A Trip Down The Na Pali- Lost World

It’s pretty amazing.  In the 6+ years I’ve lived on Kauai I’ve seen the Na Pali coast from the water, twice.  Once I was actually kayaking and focused on self preservation, the other time was a couple of months after I moved out to the island.  So…it’s safe to say this was a long time coming.  So when a friend offered to take a jet ski down the coast for sunset, who was I to argue.
Now, it should be mentioned I am a land mammal by nature.  Once in and around water my comfort level drops by quite a bit.  Now put me on a jet ski, flying/bouncing/jostling across the water and it’s fair to say my tension level raises just a bit.  So…there we go…down the coast, leaving from Hanalei Bay around 430pm.  The coast is truly amazing.  And being that I do not leave it very often to get these perspectives, I am constantly amazed by this island I call home.  The ride is pretty choppy.  It’s been pretty windy over the last few days and the wind swell has kicked up to a solid roll.  Onward we go; past Lumahai, Wainiha, around the reef at Tunnels and past Ha’ena and Ke’e Beach.  And now the epic stretch of coast that is the Na Pali lies ahead.  There are a lot of clouds around and off to the west and north the sun is hiding behind layers of cirrus and a rainy cumulus off in the distance.  I lean forward and say to Joel and say it’s a coin flip…50/50 on getting any light.   As we make our way southwest he shows me the sea caves that I’ve heard and seen photos of but never with my own eyes.  Double Door…with the waterfall falling through a hole in the ceiling; Open Ceiling cave…with a giant opening in the roof that fell in.  It is here we stopped for a while and the thoughts started turning.  Yet another project to chase after.  However, we decided that the chance of the good light was too iffy to wait and went back to Kalalau.
Kalalau is a magical place.  Massive fluted cliffs rise out of the beach, the Valley just to the left (looking at the coast from the ocean).   The only way to reach this mythical destination is hiking a very strenuous 11 miles from Ke’e Beach or by boat.  And it’s worth it.  Just ask someone who’s been.  We sat off the coast and watched the clouds and chances of good light.  Snapping a few photos (yes the camera was in my hand while sitting on a jetski and I was holding it tight).  While shooting we generally have the motor off as to not disturb the water around us and keep still.  I mentioned we should reposition a bit further back and to the left.  **click click click**  motor didnt turn over.  NOT a place one wants to get stuck.  Joel turns the starter again and after sputtering it turns over and the engine is on.  Now it’s decided that we keep it idling, and therefore moving, until we get back as not to risk it.  Yikes.  As we circle back around the sun starts to hit the gap in the clouds we saw across the horizon.  The light is on the beach but the clouds and mountains are still dark.  Clicking away as we circle around.    Then the real show…the sun fills the coast and finally bam!  Because we couldnt shut the engine off I was standing on the jetski, holding on to the back of Joel’s life vest with one hand, and photographing with the other.  Snap snap snap.
Ok…time to get back north!  Pack up the bag, on the back and off.  Even faster than we got down the coast.  The constant shaking is briefly abates every so often as we take air over the waves, only to be smacked right back down to the surf.  Getting back to Hanalei finally we witness an awesome light show.  I take a few more photos but in the back of my mind I already got what I needed from the day.  What a ride!
Aloha!
aF
 
 
 

The incredible Na Pali coast as seen from off the coast of Kauai.
“Lost World”

 
100% view of the detail in the shot:
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Salt Lake City in Blue

 
On my recent trip to Salt Lake City the afternoon I arrived look promising for sunset.  Having lived in and around SLC for the better part of 3 years (a lifetime ago) I never did shoot any good cityscapes.  In fact I had just only had the camera in my hand a year when I left.  That first afternoon back I decided to head up behind the Capitol and get a sweeping view of the valley below.  Salt Lake has a spot in my heart and it is truly a beautiful place to live.  Here is one of the captures from that eve.  The shortness of breath hiking up to get the perspective was worth it 🙂
 
aF
 

Salt Lake City at blue hour.
Salt Lake City at blue hour.

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On The Road (Utah)

 
When I get to do my road trips around the country there tends to be a lot of driving.  Much of that through very pretty places.  When I’m driving my general thought process is ‘get there as fast as possible’.  However when in these circumstances the opposite is generally true.  Well…at least it’s fast driving and then a fair amount of stopping and sometimes turning around 😛  But the idea is there.  Sometimes I even have to remind myself that the reason I’m even in the car in the first place is to shoot…which includes more than just my destination.   Then I get that sense of relaxation…that my time is my own…just me and the road and the camera (which often sits on the passenger seat next to me).  It’s these moments that I often cherish while exploring.  And sometimes, the road becomes the subject itself 🙂
 
Remote Southern Utah.
 
Aloha!
aF
 

Remote Southern Utah
Remote Southern Utah

Getting slotted…Pt 1 of ? – Southern Utah

 
Just getting back from Utah and had myself an adventure!  Last year, around the same time, I found myself in Southern Utah for 5 days.  Exploring the truly incredible landscape that is that part of the world.  One in particular slot canyon in Escalante National Park eluded me.  Hiking by myself the waist deep and cold water thwarted my attempt at this place last year.  This year…while the water remained and was a longer slog, I was able to successfully enter this magical place.  Getting to the entrance of this slot greets you with brown water….and judging by my experience last year, and the fact that the low the night before was around 20F…very cold.  I brought my waterproof pants again and seal skinz (socks) to be able to make the adventure more comfortable (oh, and long underwear under the pants).  This time around there was a group of 3 women that had hiked down just in front of me.  They weren’t expecting the water like I was but one of them was adventurous enough to want to give it a shot.  As we ventured deeper in to the slot it narrows further and further until the choke (where I was stymied last year), except this time the water level was slightly lower, I wasn’t 5 weeks off a knee injury, and there was the fact that I wasnt alone.  My excitement once stepping up in to the main chamber was palpable.  Not only did we make it in but there were NO footprints.  We were the first ones in since either the last flood or the crazy dust storm the day before could have filled them in.  Either way…wow!   My accomplice spent about 15 minutes with me and then I was alone…for the next 2.75 hours.  Over the course of the whole experience inside the canyon I heard voices two different times…both inquiring as to if there was anyone in there (I left extra supplies outside the entrance to lower my load).  Both times they failed to make the journey.  Sollitude!  This allowed me to study and shoot at my own pace without having to worry about any sort of pleasantries :p   As the time passed and the sun a bit too vertical the amazing glow in the canyon eventually washed out…and then it was time to go.  Getting back in the COLD water was a necessity but the warm sun once exited was very welcome.  So was the victory beer back at the car 🙂
 
Some behind the scenes shots with my phone are added…and yes…a few more photographs to come (plus the rest of the trip; Goblin Valley, San Rafael Swell & Bryce Canyon).
 
Aloha!
aF
 
 

Turning back toward the slot while exiting.
Turning back toward the slot while exiting.

The exit after spending 3 hours inside of the slot.
The exit after spending 3 hours inside of the slot.

Inside looking back, waiting for the light.
Inside looking back, waiting for the light.

 

Magical slot canyon light
Magical slot canyon light

Tales From The Top…Of The World

 
Ok…maybe not the world.  But it sure feels like it when standing on the top of Mauna Kea, the largest mountain in the world (top to bottom) and rising 13,800 ft above the ocean below.  I could write for a long time about how I’ve been dreaming for 7 years of skiing this unique place and that finally getting to stand and witness snow in Hawai’i was all too brief but this photograph is more about how freaking cold I was!
 
Knowing to prepare for altitude is not problem.  I ski bummed for 3 years in Utah.  For this trip I brought many layers…which did the trick…except for the gloves which remained in my bag in the hotel the day of our 6 Day Big Island Workshop‘s trip up to the summit. Not the brightest of ideas. I will say that by the time we left that night temperatures were around 30F with gusts over 40mph (windchill estimates around 13F).  Trying to work with a metal tripod, camera buttons and facing in to the wind certainly made for challenging conditions.  Which means that I’m was quite excited when I saw the results of this exposure pop up on the back of the LCD screen.  The pillar of light you see is called the Zodiacal Light.  A phenomenon I saw for the first time in Death Valley last year. The quarter moon did the job of illuminating the rest of the scene.
 
An awesome experience for the Workshop and me as well.  Can’t wait until we go back 🙂
 
Much thanks!
aF
 

Zodiacal light over Mauna Kea and observatories.
“Phone Home” – Zodiacal light over Mauna Kea and observatories.

The Magic of Snow (Yosemite)

 
“Pencil To Paper” (unreleased)
Back in March ’13 I had the incredible opportunity of being near Yosemite National Park when the forecast called for an incoming storm.  Knowing that 1) I dont live anywhere near Yosemite and 2) storms/snow arent too common, I knew I only had one choice.  Drive my rental Mustang (yea free upgrade) in to the valley floor and sleep in it overnight.  As far as sleeping goes in cars…I’ve had better…
 
Waking up the next morning I was stoked.  BIG fluffy flakes DUMPING down.  The great white awesomeness that is snow.  Now, two more things ran through my head 1) where the hell am I supposed to shoot?! and 2) why the f@#$ did I get a Mustang.  Slapping myself awake I donned my winter clothes that I had packed and started driving around the valley scoping where I might want to go.  Having been there before I had a cursory knowledge but still not much of a clue.  I do know that I love trees.  And I love solo trees.  So when I remembered this big Oak which I spotted the summer before that popped back in to my mind.
 
Walking in to the field I was gitty.  I’m a ski bum.  Snow is my favorite ever.  (Yes I see the irony of living in Hawai’i).  But since becoming a ‘photographer’ I have yet to have such conditions.  Luckily I had my small fold up umbrella with me and was able to hold that over the camera to protect it.  Snow is such a unique precipitation. Because it’s the only one that could be coming down SO hard…and yet be completely silent.  That blissful silence…
 
Enjoy!
aF
 

Old Oak in snow in Yosemite National Park
“Pencil To Paper”

Devilish – Southern Utah

 
Another image from my southern Utah adventures in late March of 2013.  After sleeping in my car (like usual) the night before, my alarm went off around 4am to be able to capture the stars I had previously scouted at a different spot in this section.  As the sun rose and the landscape changed I began to wander around to see what I could find.  These amazing formations were all over and the trick was to find something to show off how weird of a place it was.  Luckily the previously clear sky (good for stars) was giving way to some unique clouds and I returned to a spot I had found the evening before.  Given the texture of the rock and the cool clouds in the sky this one had some possibility.  I spent another 30-45 minutes enjoying the solitude as I played like a kid in a playground.  Then off for what was to be an epic day in slot canyons and over 6 miles of hiking.  Nonstop!
 
Much thanks!
aF
 
Dramatic black in white in remote southern Utah.

Fun in Fall

 
Unreleased Autumn Adirondacks Had the opportunity to shoot fall color in upstate NY in late sept. This was taken after scouting the location the day before. I returned for sunrise and preceded to shoot for for over 2 hours as the fog went from completely socked in to completely gone and blue skies. During this transition phase there was some wonderful light coming over the ridgeline and was able to capture this scene!
Much thanks!
aF
 
Sunlight through fog in autumn. Upstate New York.

Hanalei…(12/22)

 

Untitled Namalokama (unreleased)
After leaving aFeinberg Gallery St. Regis-Princeville yesterday (12/22), I was headed down to Hanalei and the light was just spectacular. I’ve been after a certain shot (this is very close) and managed to pull over and capture a few images of the remarkable scene. Lucky we live Kaua’i!
Thanks!
aF
A 100% resolution crop can be seen below to get an idea of detail.
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 2013-12-22_267[web]sample

NEW 6 day Workshop!!

 
 
***ANNOUNCEMENT!***
I am teaming up with professional photog Kory Lidstrom and offering the first 6 day photo workshop!!
Dates are March 3-8.
Big Island.
Only 65! spots for the week.
For more details swing over to the site and look forward to new adventures!
ALOHA!
aF
 
 
http://www.afeinbergphotography.com/workshop/bigislandworkshop/