Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my clients, friends, family, the in-laws (yes them too!), colleagues, Google searchers, future clients, Mother Nature, all the waitresses who served me this year, panhandlers, the person who honked at me the other day, and everyone else!

Me and my wife had the privilege of participating in a world peace meditation this morning at 4AM (GMT-8).  Every year for the past 20+ years the whole world holds this meditation at the same time - one giant consciousness of peace.  It wasn't to "wish" for world peace it was to remind ourselves of the peace that already is.  Someone said it best (paraphrasing): when I am peaceful I will see you as peaceful.  Peace begins in our consciousness.  Everything else will fall into place.  So here's to a peace filled 2011!

A prosperous new year is at your finger tips - don't wish it, make it happen!


Ka'anapali Beach Sunrise
Maui, Hawaii

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Iconic Hawaii

An iconic view from Hawaii.  These shots were at a private estate in South Maui just hours before our flight back.  This is in Ahihi Bay (it's a two exposure blend) and here's the accompanying story behind it.

If you know who Dr. Wayne Dyer is this might mean a little more to you.  Wayne Dyer is one of my spiritual mentors and he happens to live in Maui very near where me and my wife stayed this past week.  They day before we had to head back home we ran into him on the beach in front of our hotel and he invited us to a fund raiser and viewing of his new movie "The Shift" ( if you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and check it out! http://www.dyermovie.com/) the next night.

We managed to squeeze it in just before our flight home.  So not being satisfied with the sunsets I've shot thus far I was frantically looking for a last good sunset spot to shoot on the way to the event.  We got to the private estate at the end of the road and didn't see anything worth wasting the time on so I decided to cut my losses and just go inside.  By no stroke of luck the best was saved for last.  On the coastal edge of the estate was this scene.  So I got to spend some time with Wayne Dyer and Ram Dass (who was attending also) and I got the shot I was looking for!

The island of Kaho‘olawe is in the background, which is a member of the four islands that make up Maui County.  Some facts about Kaho‘olawe: it is 11 miles long by 6 miles wide, with a total area of 44.6 square miles.  The highest point is the crater of Lua Makika at the summit of Puʻu Moaulanui, which is 1,477 feet above sea level.  One of the drier islands, the annual rainfall is about 26 inches.

Beginning in World War II, the island was used as a training ground and bombing range by the United States military.  The Navy ended live-fire training on Kahoʻolawe in 1990, and the island was transferred to the State of Hawaii in 1994.  No one is allowed to go within two miles of the island today.  One of the fears is that live ammunition may have been left behind.



 

Ireland or Maui?

Irish Maui

This West Maui landscape is reminiscent of Ireland or Scotland.  Super green pastures, hilltops with strange rock outcroppings and pounding surf 250 feet below.  It's such a cool drive around this side of the island.  A lot less waterfalls than the road to Hana but I really liked this drive.  This is in the same area as the Nakalele Blowhole.  It's actually just down where those waves are crashing.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas (Mele Kalikimaka!)

So I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  I am grateful to all of you who follow my work so thank you for viewing! 

I haven't photographed any snow lately so I'll leave you with an image from my latest trip to Hawaii.

Maui Rainbows
Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii.

This part of the coast, along "the road to Hana", is home to the Seven Sacred Pools. The mouth to the Palikea Stream is just to the left of the white water.

After an all day drive on Maui's East coast we finally wound up here with some decent light. The only problem with this part of Maui is it's very wet. The rain would roll through for 5-10 minutes at a time where I had to take my shirt off and cover the camera with it. The good thing is that just before the rain hit I would get these vivid rainbows!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Black Sand Beach

Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach

This volcanic black sand beach is in East Maui, Hawaii just off the road to Hana.  It's unique because it's the only black sand beach on Maui that's actually created by lava flow.  If you're making the drive I say this is a must see.  It was very crowded when we passed through but I was lucky enough to snap a shot of the beach with only two people on it (that I had to clone out).  But by the time I made my way down to the beach itself there must have been 30 or more people there.  There are caves around this area too which make for good exploring (actually there is one directly beneath me in this shot).

Koki Beach, Maui, Hawaii

This stretch of coast is in East Maui just off the road to Hana.  Koki Beach was one of my favorites on the trip because of the coastline and the offshore island - and of course the clouds!  This is a very wet portion of the island.  It took me a while to get this shot because of the waves of rain that passed through while standing on the beach.  My wife has a picture of me shirtless with my shirt covering the camera and tripod.


Monday, December 20, 2010

Body boarding Ka'anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Here's a few from a series of body boarders at Ka'anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii.  I hurt just watching them...