A Sense of Place
"A place is a piece of the whole environment that has been claimed by the feelings."
~ Alan Gussow
I came across the above quote while reading The Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich. Heinrich uses this idea of place to identify home, a location that he describes as both physically and psychologically comfortable and familiar. And while I agree that a home is indeed a place that is familiar, I think, too, that this idea of place can also apply to the unfamiliar-- to the places where we travel, to the places we explore and to the places of art and photography.
Homage to the Sun and Moon, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
I often say that the strongest images come when a relationship has been developed with the scene. Perhaps it is nothing more than a relationship of comfort, like Mr. Gussow suggests. Or maybe the scene creates a sense of awe, or some kind of inspiration. Or perhaps the scene stirs the opposite, resulting in discomfort or anxiety.
I readily admit that sometimes this relationship can be akin to love at first sight, and everything just clicks, making the creative process easy and the truths found readily discernable. But most often this relationship between the photographer and the land develops over time, walks, hikes, and multiple drives. Time spent alone. Time spent with oneself. Time spent feeling the local. It is a relationship deeper than passive evocation. It is a relationship that takes work and action because it is ultimately a relationship based on an understanding of the self gained through time with the land.
Finding Zen in Zion, Zion National Park, Utah, USA
Maze, Mountain Sheep Canyon, Navajo Nation, Arizona, USA
I get the words, and then I get to thinkin'
I don't wanna think, I wanna feel
And how do I feel?
~ Pearl Jam
When I am in nature I feel her presence. I feel the mountain. I feel the surf, the wave, the energy, the light. The act of taking the photograph helps me come to terms with these feelings and emotions, and in this sense the creative experience becomes the ultimate experience. We can never photograph the entire scene-- no matter how wide our lens or deep the zoom. So what is it that choose to put in the frame. And why? Where is the sense of place, the feeling in the scene? And is it translated into the frame? These are just some of the ideas that I try to conceptualize in my photography. Hopefully I am successful, and the viewer and I are both able to connect deeper with one another and to the land that holds us.
The Morning Road, Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Arizona
Thanks for reading.
Aloha,
Lee
Mahalo Kapa'a. Aloha Hanapepe!
Aloha. Three years ago I opened my first photo gallery in Kapa'a. When I started the business I didn't know what the hell I was doing. But I showed up, continued to take pictures and things worked out well. But I was always looking for a new space to open a new gallery. So eight months ago when I opened my second gallery on Kauai's west side, in the eccentric art town of Hanapepe, I felt that I might have found a new home for Light Source. And last month I got the chance to make that feeling a reality. I completely renovated and expanded the Hanapepe location and am stoked to showcase my photography exclusively from this west side gallery.
The timing is right, too. Since my lease in Kapa'a is up at the end of the month I know it's the right time to let that gallery go. So from May 9th, 2016 the Kapa'a location is officially closed. And I feel awesome about the decision. It was a great start, and I am incredibly thankful for the patrons who visited me there. But it is time to move on to bigger and better spaces. So the next time you are on Kauai come see me in Hanapepe town. I'll have more black and white images; more travel pics; and more nature photography from the magnificent US National Parks, beginning with a few of the parks in southern Utah. I leave tomorrow night for three weeks shooting in Bryce Canyon NP, Zion NP, Capitol Reef NP and a few places in between. I am really looking forward to the trip and am excited about showing you some of the results upon my return. In the meantime, let's celebrate. Let's celebrate three years in Kapa'a and welcome many, many more in Hanapepe. Let's have a SALE! All digitally signed prints are 30% OFF from now until JUNE 1st. Use the coupon code HANAPEPE30 at checkout.*
Here's a quick look at the new space in Hanapepe
Have an awesome day.
Aloha,
Lee
*All orders will be processed and shipped after I return from Utah June 1st. Thank you for your understanding.
Planning a Shot
In this post I'll try to explain one of the approaches I often take when planning a shot.
I'll think about a location, time of day/night, and what it is that I wish to express or communicate. What is it about the location that I find cool or interesting. What is it that I am trying to get people to relate to?
In truth, these questions don't often come in one shoot. And they are even less likely to be answered on a single visit to a given location. I believe the strongest images come when a relationship with a place has been developed. Of course, sometimes it's love at first sight, and you get the shot then and there. But on (most?) other occasions, I find that a quality image comes with time spent together-- listening, observing, seeing. Creating. That's why I'll often just sit and watch before even taking the camera out of the bag. And that's why I go through the days shoot, looking critically at the work I did. There's no perfect picture, but there are certainly ideas and feelings that can be imperfectly conveyed through mistakes in composition, lighting, technique and settings. It's like sometimes, we (me and nature) were both there, but I misunderstood the conversation. Or perhaps, I just wasn't listening as well as I should have been. These are the times when I go back home and make notes like the one above. Put it in my pocket and hike out there again on another day.
******
You can see this series of hiking, shooting, reviewing, repeating, refining in the following pics.
Location: Heritage Trail (just beyond the stables and before Mahaulepu beach)
Time of Day: Sunrise
heritage trail 3.15, 16mm, f/7.1 @ 45sec. (ND filter)
I took this pic in March 2015. Ideas that I had after viewing it:
Likes
- the colors! the blues and the reds and how they work together in the scene!
Don't Likes
- water is a bit too calm-- i would like to see more movement and perhaps POWER in the scene.
- sky-- too dull. to many clouds. too dark
- rock is too dark. needs light on it to brighten up the scene and really show the beauty of the golden red hues in the rock
- too soft around the edges
Next time try
- "Better" light
- Convey movement of the ocean
- tighter lens
- ND OK
heritage trail 4.5.16, 24mm, f/6.3 @ 4 sec (ND filter)
Likes
- the colors of ocean
- colors of the rock
- combination of colors
- movement of the ocean seen in the lines under the rock
Don't Likes
- lens choice-- too tight. can't ease into the scene.
- no "drama" or eye candy in sky-- would be better to have more sky and perhaps clouds in the sky. everyone loves a few clouds!
- ocean too calm. Although the ND filter smooths the ocean would be better if there was a south swell (south shore!) or wind swell in the water (southeast location)
Next Time Try
- Go when there is ocean activity-- either a south swell or windy conditions that create wind swell so waves or ocean crashes against the cliff-- show how the cliff is remade and reshaped. forces of nature, elements of nature.
- Just after sunrise is best?
- No ND filter-- just a polarizer
*******
So after two visits over a year apart I developed a strategy and a plan to shoot this rock that I sometimes call Westeros (in homage to Game of Thrones) and at other times Snaggle Tooth. Here is the basic plan that I thought out:
Location: Heritage Trail (beyond the stables, but before Mahaulepu Beach)
Time of Day: Sunrise-- soft, warm light to accentuate the color of rocks and lighten the color of the ocean
Weather: Clear or partly cloudy with Swell in the ocean
Wish to Communicate:
- Movement and patterns in the ocean (in keeping with my style)
- force/power of the ocean to hint at it's role in shaping the coastline
- ocean color and depth
- colors of the Heritage Trail along Kauai's south shore
- pleasing sky (weather and proportion of sky within the composition)
Logistics for the shoot:
- Wake up at 4am
- Leave house by 4.45am
- Drive to Shipwrecks, park at public parking
- Begin hike around 5.30 am (no later than 5:45)
- be at location and set up by sunrise @ 6.20 am
- lens-- zeiss 21mm milvus (manual focus prime)
heritage trail 4.8.16, 21mm, f/16 @ 1/5 sec, circular polarizer
Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long for the conditions that I was looking for. The trade winds kicked up and brought 28-30 mph gusts along the northeast, east and south eastern shores. With winds like that, I knew I would have the chance to photograph a lively ocean. And I did. It's just that my favorite shots from the day have a little spray on the filter and the images are not as clear as I would like them to be. And secondly, there's one little shadow that I don't like. You can see it in the lower right corner in the picture below...
heritage trail 4.8.16, 21mm, f/16 @ 1/5 sec, circular polarizer
Hike, shoot, review, refine, repeat.
Enjoy the work.
Keep at it.
Grind away.
After this shoot I felt like I was getting closer to what I wanted, but still not there. So the likes, don't likes and things to try again...
Likes
- Ocean color and movement (like a painting)
- Color of cliff
- Sky
- Lens choice
Don't Likes
- Spray on lens
- Not enough rock/cliff in foreground
- Shadow in right corner
Next Time Try
- Lens cap on until perfect light for shot. Stay disciplined
- more rock in foreground
- Keep aperture range and shutter speed range around f/13~ f/16 and 1/5 to .5 seconds
- Draw compositional ideas and take with (see sketch at beginning of post)
***********
So after these shoots and sketches I went out again a couple of days later and this is what I saw:
heritage trail 4.11.16, 21mm, f/13 @ .5 sec, circular polarizer
Snaggle Tooth, 4.11.16, 21mm, f/13 @ 1/3 sec, circular polarizer
Likes-- everything :-)
Aloha,
Lee
Wild Horses Run-- Waves and Imaginings
Wild Horses Run, Princeville, Kauai
Little Fuji, Princeville, Kauai
El Nino has brought us waves. Warning level swell and wave after wave have been rolling in to the North Shore almost from the beginning of January to the present. Today, too, brings new Warning Level surf and forecasts show yet another Warning Level North West Swell arriving Sunday. I love photographing waves, but sometimes when it gets to Warning Level size (20+ foot faces) choosing where to shoot (safely) becomes a real challenge.
Usually with these really big swells the waves break far off shore, in the deeper waters, making it difficult to photograph from the beach. Another consideration with the big swells is coastal flooding, storm surge, and a basic "washing machine" effect that turns some of my favorite beaches into a chaotic frothy mess of rushing white water and foam. Not good for camera gear or wallets and cell phones that are tucked away in back pockets!
Bluffs and coastal overlooks offer good vantage points of the large surf, but lava shelves are even better. Only thing is, these shelves are much lower and therefore much more dangerous than the higher positions. I guess it just comes down to risk versus reward and to your own personal comfort level. Me, I like the lava shelves, but I'll only go to a few of them and only the highest ones during Warning Level Swell. These photos were all taken at eastern side of the Queen's Bath area lava shelf, well to the right of the waterfalls. I didn't even venture to the western side as it was just too dangerous. Again, risk versus reward.
Down the Line, Princeville, Kauai
I often wonder how many different colors of blue is the ocean? And how many different colors is the ocean? It trips me out when people come into the gallery and look at an image of the ocean and ask, "Did you add color to that?" or "Is that the real color?" I try to just say something like, "Thanks for asking. I'm glad you like it. Yes, all of the colors are authentic to the experience. It all depends on the light. And of course, when dealing with water, the volume, depth, movement and what's underneath." But what I really want to say is, Have you ever been to the ocean??? Just go and look at it. Spend time near her. Sit with her in all weather and seasons and light and then come back to me. The photographer is not really concerned with what you have seen or experienced. In many ways, their responsibility is to show you what is possible. So the seascape photographer should show you all the different colors of the ocean. And try to communicate the wonderful experience of discovery.
White Water and Light, Princeville, Kauai
Looking back at all of these pictures I am reminded of the best movie I saw in 2015: Mad Max: Fury Road. The rolling waves spread throughout the ocean are like Furiosa and the pole boys journey through the Namib and Australian deserts. The spray and rip curl are like the dust behind the totally gonzo machines of that epic ride. I was totally unprepared for the colors, movement and sounds of Fury Road. Sitting in the theater was like paddling out into a huge swell that simply takes your breath away. I've recently rematched the movie a couple of times on HBO and love it still. The cinematography and direction are outstanding. The themes of gender equality and ecological genocide are important for our times. And the flame throwing guitar playing hood ornament and taiko drums are fucking awesome.
Aloha,
Lee
A Few Black and White Photos from Time Recently Spent in the Canyon and Koke'e
Over the past couple of weeks I've spent quite a bit of time hiking in Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks. My time in Waimea Canyon has been spent mostly on the Canyon Trail, and of course, Waimea Canyon Drive-- that beautiful winding road that leads up the parks and cools you off with each gently sloping switchback.
Passing Showers along Waimea Canyon Drive (bw), Waimea, Kauai
I took the above photo just before sunset on Tuesday December 22. My wife and I drove up to the canyon for some fresh air and on the way down, stopped to watch the clouds play with sun. The island in the distance is Niihau or the "Forbidden Island." It's privately owned by the Robinson Family, and I've heard that you must have an invitation to visit. Other than that, I don't know much about it. As far as picture taking goes, I think it is best to shoot Niihau from various turnouts along Waimea Canyon Dive, and I find winter light best because the sun sets just off Niihau's western edge (left of frame).
One of my favorite trees on island-- this Australian Paperbark Tree-- is literally right behind where I stood for the Niihau shot above. Turn around, cross the road, and there she is. This is the same tree in one of my top selling photos-- Koke'e Night Sky. It's interesting to see how much it has grown in the last year or so. That's one reason why photography is so amazing-- everything changes. Nature is always moving. Our feelings are always changing. And so too our perspective-- if we have an open mind. Openness and the belief that we know nothing. And an understanding that our personal experience-- no matter how varied-- is always limited.
Road Trip (Waimea Canyon Drive), Waimea, Kauai
One of the things I miss about the mainland is the great american road trip. There are some days I'd just love to hop in the truck and drive to a completely new place with completely new (and fresh!) scenery. Especially now as I am researching for a photo trip to southern Utah. Oh the distances to be covered! Is it any wonder that one of my all-time favorite books is On the Road by Jack Kerouac?
A couple of Ohia Trees. The first one is around the Alakai Swamp trailhead. And the second is along the Canyon Trail. I find such grace and dignity in these wiry trees. They grow in somewhat harsh environments and have such beautiful red flowers, full of such energy and defiance(?). It's almost as if they shake their spindly petals at the wind and say, you won't deter me! I will grow! I will grind! I will be! :-) (Perhaps a little too much personal personification, there....).
If you've ever pulled off to the side of the road to look at a two-tiered waterfall flowing into the northwest corner of Waimea Canyon, then you've seen Waipo'o Falls. And if you've ever hiked the Canyon Trail, then you've probably stood right here, smiling with the sound of Waipo'o Falls rushing by (in winter) or maybe you've even hopped onto the rocks in the middle of the falls to get a killer view of the canyon (in summer). Either way, the Canyon Trail is a fun hike any time of the year. Just be prepared for slick, muddy conditions in winter, and drier conditions in summer.
Over the years I've probably taken hundreds of pictures of the boardwalks lying along the Alakai Swamp Trail. It's one of my most favorite hikes on the island. Through jungle and forest and eventually swamp, it leads you through a surreal landscape that ends with this view:
Aloha and Melekalikimaka!
Lee
All photos in this blog entry were taken in the last two weeks (December 12-24, 2015) except the first Ohia Tree which was taken in the middle of November 2015.