Crazy Storm

Anyone for a morning donut?

While out on my last boat ride the clouds started getting a little crazy and the boat captain said we were in for a "blow".

Man-O-Man was he right! A few hours later it started raining and then the winds came in and then the water activity came to a stand still. For the next two days we had 40-50 mph winds constantly through the day and night. No tourist activity boats were going out at all. The seas were high and rough and the palm trees were taking a beating. You couldn't even find a calm spot to go snorkeling.

I'm just glad it waited until after I got off the boat to start!

Sunrise Blow

This was taken around 7:30 a.m. as the sun was just peeking over the volcano. The island was still in shadow on this side but the sun was high enough and the whale was far enough off shore for the sunlight to light up the water spray.

Here's some whale trivia for you; the air and water from a whale blow is traveling at 300 miles per hour!

I can't wait to get back to Maui!!

Perspective

This is not photoshopped! Just in case you were thinking that.

This is my friend Vern looking at the whales from the side of the boat while I was taking photos with my camera in the underwater housing.

To give you some perspective, the boat we were on is only 20 feet long and he was in the middle of the boat while I was shooting near the back of the boat.

Under the sea

For me, this was a banner year for getting some whale shots. I think I got the best whale shots I have ever gotten. I had to go out on a boat three different times to get them but still, a great year!

I'm already planning several boat trips for next whale season so I can try to get even better photos of the whales breaching and swimming underwater.

This photo (and the other one I posted a few days ago) were taken early in the morning before the sun had gotten high in the sky so it was still a little dark in the water so the lighting on them isn't great.

As much as I have learned about underwater photography I still haven't learned much about photographing whales underwater. Because of their size and the color drop off through the water you almost always have to use a fisheye lens to get the shot and you have to be really close! I was only about ten feet away when I took this photo which was probably about 4 feet too far.

Even though I am proud of these photos, they are the best I've ever gotten, they don't even compare to the good photos I have seen and will endeavor to get. Apparently all it takes is a lot of time on/in the water and some luck.

The Wave....

.....goodbye.

 

It's our last day on the island, at least for now, and we are headed back to reality. I think that is really going to suck!

 

With any luck at all we will be back in the next 5-6 months for some more time in Hawai'i. Until then I have several more photos from above and below the water I will be posting over the next couple of weeks.

 

Aloha!

Say hello to my little friend

I found another great spot on Maui to do some winter snorkeling. It's called Kapalua Bay and is on the northern end of the island. I've run into several turtles there this trip.

The Fisherman again

Enjoying a mild Winter day at the Seagate Dock in Port Hardy.

It's a good day to be in Hawai'i!

What am I saying? EVERYDAY is a good day to be in Hawai'i!!

 

 

I went out on another boat yesterday, the absolute best time of the whole trip! (so far)

 

If you ever find yourself in Hawai'i between the middle of December to the middle of March be sure to spend the money and go to Ultimate Whale Watch in Lahaina harbor. They are the absolute best at what they do. Several of the boat captains are photographers themselves and understand lighting, backgrounds and what it takes to get the shot. They try there best to move the boat into the best position possible for photographs. I cannot recommend them enough. I will be taking several more of these tours next year to get these kinds of shots. I have talked to several photographers on Maui and everyone of them suggested the Ultimate company and I now know why.

 

These two whales swam right underneath our boat. The whales were more than twice the size of the boat so it was an exciting time since I have never had that happen before. I was even more excited to get the few underwater shots I got while they were under the boat.

Getting an up close view

There's always somebody that wants to get in the shot!

 

The smaller tour boats can move around better so they always end up getting the best locations. I'm heading out on one of those tomorrow with a local photographer I know from Maui. Just me and him and the boat captain (and my Dramamine!). It should be an interesting morning.

More Whales

 

Two more jumpers from Monday's trip.

 

This is actually the same whale. He was a jumping fool when we saw him. He must have jumped 6 or 7 times, one right after the other. In the first photo he came completely out of the water which I find amazing when you think about them being the size of a school bus and weighing 40,000 pounds or more.

Yumpin Yimminy!

 

I'm finally getting a few good whale shots. Cheryl and I went out on a boat yesterday and the whales were pretty active.

 

We're going back out again on Thursday to see if we can do any better.

It's crowded here

 

I found a new spot to do some underwater photography yesterday and it turned out to be pretty good. Lots of tropical fish and even a turtle.

 

The best part was the only crowd that was around were the fish.

Aloha!

 

The weather here in Hawai'i is terrible, I'm not having a good time and I can't wait to go home!

 

Nah, not really. I just thought I would make you feel better for a few seconds! LOL

 

As always, the weather here is PERFECT! Low to mid 80's during the day with sunshine and mid 60's at night. I don't ever want to go home!!! 

Moonrise over Hardy Bay

Peeking through the grass

Since Ron doesn't think I take photos anymore, I figured I would share my latest. I don't get out as much as I used to, do to a few changes in my family life but I still try to from time to time. I bought a call to call in predator type animals and decide to take a day off of work to give it a try. I was able to call in one coyote before it broke. So I am going to get different and give it another try. 

Golden hour light

Some random pictures from the other day taken just before sunset in that "golden hour light".

Here today....

...gone to Maui!

It's that time. I'm tired of working and I'm tired of the cold so I'm off to the Land of Aloha to see my aquatic friends. By tomorrow afternoon I will be swimming in the Pacific ocean and drinking mai tais. Not at the same time of course.

I will be sure to post some photos from the island while I'm there.

Aloha!!

Rusty old winch

Pretty sure I've posted pictures of this rusty old winch at least once before... Anyway here is the latest shot of it from a few days ago.

Ice fishing anyone?

Some chilly views from Hardy Bay. 

It's been a little colder than usual over here on the West Coast. 

B&W by Mother Nature

Except for resizing this picture is straight out of my (24 bit 16 million color) Nikon digital camera. I guess Mother Nature wasn't feeling very colorful that morning...

People Enjoying The View.

Please have a seat.

Lake Louise, Banff National Park.

Hmm... 2017...

Who knows what adventures there may be on the road ahead...

Happy New Year Everyone!