Lyle Krannichfeld

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.

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!

Maui Sunflowers

Maui has a new attraction, and it is beautiful! These have replaced sugar cane in a couple of locations and will be used for biofuel. This particular crop used zero water! They are also great for pulling toxins out of the soil. I have visited a couple of times, and it's great to see the joy it brings to visitors. Everyone there has a smile on their face and a camera in hand. Win win!

Molotov Pineapple

Foam exploding around a local pineapple on Big Beach.

Pineapple Blanket

A local pineapple getting cozy on Big Beach with Molokini in the background.

Front Street Sunset

Beautiful golden light beaming down on historic Front Street in Lahaina on the west side..

First Wave

Sunrise the morning of the Pe'ahi Challenge at Jaws. This was one of the first waves ridden, I believe it's Albee Layer hidden behind the swell between us and the boat.

Down the Line

A long, unridden wall of water from December 2016.

Green House

From the 2016 Pe'ahi Challange. It takes a healthy dose of both skill and courage to be in the shadows at Pe'ahi. Tens of thousands of gallons overhead, wanting nothing more than total destruction. Aaron Gold (pictured here) nearly died on a wave at Cloudbreak six months before this was taken. Six months before that, he rode what some folks say is the biggest wave ever paddled into. I was fortunate to be on the water for that one as well and have images of it. Always a pleasure to watch him surf!

Napili Bay

December was a fantastic month for sunsets, I'd say half the nights were somewhere around a 9 or 10 =)

Pe'ahi Snow

I'd stay out on the water at Jaws until it was pitch black if we could. Such an incredible place, and always has something new and different to show us.

Lost

This one won an online National Geographic contest. From the judge: "I see this and I think, “Hope that surfer is ok!” I feel so much anticipation in this image, the crash of the wave and the gravity defying surf board, both elements that lead you to create the before and after visuals in your mind. Really nice."

Smoke on the Water

My favorite image from Pe'ahi. Shot the evening before the 2016 Pe'ahi Challenge right at sunset with the mist catching nice strong evening light.

Rainbow Barrel

One of the perks of Jaws (as a photographer and observer) is that for some reason the light is almost ALWAYS night early and late. Makes for some interesting happenings.

Backside Rainbow

The preferable light breezes at Pe'ahi push the mist backwards over the wave as it crashes, forming afternoon rainbows with the sun dropping behind us in the channel.

Stormy

A moody morning off Kam I in Kihei, with distant rain over the West Maui Mountains.

Competition Pod

A silent, beautiful dance between one female and ten male suitors off Hunga in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga.

Light Kissed

As a mom and calf cruised off into the deep blue sea, the clouds parted and for the briefest instant, moms flukes lit up.

Bubble Bullies

Bubble blowing by Humpbacks is an aggressive display, used to confuse and discourage other whales from pursuing.

Camo Ray

This is my favorite image from my time in Grand Cayman. It's an amazing place if you are into the underwater world. This one stood out because of the monochromatic feel and simple composition of this image, which I further encouraged by going black and white. One of a few of my images up on my own walls.

Stingray over Grass

Another Grand Cayman Stingray, this time over some shallow grass beds. I was actually prowling (out of habit mostly) for Seahorses and turned around right into this guy.

Sunrise Stingray

From my favorite location on Grand Cayman, a shallow sandbar full of friendly, curious stingray. Beautiful golden sunrise light on this particular visit.

Orion's Love

This is a critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle, about to enter the ocean for the very first time. The last of 180 to enter this morning about half an hour after sunrise. It didn't really hit me until I was on the way home how special the opportunity was to witness it (and photograph it). It's something I may never see again in my lifetime. There are less than 150 nesting female Hawksbills in ALL the Hawaiian islands. They nest every four years and only about 1 in 1,000 will survive to maturity. My money is on this one =)

Journeyman

This is a critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle who just reached the wet sand and is about to enter the ocean for the very first time. It didn't really hit me until I was on the way home how special the opportunity was to witness it (and photograph it). There are less than 150 nesting female Hawksbills in ALL the Hawaiian islands. They nest every four years and only about 1 in 1,000 will survive to maturity. Best of luck, little buddy!

Madeline's Sunset

The calm before the storm as Hurricane Madeline passes south of us here on Maui. This was taken in West Maui, with Lanai in the background.

Pe'ahi Sunset Left

Pe'ahi Sunset Left 2

Pe'ahi Spray

Daylight

Erosion

Vortex

Pe'ahi Pastel