Snow dusted apple orchard and pines, Yosemite National Park, California
Happy Holidays and welcome Winter Solstice!
Midwinter, Yule, the Longest Night, Jól – the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is known by many names, but the shortest day of the year is the official start of winter and the perfect time to reflect on the past twelve months.
As 2024 comes to a close I’m grateful for another year of new experiences and travel near and far. And as always I appreciate your support and company in exploring all the natural beauty that surrounds us.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a healthy, prosperous New Year!
Waipi’o Valley, Hamakua Coast, The Big Island, Hawaii
Tucked away on the remote Hamakua Coast of The Big Island, Hawaii’s Valley of the Kings preserves the essence of ancient Hawaii. From its black sand beach, dramatic cliffs, and waterfalls to the scattering of taro farms that have worked this land for generations, this idyllic valley is a wonderful place to explore and photograph.
The overlook at the end of Highway 240 provides sweeping views of the valley below, but the adventurous traveler will want to experience this verdant valley up close. The excitement starts as you leave the overlook and descend the 25% grade, taxing both engines and muscles alike. This paved public road, which is only open to 4-wheel drive vehicles and foot traffic, is the steepest road of its length in the United States and possibly the world.
Waipiʻo means “curved water” in the Hawaiian language and aptly describes the lazy river that greets you at the bottom. Wild horses can often be seen wandering along its banks, and this is a good spot to bring a kayak and explore upstream. Heading towards the Pacific the road ends at the beach and a primitive picnic area, but you can cross the river when the water is low and experience your own piece of paradise a la Robinson Crusoe. The black sand beach to the west is usually deserted and the occasional washed up fishing float or Hawaiian offering amid the coconut palms provide a truly remote feeling.
It’s easy to see why this was a favorite spot of the ancient Hawaiian royalty, and you might remember it as the final scene in Kevin Costner’s sci-fi epic Waterworld. When it’s time to leave, your only regret is that first glimpse of the road back to reality.
In today’s mobile world of social media and online everything we are exposed to more daily imagery than at any previous time in history. As a result, our visual sensitivity is developing at a rapid rate along with the need to mentally process these images in a timely manner.
Much the same way we have a hard time watching the dated animation from old sci-fi movies, it’s easy to become more critical of what we like (and Like on Facebook). And with all of the various processing techniques (HDR, focus stacking, exposure blending to name a few) it’s also easy to be lulled into sensory overload from this highly polished visual world. But whatever technology may hold for the future, one thing will never change and that’s the need to create an emotional response with our images.
A technically perfect image may have the wow factor of a Hollywood blockbuster, but perfection does not necessarily create heart – and that’s really what photography is all about. Regardless of the subject matter, lens used or processing applied, convey the mood and emotion in your images through lighting, weather or technique and your photography will always rise above the crowd.
“Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.” -David Alan Harvey
