Patrick Smith Landscape and Seascape Photography



Maui Red        Buy limited edition print/license      Buy open edition print       

Location:  Maui, Hana

Story:

This red sand beach is just outside of Hana and is rather difficult to get to at high tide, especially in the dark before sunrise.  The
old path was washed away by a landslide and the waves at high tide make it difficult to run across the beaches between waves.  
But high tide is needed for the waves to wash over the rocks you see here.  I moved around until I positioned the sun in the
corner to act as a spotlight on the rest of the scene.  The rocks really are that red and the red sand to the left is even redder.  I
will add that image later.
Maui, Waianapanapa, Hana and the East side of the Island

The east side of the island is dominated by Haleakala, which rises over 10,000 feet above sea level.  It occasionally gets snow at
the top.  The prevailing northeast trade winds pile up clouds along the north and east slope of the volcano creating a very wet
environment.  This creates lots of opportunities for spectacular light for photography.  This side also features black and red sand
beaches, which make conditions challenging for getting good exposures due to the difference between the dark beach and the
bright sky.  But the difficulty makes for opportunity!
maui, hana, sunrise, red sand beach
Moon Over Waianapanapa      Buy limited edition print/license   Buy open edition print    

Location:  Maui, Waianapanapa State Park, Pa'iloa Beach,  near Hana

Story:

This black sand beach near Hana is extremely scenic but very difficult to photograph.  The contrast between the black sand and
the rest of the scene is often too much for the camera to handle and most images turn out too black and too bright at the same
time.  But a careful use of ND grad filters combined with a little remaining daylight after sunset working with the moonlight allowed
the entire scene to be exposed properly.  It was a warm and beautiful evening to be out with the camera.
Koke Morning     Buy limited edition print/license      Buy open edition print     

Location:  Maui, Koki Beach

Story:

This beach is about 3 miles south of Hana, Maui.  The side closest to the red cliff has a bit of red sand, with a little red mixed into
the coral based sand on the rest of the beach.  I walked up and down this beach before sunrise several times before spotting the
symmetry between the cloud and the reflection in the periodically wet sand.  Then I waited for a while until the sand was wet again.
 Two minutes later the light was bright and harsh and the show was over.  I believe that Ophah Winfrey owns this hill and the land
behind it and to the right.  You can barely make out a striking sea arch on the right side.  It can not be accessed without crossing
the land, at least from this side.
Lava Light       Buy limited edition print/license       Buy open edition print      

Location:  Waianapanapa State Park near Hana

Story:

This black cobblestone beach near Hana, Maui is right next to what is locally called the Venus Pool.  This is a really spectacular
place with a pool right behind the beach.  Most people photograph the pool, but the cobblestones were too much to resist!  I did
get a nice one of the pool which I may upload later.  The black rocks reflect virtually no light for the camera unless they are wet
and shiny.  So I found a nice reflective spot and waited for the light on the rock and the cobblestones.  Once that happened, I
waited for a nicely formed wave to break.
Bamboo Path     Buy limited edition print/license     Buy open edition print    

Location:  Maui, Haleakala National Volcanic Park, Seven Sacred Pools

Story:

This path goes 2 miles along the stream that forms the seven sacred pools of Oheo Gulch.  While there are more than seven
pools and they are not sacred, they are spectacular to see and swim.  Along the way to the 400+ vertical foot Waimoku falls,
there are many bridges, forests and canyons.  And this bamboo forest is one of the highlights of the trip.  It is dark, warm and
humid here.  It feels like you are in a hothouse with no wind at all.  The air is this with oxygen.  I did not want to leave so I spent
some extra time here trying to get this photograph.  I will always remember this place better now that I have this photo.  I was
here many years ago and only have dim memories of it.
Waianapanapa Sands          Buy limited edition print/license         Buy open edition print    

Location:  Maui, Waianapanapa State Park, Pa'iloa Beach, near Hana

Story:

Waianapanapa means, 'glistening waters' and they are not kidding!  

There are many ways to photograph this black sand beach near Hana, Maui.  But it takes a while to see the opportunities.  In this
moment, the sand was briefly wet and reflected the last glowing light from the clouds above.  It took a while for a wave to break
just when the sand was glowing.  I tried for 5 minutes before the timing was right.  A few minutes later the light was gone for the
day.  I was lucky!
Two Islands        Buy limited edition print/license     Buy open edition print     

Location:  East Maui, near Hana, Hawaii

Story:

This beach is about 5 minutes past Hana as you drive East.  It is one of the few golden-sand beaches on this side of the island
because there was more recent volcanic activity here.   I was intrigued about how the little rock on Koki beach was like a miniature
version of Alau island in the distance.  I waited for the best moment where the sand was at it's most reflective and the incoming
water made pleasing patterns in the distance.
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