Clouds above Molokai

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good

Not on this particular afternoon.  This wind came from the west and allowed kite boarders a rare chance to have fun in Maunalua Bay.

Waiting it Out

This week we had a drive by Hurricane, turned Tropical Storm, finally dying out as a Tropical Depression. The only significant weather phenomenon from it was an easterly surf swell not usually seen here. Most of the time it’s a Trade Wind swell not storm generated. Plus, the direction allowed for surfing in spots that rarely get good action.   This shot was taken looking across to Makapuu Lighthouse.  The surfer paused, waiting for a good moment to walk the rest of the way on the rocks and into the surf.

Tower of Cloud

Up and Over

It’s been awhile since I created a sequence image.  I saw the possibility as he was going into the maneuver. It would’ve been a more complete image, if I’d seen it a little sooner.

 

Flying Paparazzi

Here’s a shot from January. One of the paraglider pilots was getting a flying portrait of another.

 

 

Kite Boarding Breeze

Rain Behind Olomana

I took a series of portrait shots almost a year ago to create this panorama.  They’ve been dormant on my hard drive, waiting for me to rediscover them.

 

HDR

I’ve been using the Sony a77 M2 for over a month.  With many new features compared to the a700, I’m still in the learning mode.  Occasionally, I’ve tried the in camera HDR feature. Strictly speaking it isn’t a new feature. My Konica Minolta 7D had a similar option. Yesterday, I was taking pics of my paragliding friends launching from a spot above Makapuu Beach.  It was late in the day and the launch was in shadow.  I decided to try HDR to see how it balances the shadow side with the brighter side of the scene compared to a RAW image.  The shot below is the result.

 

 

Here, as in other HDR images I’ve made, the colors are stronger. The greens are more intense than the RAW version. The blues are deeper.  Plus, the image is sharper without being over sharpened.  Below, is a pic taken in RAW and exported as a JPEG from a moment before.  While it did a good job handling the shadows, the colors are muted.(Or more realistic.)

 

 

The only adjustments I’ve made to the pics was standard sharpening upon import to Lightroom.  I also used a graduated filter in the sky to bring out the clouds.

Surfer in Sequence

I’ve done a bunch of sequence shots with my hang gilding and paragliding friends.  Today I saw the same possibility while getting some surf shots.  There’s a spot called China Walls.  A shelf along the shoreline of Koko Head where a south swell will run almost perpendicular to the ledge. A surfer gets a nice ride if the wave breaks at the correct angle to the ledge. I got this handheld and at noon.  I’m generally pleased but it does lack a sense of depth. I don’t get a sense of the swell as it moved thru the frame propelling the surfer along. Maybe earlier in the day or late afternoon would improve the composition.