Secrets Of The Milky Way

 
It’s amazing how images to come to life.   Sometimes they are the work of years of planning coinciding with perfect conditions.  This very well may have been one of those photographs….had I actually knew what kind of conditions I was to expect this evening.   After spending the afternoon and sunset exploring the southern coast of Maui in the La Perouse area and photographing down there I packed up and started the drive back north.  As I made my way down the bumpy road the stars were absolutely blazing.  With only a crescent moon hanging in the western sky I was still able to see the landscape but the Milky Way was clearly visible arcing all across the sky.  I pulled over to the side of the road and took some images of the scene facing Haleakela.  Of course at this point I realized my battery was hanging on to one bar.  Uh oh.   Change batteries.  Dead.  Crap.  I forgot to charge everything after Burning Man.  Back to the first battery and now with every exposure I’m worried about my evening ending early.  Especially with night time images they take more power as the exposure times are around 25 seconds.  I make sure to only take a few shots on the side of the road and continue up.  Next stop Secrets beach.
Normally Secrets is not so secret.  There are weddings almost every day of the week and it’s a great spot to hide out and watch the clouds pass by.  However, at night, it is a different story.  As I walked down the path and to the shore and set up the waves were pounding pretty good.  Lessons learned in the past means keeping my bag well above the high water line.  Then approached.  At this point I heard voices…what?!  I looked around in the darkness.  There were houses around so maybe it was there.  Then again.  Finally I noticed a couple tucked in the back corner of the beach near the wall enjoying the evening as well.  Not even alone at night!
Of course the obviously difficult thing of shooting stars is that it’s freakin dark out!  With the little bit of moonlight I was able to get my composition pretty close and fired off a test shot.  Keeping one eye on the ocean to my right I spent the next half an our or so adjusting and trying again.  With each shot worried my battery was going to kick out on me.  After seeing this one pop up on the back of the camera I was pleasantly surprised.  The little but of moonlight was enough to give enough color and definition to the landscape without hiding the blazing Milky Way.
Whew.  On ward to my next stop where fingers were crossed I could get a few more shots before I had to call it quits.  What an awesome night!
Enjoy!
aF
 

Milky way over Secrets beach in Makena, Maui, Hawaii
“Secrets Of The Milky Way”

Oceans Abstract at Polihale

“Oceans XVI” (unreleased)
The quality of light this day at Polihale was simply incredible.  Rare storm clouds built out in the distance late morning.  The intense dark clouds acted as an incredible contrast to the illuminated waters closer to shore.  I then abstracted them in the camera and ended up with a couple of good results.  This is one.  Much thanks!
aF
 

Abstract of ocean with turquoise water and dark sky at Polihale State Park
“Oceans XVI” (unreleased)

Down at Shipwreck’s

 
For as much as I am in Poipu at the aFeinberg Gallery down there I have oddly enough not photographed Shipwreck’s Beach much.  Admittedly crazy.  It’s a sweet little stretch of beach just past the Grand Hyatt with some pretty photogenic rock.  In the winter(ish) months, when the sun is far south this rock face holds the light until the very end of sunset.  Happening to be down in Poipu this afternoon I left the Gallery and immediately went in to hurry-up mode.  Friend and I hurried down to the beach where I was still in my pants and shirt and began to shoot.  Next thing I know I’m sacrificing my clothing to the waves as I needed to get close enough to get the shot I was after.  As the light changed I was super stoked to see the trees and rock light up as I expected…of course the clouds were the added bonus!
Enjoy!
aF
 

Shipwreck's Beach at sunset
Shipwreck Beach