Tag Archives: ocean

A Warm Maui Sunset

Posted on November 12th, 2012 by

Winter Cometh

It has been a very nice week weather wise in the Ozarks, but never fear, we have a saying in these parts. If you don’t like the weather wait five minutes. Its not uncommon to be 75 one day and then 35 then next. That big of a swing doesn’t usually happen, but it IS happening right now. Yesterday was in the mid 70’s and tonight it is supposed to get below freezing. Winter is coming (sigh). Anyway all of this got me thinking about Maui and how wonderful the weather there happens to be. I thought a nice warm sunset, Hawaii style would be just the thing for my winter blues.

HDR Photography
A Warm Maui Sunset by W. Brian Duncan

The Lava Coast of Maui

Posted on September 3rd, 2012 by

Treacherous Beauty

In the pursuit of the soul of a place, Pamela and I will often not be terribly afraid to go off the beaten path (especially when visiting first world countries). This particular location in Western Maui (on Kahekili Highway around MM 16) is one of the views we had after hiking over considerably treacherous terrain looking for some natural ocean baths. These are natural “pool” formations in the lava that collect water that is then warmed by the sun and the black lava rock. Its quite an interesting and somewhat difficult place to get to but oh so worth it much like the Heart Shaped Rock.

Technicals

This is a three shot bracket shot on a tripod (Despite the lady telling me emphatically while on our way down SHE wouldn’t try to get down there with all that camera gear. Of course she was also wearing flip flops (slippers in Hawaii) and carrying a small child…hmmmm.) (-2, 0, +2) combined in Photomatix, edited with a number of curves layers in Photoshop, enhanced with the Nik Suite and finished in Lightroom.

HDR Photography
The Lava Coast of Maui by W. Brian Duncan

Heart Shaped Rock

Posted on August 30th, 2012 by

Nature

Before taking our recent trip to Maui, I asked around on the Interwebs if people had any specific recommendations of places not to miss on the island. My friend Destination David suggested the Nakalele Blowhole. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when we decided to go. First we happened to be in Kahului (which I always called the airport town) and we logically approached the blowhole from the east. This is apparently a road only people who LIVE on the road actually attempt to drive on. It was largely one lane, with VERY steep drop offs…I LOVED IT! The hike to the blowhole is steep, dangerous, likely to cause injury and oh so worth it (Don’t be like me…heed the signs and turn back from certain death).

Crazy Formations

The blowhole is a site we will surely explore in another post, but in this one I wanted to highlight an interesting heart shaped rock you will see if you turn around from being awed by the force of the blowhole. I have been unable to find information about whether this rock is a result of the awesome power of the ocean, or if someone purposefully carved this into the rock. I would love to know, so if you have some supportable documentation please post it below in the comments!

HDR Photography
Heart Shaped Rock by W. Brian Duncan

Sunset in Maui

Posted on August 6th, 2012 by

Sun-Wow!

On the first day in Maui, we were treated to one of nature’s spectacular light shows. This is why I take pictures. Our first night was perhaps the best sunset of the week. From our vantage point in South Maui, you can see the western side of Maui to the right and the smaller island of Lana’i off in the distance to the left of the sunset. We happened to hit the beach our first day when the sun fell directly in between the two islands. Serendipity! Maui is a bit like Paris in that getting good photos is like shooting fish in a barrel. When beauty abounds how can you not succeed. I wonder if paradise becomes so commonplace for the general inhabitants of the islands that they don’t often stop and recognize how spectacular everything is around them…of course the same thing could be said of people in the Ozarks.

Technicals

This is a 9 shot bracket (-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3) combined in Photomatix. Edited in lightroom for some initial corrections, Photoshop, the Nik Suite, then back to Lightroom for finishup. Total processing time was around 2 hours.

HDR Photography
Sunset in Maui by W. Brian Duncan