Hovercraft
The Honu never get old. I just love the way they glide through the water and this image captures it so perfectly.
Rock Stack
Some enterprising and steady handed soul made a beautiful stack up on the northwest corner of Maui, likely paying their respects to the ocean which I included in the composition.
Board Wall
Hawaii holds numerous world records, including the tallest mountain, the tallest ice cream pyramid, the largest spam Musubi and this one (my favorite), the largest collection of surfboards.
In a Dream
This was EASILY the largest Honu I've ever encountered. His shell was a completely different shape. Spent 20 minutes at high tide with him in a pretty surgy area while he fed on algae. Filled up a 32gb card in a big hurry and ended up with this =)
Honu Chicken
This little Honu was fearless, and came within a foot of me before casually turning aside.
Family Portrait
These Honu aren't actually a family, it just reminds me of the typical family portrait. Everyone seems posed and looking straight at the camera while they await their turn at the cleaning station off Olowalu.
Grandma's Foam
The beauty of Maui. This image caps off a day spent surfing and bbq'ing with friends on the west side of Maui. Love the soft light in the sand.
Mt Mckinley after sunset
I'll never forget this night. I had this moment all to myself minus a Grizzly Bear a few hundred yards away. She didn't seem nearly as impressed by the pretty pink clouds as I was.
Vertical Moose
Love the look back here. Thanks for the nice pose Mr. Moose!
Look out below
A beautiful turtle steals a couple breaths of air before returning to the sandy bottom off of South Maui in the Makena area.
Into the Setting Sun
This was a truly magical night, taken while teaching a whale photography session. Nice timing for a great show!
Double Breach
This is far and away my most popular whale image, and for good reason...It's a moment I may never have the good fortune to capture again.
Haleakala Sunset
The endless debate...sunrise or sunset for Haleakala. I prefer the sunsets =)
Aloha Aina
Here is another milestone image for me personally. Taken at Secret Beach, it was the first over/under I took with my DSLR and the beginning of an obsession that continues today. These images represent Hawaii...beauty and vibrant life above and below the surface.
Resting Honu
Ho'okipa is a popular spot for surfers (you can see a few in the water here), but also for the local turtles to come ashore to rest overnight.
Helicopter Mom
Humpback moms are ON it. Baby doesn't stray more than 50' away usually, and mom is always quick to react if it does. It has to be an exhausting job, especially with zero food for the first few months and a long journey ahead to cold waters of the feeding grounds.
Timeout
I got the distinct impression that this juvenile put himself in a timeout, sitting nose down over a shallow reef thinking about what he'd done.
Tiny Bubbles
Play Time
I consider this whale to be a good friend after our three days together. The hours of friendly interaction with this playful baby are some of my most precious memories and I'm not the only one. One guest from this trip had 'the most incredible moment of his life' with this same calf the day before this was taken, and another guest is having this image tattooed on her body because of her interactions with it. Special, special whale.
Dance With Me
Humpbacks are remarkably acrobatic considering their sheer size. They effortlessly twirl and dance while we watch, amazed.
Serenity
There are a lot of nearly silent moments with the whales, where it's just you and this enormous creature and the sound of the surface splashing around. This particular whale was a young singer, he would spend 15-20 minutes down singing his heart out and then come up for a breath or two before carrying on.
Piggyback
One of my favorite things about interacting with the whales is watching the calves play around mom. It looks a bit like the calf is resting here, but it really was just moving around moms head while they were both up for a breath. They will circle and roll around and frolick all over mom, who always seems infinitely patient with her rambunctious newborn.
Honu 'Ea
This is a critically endangered Hawksbill, one of less than 150 nesting females in all of the Hawaiian Islands. I found her off Airport Beach in Ka'anapali munching away right in the thick of things!
Maui Komohana
For those of us who spend a lot of time on the water off Maui, this view is a perennial favorite. In any case, Maui Komohana (or the West Maui's as most people refer to them) is a stunning view with beautiful peaks and valleys...especially from the air!
