This spot probably does not exist...

now.

This image was made along Coal Creek just south of Lafayette. The date was almost a year to the day before the 100 year floods devastated this waterway. I haven't been able to look for this tree as there is now a 30 foot creek between the trail and the area. It really isn't safe to walk down there with trees at crooked angles and debris everywhere.

 I will get in there soon hopefully and possibly post an "after" picture. I suspect there is a 10 foot high pile of debris up against this cottonwood...if the tree itself hasn't become debris. The water during the flood was certainly higher than what is shown in the image.

This image was obviously from a calmer day.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography  

Haena Beach Jungle

Just behind the high water mark along the beach from Haena to Ke'e is this little stretch of jungle that is often completely deserted. There is a path and some take it  but most walk down the beach instead. It is very quiet, green and photogenic. I spent a couple hours there in January and came away with these. Of course, I meant to go back before I left Kaua'i but did not. Maybe next time (sigh).

These were all shot with the D3, 24-70 @f/16, 1-3 seconds.

 

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography  

Day for Night

I think the movie guys call this "day for night". Just exposing at a level that makes the time of day seem dark. I love to take a shot like this into black and white as the essence is really that burning glare and the dark rocks.

Rocks and ocean glare at Anini on Kaua'i.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Ocean blurs and rocks...

on the east side of Kaua'i. Early morning. 20 second exposure times using the Singh Ray variable density filter.

Photoshop CS6 Beta is Fun

I've been using the new Photoshop CS6 Beta. I like it a lot. The Camera Raw changes that include Highlights and Shadows sliders that replace the Recovery and Fill Light controls are excellent. And I especially like being able to brush in White Balance settings as in this photo taken on the Kuilau Trail, Kaua'i. The trees, moss and backgrounds had a very green tinted light that worked well for those components but the leaf was left looking dull and uninteresting. I brushed on the warm sunlight that was there but not recorded by the camera and it really pops.

Leaf and moss covered tree. D3, Nikkor 24-70, 1/200, f2.8, ISO 200.

Other additions to Camera Raw's brush tool include noise and moire reduction. Here's the Brush panel from CS6.

CS6 Brush Panel

Here's a comparison of the Basic panels from CS5 and CS6.

CS5

CS6

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Hawaiian Night

Some night photography from Kauai. These were all taken on full moon (or nearly) nights.

25 second exposure, taken from Anini Beach looking east towards the Kilauea Lighthouse.

25 second exposure, taken from Anini Beach looking east towards the Kilauea Lighthouse.

69 second exposure, taken in the Hale Manu garden driveway.

Handheld exposure at Haena Beach looking east.

3 second exposure through some palm fronds. The moon is a ghost image (reflection) caused by a filter. I cloned away the over exposed moon.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Tide Pools at Anini Bay

I've been frustrated with this area that is so close to the house (takes only 5 minutes to get there), has such great rocks and pools and such crappy light most mornings, days and evenings!

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Hau Tree and Fisherman

A fisherman on Kalihiwai Bay under a Hau Tree. The Hau flowers continually and is related to the hibiscus. It blooms yellow and turns orange/red within the day and falls off. The red you see here are leaves turning however.

These yellow blossoms fell prematurely.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography  

Obligatory Sunsets

I think it is a rule that photographers have to shoot the sunset at Ke'e beach here on Kaua'i. Looking down the Na Pali Coast near the winter solstice provides some nice color. So, I'm not going to get myself in trouble. Here are a few of mine. Hopefully I can post some from much later in the year too.

I shot this much closer to capture sun on the waves on a different day but wasn't successful. I'll be back to that spot!

The tide was low!

Great reflections in the area protected by the reef.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Tropical Plant Studies

The plants here are amazing of course. It has been interesting how many shots lend themselves to black and white conversions. Perhaps the lack of really interesting light has led me in the black and white direction. The light has been, for the most part, pretty flat and dull during this tropical winter.

Flowering  red Ti.

Emerging water lily.

Fan palm detail

Fan palm detail again.

Palm leaves.

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© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

I'm shooting thousands of images...

And I'm quite behind in processing and posting. Shooting here on Kaua'i is challenging. The sea, wind, rain, and sky conditions all contribute. Shooting in the morning in tough as there is often heavy cloud cover rendering everything that should be colorful as gray. Linda found a great website I've been using for assessing sky cover early in the morning (http://graphical.weather.gov/) I'll be switching to more evening shoots.

As shown here, some palms and moon at night. The vertical image is a composite of the moon exposure and the palm exposure.

Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70, 1/2 sec.for the palms and 1/60 for the moon, f/19, ISO 400, tripod used.

Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70, 1/2 sec., f/19, ISO 400, tripod used.

Click to enlarge images
© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Green Light

Our arrival in Kaua'i was greeted with some really wet weather. It rained over 5 inches on the day this photo was made. At one point the light turned the oddest shade of green/yellow and turned the Hale Manu garden into a monochromatic blur of tropical foliage.

Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70, 1/30, f/2.8, ISO 3200, handheld.

Click to enlarge images

© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Finally got my camera out of the bag...

but just barely. The property on Kaua'i that we are renting is a small (3.5 acre) botanical garden. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the sights and photog. project ideas. I haven't posted since Oct. 27th. I'll probably have something else from the California part of the road trip.

This is a decaying bird of paradise variant right off my lanai. It is about a foot wide.

Processed with Nik SilverEfex Pro, my own variant of the Antique Plate preset. Nikon D3, Nikon 70-200, 1/1000, f/2.8, ISO 200, handheld. Click to enlarge.

Darker, sharper version. Processed with Nik SilverEfex Pro, my own variant of the pinhole preset. Nikon D3, Nikon 70-200, 1/125, f/8, ISO 720, handheld.

© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography 

Zion National Park Water

Next stop on the road trip. I am almost angry that it took so long for me to get back to this amazing place. Falling water seemed to be the theme for me today. Click for a larger view.

Weeping Rock detail. Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70, 1/1500, f/2.8, 2500 ISO, handheld.

Lower Emerald Pool detail. Nikon D3, Nikon 24-70, 1/3000, f/6.7, 640 ISO, handheld

© Steve Gandy Photography - SteveGandy.com/photography