ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IMAGE ALTERATION

No, I'm not going to be offering a Masterclass here, but wanted to share a bit more of the process.

In this case the image is a pretty good one, it just needs a bit more contrast and perhaps a color boost.

This is a windswept shoreline along Maui's northeastern shore, just off of the legendary "Road to Maui". This is a beautiful little cove and town, with a dramatic and spectacular lava rock shoreline.

Very picturesque. This little composition seemed evocative of the works of one of my favorite contemporary artists, James Coleman.  His early commercial works are beautiful and romanticized paintings of tropical settings.

So I was led to experiment on my own images to see if I could create such a work starting with one of my images. You'll need to click on each image to see it in more detail than the thumbnails below.

The original is a nice composition, but in need of color enhancement I think.

This is the enhanced image, which I think is rather nice and could easily be an illustration, perhaps for an article on dealing with inclement weather in paradise.

The final image is a creation using a dry brush filter to give it the appearance of a painting, with small tweaks to color and contrast.

Would love to know your thoughts. Please comment below.

VISIT TO THE DISTILLERY

Taking a trip over to visit the Hawaii Sea Spirits distillery today after a morning 

out on the water looking for whales.

 (Martini courtesy CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.)

UPON THE OCCASION...

By the time you read this I will be on the road up the side of Mount Haleakala, the tallest peak on the Hawaiian island of Maui. I am ascending the dormant volcano, doubtless with dozens of other people, seeking one of the most beautiful sunrises on planet Earth.

I have been fortunate enough to experience it once before. But today is rather special. It's my 57th birthday, and I can think of no better way to start my day and year off than with a trip to the summit.

It's a spiritual and cleansing thing I need to do after a couple of rough years. Today we are renewed.

Hoping for clear weather. 

2018: THE YEAR AHEAD

As noted a few days ago, 2017 was a year best left deeply in the rearview mirror. Tomorrow I leave for a five day visit to Washington, DC, to bury my father. The last of the tasks left from what I noted was a sad time around here. But if nothing else, I am an optimist. Therefore, let's look ahead to see what the new year promises.

In less than a month my wife and I are taking a much-needed vacation in one of our favorite places, Maui. Given financial considerations we're relying upon flier miles and a timeshare, but we're allowing ourselves a few splurges along the way. We've already booked a photographers' high-speed whale-watching trip. Followed the next day by a dinner cruise. Given my family's history with the sea it seems fitting our first real vacation in a while involves a lot of water.

Later in the year plans are pending for a trip up to Vancouver, also one of our favorite places, to burn off some airline tickets that were put on hold given my father's at the time failing health. We're not sure if that well be a land-bound trip, or used to burn off some cruise ship credits. Stay tuned.

Along the way we've committed to taking weekend trips, up and down the coast, as well as our usual Vegas excursions. And adventures around our own area. God knows LA and Orange County are rife with opportunities to explore and experience.

And a few martinis, of course

In other words, trying to get back to what was considered "normal" a few years ago.

And you can, of course, read all about it here.

Thanks for continuing to visit and read.

And Happy New Year. Welcome to 2018.

MONDAY, MONDAY

It's a busy time of year both during the work week and the social season on the weekends.

If you're having some trouble with your Monday morning, here are some aspects of coffee to get your week off right. From the red beans to the finished product.

Coffee growers, Maui

Kona

Maui

Smart Mouth Cafe, Vancouver

Starbuck's, New York

Peppermill Lounge, Las Vegas

Viento y Agua, Long Beach

HOW CAN I BE OFF THE BEATEN PATH? THERE'S A ROAD HERE! #5

Northwestern coastal drive on Maui.

Tight turns and sheer cliffs.

AWAKE AGAIN

Hello again. 

Sorry for the delay. Got back from the trip around the country and the emotional toll of the last two years took, well, its toll. Exhaustion set in. Plus sadness with the news of a dear friend passing immediately after losing my father.

But, time marches on despite our best intentions.

This in mind I am posting a shot of the sunrise atop Mount Haleakala in Hawaii. It's one of the most spectacle moments of my life and worth revisiting. Plus it works well as a metaphor for restarting those things which really mean a lot to me. With every closing door one opens, or so they say. 

I prefer the sentiment that with every sunset there is the promise of a sunrise.

HANA, MAUI - SHUCKING IT ALL

We've all been at a point in our lives where we wanted to do 

nothing more than shuck it all and escape to a beach somewhere.

And some of us do exactly that...

HANA, MAUI - ANOTHER HAPPY PLACE

I recently mentioned having your "Happy Place". I am fortunate to have several, including my home.

This is another one of them, however. On Maui there is a famous drive across the northeastern half of the island. The Road to Hana.

It's a thing. Look it up.

At far end, just after the town of Hana itself (which is wonderful) and before the road curves back towards the rest of civilization, lie a handful of remote and beautiful beaches interlaced with volcanic outcroppings. The combination gives the region a remote and rugged feel.

It's definitely a "Happy Place".

KA'ANAPALI, HI - WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY

From yesterday's picture of the bitter cold of Minneapolis in Winter, to May on the 

western shore of Maui facing Lanai. 

A calm afternoon along the beach, just watching the world go by.

KA'ANAPALI, MAUI, HI -- SUNSET MEMORIES

Both sunrises and sunsets are legendary in America's 50th state, and I am fortunate enough to having seen and photograph wonderful examples.

A vivid recollection for me is the final sunset we saw when my family was moving from Honolullu to Newport, Rhode Island in 1969. Watching the sun go down from an upper floor of the Honolulu Holiday Inn, we sat on the hotel's balcony as the Islands bid us their own special goodbye. 

(At least that's how my mother described it.)

Below is the view from the town of Ka'anapali, along Maui's western shore.

KAPALUA, MAUI - "MAI TAI" IS NOT A BUSINESSMAN'S NECKPIECE

From Wikipedia and Trader Vics:

The Original Mai Tai from 1944

Ingredients:

• 2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice
• Juice of one lime
• 1/2 oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curaçao
• 1/4 oz Rock Candy Syrup
• 1/2 oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup

Method:

• Shake vigorously.
• Add a sprig of fresh mint and spent lime shell

There are more modern bar-friendly versions. 

Whatever the variation, always a refreshing drink on a warm Hawaiian beach.

SUNRISE, SUNSET

“There's always a story. It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.” 
                  
                                                               ― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

It seems appropriate that I am writing this entry in the pre-dawn hours, tucked tightly into a cocoon of darkness. In just a little over an hour, as I write this, the sun will rise and a new day will begin.

Sunrise, Long Beach, CA

Sunrise is a magical time for many of us -- though I'll laughingly admit there's a large group of Americans who only theorize about sunrise, having never actually witnessed one for themselves. But the slow ascent of day, the gradual brightening of the sky to the East, with the sounds of birds as an accompanying orchestra, is one which when you pause to observe is a wonderful thing.

Sunset, Dana Point, CA

Likewise, at the end of every day the mirror of the dawn occurs: dusk. When the sun retreats back into the night and we all pack up our lives for a short time and rest to await the next day. Well, many of us rest...and that kind of depends upon which day of the week it is.

Both dawn and dusk are favorites for photographers. The lighting is dramatic and intense, giving us both inspiration and opportunity. Either directly shooting the sun as it rises or descends, or using the light from it as it falls upon some other target of our attentions.

Sunrise, Mt Haleakala, Maui, HI

I have been fortunate to have seen some truly spectacular sunrises and sunsets -- including a few of them which qualify as "Life Events". Seeing the sun rise from the top of Mount Haleakala in Hawaii was a truly inspirational moment, which I've described here, with the beauty and intensity of the sunrise over the massive volcanic crater, accompanied by the beautiful voice of a Hawaiian singer greeting the new day with a song.

Sunset from Mallory Pier, Key West, FL

Party time...

The carnival atmosphere of a sunset in Florida's Key West as seen from Mallory Pier is a fun and festive event as hundreds of people gather to watch a flotilla of sailboats dance across the horizon as they're silhouetted by the retreating sun.

Bodies of water seem to be appropriate canvases for the breaking of day or setting of the sun. The reflective nature enhances and frames the sun in a way that is remarkably profound and -- thankfully -- quite photogenic. And it oftentimes is an event which we will remember long after the sun has set and we've returned to our regular activities. It's a moment of pause, of -- pardon the pun -- reflection.

Sunrise on the tundra

As a photographer I have been to and seen many different spots in this world, but inevitably some of the most impactful moments have been in the very early morning hours when I walk, usually alone, around a place as it slowly wakes up. To see the sun as it comes up over the ocean, or a mountain, or the flat expanse of the Canadian tundra. Sunrises are mostly solitary events.

Sunsets are communal, shared, and more celebratory in a way. It's not the end of the day for many people, just the ending of daylight. As such, watching the sun go down is a group effort, while the sunrise is not. There may be one or two other souls who have similarly gotten up early, grabbed a cup of coffee and wandered out to see the morning's light. I described one such sunrise here.

These are some of my favorite places to see the sun awaken and also fall to sleep.

Sunset, Grand Canyon, AZ

Last vestige of light over Joshua Tree NP, CA

Sunset aboard the MSY Wind Surf - Adriatic Sea

Sunset, Hanalei Bay, Kauai, HI

Sunrise, Monument Valley, AZ/UT

Just before sunrise, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, HI

Sunset, Washington, DC

Sunset, Nice, France

Sunrise, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Sunrise, Sedona, AZ

Sunset, Santa Fe, NM

Sunset, Las Vegas

Sunrise off the coast of Mexico

Sunrise, Cayman Islands

Sunrise just off the coast of Panama

Sunset, Cartagena, Colombia

Sunset, Kona, Big Island, HI