Photographing Hawaii

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:

Coconut Island, a small island off the Big Island of Hawaii:

A narrow bridge connects Coconut Island and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Brocken Spectre. Haleakala National Park. Maui, Hawaii:

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:

Hawaii from the Air: a ride in an open-door helicopter over the land of rainbows, photographing lava, smoking craters and Hawaii, from the air, is a must

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.

Fog engulfs the Maui observatory, which, itself, is beyond tourists’ reach.

More fog and clouds over other observatories all over Hawaiian Islands:

Some of my black-and-white nature images from Hawaii at La Vie Galerie opening night:

Here are a few more samples of my nature-and-the-environment photography work featured in the first 2019 issue of ARTS & FOOD Magazine

Other dramatic images in the land of rainbows:

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Severe weather:

Also, (re)discover Mother Nature. Lose yourself in nature, while in Hawaii.

Reconnect with the small things in nature and their fascinating universe.

Visit Hawaii’s botanical gardens. Learn about the history of Hawaii and the bread fruit‘s role in that history.

Check out the chocolate and vanilla ice-cream (to die for!). It’s made locally from chocolate and vanilla grown, locally, in Hawaii.

Stop by a farmers market and splurge on a farm-grown pineapple. That’s something worth tasting and trying at least once in a lifetime!

Take a shelter dog out for a stroll or a day at the beach.

Also learn a few words in Hawaiian: Aloha, Mahalo (thank you), Anuenue (rainbow), Ahinahina (“very gray” or silversword, Hawaii’s national plant)

Visit Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.

And here are a few snapshots of yours truly in Hawaii:

I dream of the day when I can go back to Hawaii. (after all, a girl can dream, right? :-))

Until then,

Hang loose like a mongoose!

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Alina Oswald