This image is another sunrise exposure of the lava rock tidal pool on Poipu shoreline. This is a different composition of the same location as the photo in my previous post, Bathed In Poipu Sunrise. Both images were shot at 180 seconds.

I am still experimenting with my ND110 filter. Although I like the results that this filter produces, it is a time consuming process to setup and to execute a shot. During fifteen minutes worth of quality light, I can only pull off two or three shots at best. Perhaps when I have more time, I will write a little more about my experience with this filter. For now, it is a very cumbersome process: take meter reading, compose with Lee GND filter attached, remove GND filter holder, screw in the ND110, re-mount GND filter holder, switch to manual focus, then wait about five minutes in between shots (3 minutes exposure + 2-3 minutes in camera processing time).

Back to my latest Kauai pictures, I don’t have too many images to post, but will try to post one or two more.

This image is a three minutes sunrise exposure of the lava rock tidal pools on Kauai’s shoreline. Two filters were used: a BW ND110 to lengthen the exposure time and a 0.6 Lee GND hard-edge filter to balance out the extreme contrast between the sky and the foreground lava rocks.

I spent a few days in Kauai during the last week of 2009. This image is the last sunrise of 2009 that I photographed. I didn’t take too many photos during the trip. Unlike my usual travel routine, photography wasn’t a priority. I came home with a few images instead of hundreds. For two consecutive mornings, I did nothing but sat on Kauai’s Poipu shoreline and soaked in the warm sunrise light.

I will post more next week.

Poipu Sunrise, Kauai

~5:30am local time … I was ankle deep in the water … my running shoes and socks were soaking wet, but I didn’t really care. I stood still and tried not to disturb the water surface. This was one of the reasons why I returned to Kauai: not to escape, not to let go, but to find a place to recharge my spirit and to regain my balance. The light was not only mesmerizing, it revived my soul. It sounds corny, but that was exactly what I needed.

I remembered shooting a sunrise in Mono Lake last winter in freezing temperatures … here in Poipu, I was in tank top and swimming trunks, soaking in all the energy that the early morning sun offered. As the sun rose higher, the shadows behind me gradually disappeared. I’ve seen a few beautiful sunrises, but this was the first that I didn’t see any other tripods near me; only a lone fisherman showed up moment later.

I wasn’t going to post this photo, but decided to post it anyway. It’s my personal dedication for those who can’t seem get out of their darkness: the light is always there, one just has to make oneself available for the light to radiate one’s darkness away. Can’t find the light? let it find you.

I shot this Poipu’s fisherman a few minutes after the previous photo. The clouds moved in and wrapped around the sun in a spectacular ball of light. I took a few shots, then looked around for another subject to add to the composition, found nothing. I was about to put myself in the photo, then I saw this fisherman walked right into my frame.

I saw him earlier back near the trail head, casting his line in the dark. Haft an hour later, he had caught up with me. He kept on casting his line, reeling it back in, walking up the coast and repeating the process. I waited until he got the the “right” spot and started firing after the water surface settled. He reeled his line back in, then walked out of my frame and disappeared. We never spoke; each worked quietly on his own. There was no one else out there but us. I’m glad that he was out there, adding a personal touch to my photo. For a moment, I envied his life on the island, fishing in solitude during a spectacular sunrise.

Poipu Sunrise, Kauai

Just returned from five days in Kauai. Had a wonderful time. Plenty of sunshine. Shot a few good photos. Will get around to posting some more.

This was shot during our first morning on the island. I set out for a short hike in the dark with a flash light. Although I hadn’t scouted this particular area before, it wasn’t too difficult to find the trail on the east side of Shipwreck beach towards the Makewehi Lithfied cliffs. By the time I got in position to frame this shot, the clouds had turned from red to yellow, and the sun was getting a little too high, but it was quite an experience sitting there watching the light and clouds show through my view finder.