Today, August 4, is President Obama’s birthday. Since he’s a Hawaiian native, and also since August 21, only a few weeks from today, is Hawaii Statehood Day, here are a few images from the majestic, mesmerizing Aloha land, the land of rainbows:
Leap of Faith:
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Leap of Faith. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Known by many names–Brocken Bow, Gravity Rainbow or Brockengespenst–the Brocken spectre is an optical illusion originally observed and described by theologian and natural scientist (with a lunar crater named after him) Johann Esaias Silberschlag (16 Nov 1721 – 22 Nov 1791) in 1780 on Brocken Mountain, Germany…hence, the name of the spectre.
Brocken Mountain famous visitors include Goethe, who mentioned the Spectre in Faust, and poet Heinrich Heine, who mentioned the spectre in Harzreise (1826). The words “Viele Steine, müde Beine, Aussicht keine, Heinrich Heine” describe the difficult mountain climb in foggy conditions. [Note: The poet’s work has inspired other authors. In recent years, in his book Smash Cut Brad Gooch mentions Heinrich Heine‘s poem about a mermaid called Lorelei.]
Brocken Spectre appears as a “halo-like ring of glory,” also called a “saint’s halo” or “god-shadows.” The spectre is an enlarged shadow of the observer surrounded by the rainbow. This halo becomes visible on mountain regions, usually at sunset, when the sun is low in the sky, and when clouds, fog or rain are present.
NOTE: While I’m glad that I could witness the Brocken spectre on top of Haleakala, visiting its original sight, the Brocken Mountain, is still on my bucket list 🙂 ]
Live Lava watching; Hawaii National Park, Big Island of Hawaii:
Lava face formed by live lava on its way to the ocean. Hawaii Volcano National Park, Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Lava face formed by live lava flow, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Photographing face-like shapes formed by live lava on its way down to the ocean, while in Hawaii National Park, Big Island of Hawaii, in 2010.
One-eyed lava peeks through solidified lava, creating a half-faced creature. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Slow motion live lava backlights a tree branch. Volcano National Park. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Tree branches catch on fire, as live lava finds its way down from the crater to the ocean. Volcano National Park. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Fiery, molted matter peeking through the solidified lava. Volcano National Park. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Molten Lava. Hawaii Volcano National Park. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Marking the path of live lava taking over the road. Hawaii Volcano National Park. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Coming Closer. Live Lava Approaching. Live Lava Photography by Alina Oswald. Volcano National Park. Big Island of Hawaii.
Measuring stick engulfed by lava. Volcano National Park. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
People silhouetted by lava glow. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
When lava meets the ocean. Aerial photography by Alina Oswald. Big Island of Hawaii. Award-winning photograph at juried competition. SoHo Photo Gallery, NYC.
Dormant craters, Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Crater inside Haleakala Crater. Maui, HI. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Napali Coast Observatory seen through fog and clouds. Black-and-White photography by Alina Oswald.
B&W aerial photography of Kauai, the Garden Island and Nihau, the Forbidden Island. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Aerial photography of smoking volcano. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald. Award-winning image of juried contest. SoHo Photo NYC gallery.
Getting ready to fly through a rainbow, in a no-door helicopter ride over the Garden Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Rainbow over Napali Coast. Aerial view. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Hawaii
Dormant Haleakala at Sunset. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Sunset at Haleakala. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Full rainbow, as it was approached by the no-door helicopter flying over Hawaii. Aerial photography by Alina Oswald.
Na Pali Coast. Kauai. Aerial Photography by Alina Oswald.
Na Pali Coast, Kauai. Aerial Photography by Alina Oswald.
Aerial views of Nihau and Kauai islands. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Aerial views of Hawaii taken from an open-door helicopter. Aerial photography by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Man and Nature. Helicopter flying over Napali Coast. Aerial Photography by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved.
Aerial photography of smoking lava fields of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald. Winning image of juried contest and part of a SoHo Photo NYC gallery show.
Watching the sunset from above the clouds. Haleakala National Park. Maui, Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald.
Aerial photography of smoking volcano. Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald. Award-winning image at juried photo contest. SoHo Photo Gallery, NYC.
Aerial photograph of Hilo, Hawaii. Photo taken from a no-door helicopter.
Aerial photography of lava reaching the ocean. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights reserved.
Capturing the big picture, as well as details, or specific elements seen through a more dramatic lens
Fog: The feeling of walking through fog, along the edge of a cliff, while hearing the Pacific Ocean waves crashing hundreds of feet below.
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photo by Alina Oswald. All Rights Reserved. (in the background, left, Mighty MO and Arizona Memorial, as well as the observation tower
And here are a few snapshots of yours truly in Hawaii:
Against the wind and waves in Hawaii.
In Hawaii.
I dream of the day when I can go back to Hawaii. (after all, a girl can dream, right? :-))
Alina Oswald is a writer and photographer published nationally and internationally, covering LGBTQIA, HIV and AIDS, and COVID-19-related stories. She is the Managing Editor of A&U--Art & Understanding Magazine and the Arts Editor of Out IN Jersey Magazine. As a photographer, Alina Oswald works with small businesses and business professionals, covering portraits, events, and promotional photography. As a teaching photographer, she teaches and mentors teen and adult students. For more details, contact her at alinaoswald.com.
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