s a funny thing, the mind. I have visited this location in Oahu more than half a dozen times. It’s a great location for interesting carvings (probably done by bored kids) and a beautiful introduction to the diversity of landscape on the islands. I had it in my head this was the filming location for From Here to Eternity. I even told my sister how she had to see it. It was only after returning from Hawaii that I realized I was actually at the wrong stop!

Cliffs in Hawaii
Cliffs in Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 12 November, 2016
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 500
  • Shutter speed: 1/800s
  • Title: Oahu Cliffs5

On Living and Dying

Posted on October 31st, 2016 by

Constant Struggle

I miss the sea.

I find a certain solace just being near her. I often just sit and think. Ultimately this leads me to wonder about birth, life and death. I consider the island, born of the conflict of fire and water, made solid into land. The ocean though, does not forget and slowly begins reclaiming the land to its watery depths.

This was once a solid piece of land. The ocean began eating it away, leaving a spike of land that eventually collapsed. Slowly, the ocean will completely devour this too and return it to where it started. The circle is all around if only you wish to see.

On Living and Dying
On Living and Dying

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/5
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 26 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 24mm
  • ISO: 1250
  • Shutter speed: 1/6400s
  • Title: On Living and Dying

A Walk Above the Clouds in Maui

Posted on October 17th, 2016 by

Higher Then the Heavens

My parents are planning a trip to Hawaii which made me latch onto this photo of the first time Pamela and I went to Maui. One of the MUST do things is a sunrise atop Haleakala. After the light show, Pamela and I visited the visitors center. Then we set out for a hike around and into the volcano’s crater. There are periods up there when you are outside, the sun beating down on you and the clouds roll in and you realize, you are looking down on a part of the heavens.

A Walk Above the Clouds in Maui
A Walk Above the Clouds in Maui

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 22 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/500s
  • Title: A Walk Above the Clouds in Maui

Funk!

Posted on July 14th, 2016 by

Eating at the Bar

When I solo travel (and other times with Pamela) I have found it super helpful when going to busy restaurants to get a seat at the bar. Most places serve their full menu at these easy to obtain seats, plus you get the benefit of all the goings on of the bar. Many restaurants soul flows through this hub and it’s a fun place to have a conversation and see what really happens in this place. This is one of the bar stools at Flatbread Company, one of my favorite places to eat in Maui. While you might find cheaper fare on the island, you will be hard presses to find better pizza most anywhere.

Funk!
Funk!

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 26 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/250s
  • Title: Funk!

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Posted on June 13th, 2016 by

The Greatest

I have been a good number of places and seen a LOT of sunrises and sunsets. I admit a preference to the latter of these as they aren’t placed so darn early in the morning. The benefit to the former, is most people don’t bother to get up early enough to see them so they tend to not be as well attended as the sunsets. I also have to admit a preference in sunrise and the greatest sunrise on Earth is in Maui, Hawaii atop Haleakalā. With the right weather, the light and color move in a dance that can rarely be fully witnessed. From the top the volcano you can fully experience the symphony of nature playing it’s beauty. It’s a spectacle like none other and one I hope everyone gets to see.

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth
The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 22 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1.3s
  • Title: The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Posted on June 2nd, 2016 by

Visiting Bee

As I hiked up Lanikai Mountain in Oahu I came across this lonely cactus. It had been abused by unkind passers by, stepped on, trampled and cut. I noticed however a lovely flower. Regardless of its pain and abuse by the world, it produced something beautiful. While I was noticing this, a bee seemed very happy to visit the lonely and discarded wretch on that dry hill. I took this as a divine lesson, and try to keep it in my heart.

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii
Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 27 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/2000s
  • Title: Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Posted on May 23rd, 2016 by

Big Hiking Payoff

There are so many spectacular hikes in Hawaii. The Awa’awapuhi Trail in Kauai is probably my favorite BIG payoff. The hike itself if moderate and the scenery along the way is a bit…well meh, but the end of the trail will make your jaw fall to the ground. It is a truly breathtaking sight.

High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii
High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 25 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/640s
  • Title: High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Perfect Beaches in Kauai

Posted on February 22nd, 2016 by

Finding Your Place

It’s no secret that I LOVE Hawaii. It’s not the sun exactly, or the beach, it’s not beautiful people or some island style. It is all of these things, but rolled together and a calm that you rarely see on the mainland. This beach in Kauai is one of my perfect spots. Both times I have come here were early and I had the place all to myself. I don’t think it’s probably every really busy, but I love the way the forest grove shades my pale skin from the strong Hawaiian sun. I can sit here and think, be with myself, be with the ocean. In the world, it is one of my perfect spots just to be.

Perfect Beaches in Kauai
Perfect Beaches in Kauai

Photo Technical Info

On the Beach in Kauai

Posted on January 14th, 2016 by

Crazy Sunset Tones

I have been experimenting again. I almost didn’t share this photo. It seemed too extreme to me when I processes it. I have been playing with some of Trey’s Lightroom Presets. They are surprisingly fun and I love deconstructing them to find new techniques in Lightroom!

Pro Tip…never use any preset on its default values, but rather as a starting point (wedding photographers, feel free to ignore that completely).

On the Beach in Kauai
On the Beach in Kauai

Photo Technical Info

End of the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Posted on January 4th, 2016 by

Extraordinary Beauty

There are places in this world that have taken by breath from me. Na Pali coast is one. I started as I often do with a great hiking guide on the Awa’awapuhi Trail from Unreal Hawaii (I can’t tell you how much I appreciate these guys). The trail was a bit wet (expected) and slightly uneventful, but fantastic exercise.

I can’t describe how high I am taking this photo, or how close to the edge I was hiking out on the ridge line. The photo does no justice to nature’s splendor, but I wanted you to see what I can convey.

As a side bit of trivia, this photo is the 400th I have processes for the blog!

End of the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii
End of the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info