How to Photograph a Hawaiian Vacation

I once met a man working in a public garden in Maui, who was originally from Pennsylvania, and I asked him what it was like to live on Maui. He calmly replied, “Its paradise, just like they say." There is a reason why people there are smiling all the time; just look around. Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth--and truly has the best weather--it is very consistent due to the proximity to the equator, however, there are still seasons. More importantly, each island has its desert side and jungle side. Make sure you do your research on the Internet before deciding where to go and where to stay in Hawaii. Hawaii offers its own challenges to the photographer. Each beach and mountain is so beautiful, there is a desire to stop at every turn to take pictures--so just relax into the Aloha spirit and follow these handy tips for taking some great photos.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A digital camera
• Enough money to travel to Hawaii
• Internet access

1. Hotel Lobby There are many types of accommodations on all the islands, from exquisite and expensive resorts to inexpensive condos and apartments. No matter where you stay, check out the facilities at the major resorts. While you cannot use the pools, many offer day use of their spas and the restaurants are open to all. You can snorkel and swim at any beach in Hawaii; it is the law. These resorts have beautiful gardens and you can get some great pictures of people in the lobbies and on the grounds. If you are staying at one of these resorts, don’t forget to check out the others nearby.
2. Maui Sunset Being at the beach with a camera means cleaning the camera everyday. Sand gets everywhere. Clean the exterior of the camera with a camera cloth or a clean hand towel from your hotel. If you have a SLR camera, you will want to remove the lens and clean the mirror and back of the lens everyday. Even if you don’t change lenses, sand seems to get everywhere. Use canned air to clean dust off the front and back of each lens and the mirror. If any of the glass elements are smudged, clean them with lens tissue and camera lens cleaning fluid. Always follow your manufacturer’s instructions. While at the beach, keep the camera in your bag when you are not using it and protect it from heat as best you can. Try taking pictures at the beginning and end of each day when the sun is not as strong. Also, try having a subject in your picture in addition to the sunset to make it more visually exciting.
3. Io Needle Take a trip to the jungle part of the island. Most of the resorts are on the desert (or dry) side of the island. It is the same for all of the islands. Each island has unique geographical features like Io Needle on Maui, Waimea Canyon (the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific") on Kauai or the live volcanoes on the "Big Island" (Hawaii).
4. Haleakala Visit a volcano. All of the islands are volcanic in origin. On the "Big Island" visit Volcanoes National Park and see a live volcano and lava flow. On Maui you can visit Haleakala National Park, which is seen in the picture from a boat. A favorite thing to do in Maui is to see Haleakala at sunrise. You can take hikes and horseback rides through the craters that look almost like craters on the moon. You can also rent bikes along the way, and many like to bike down from the summit.
5. Get a Converible Get a convertible. They are fun to drive and the weather is perfect. In addition, you can get great pictures from the car. There are some scenes on the road to Hanna and other jungle drives where you cannot stop, but you can slow down enough to take a picture from the convertible.
6. Banyan Tree The gardens and trees on the islands are fantastic. You will see very large versions of what you are growing at home as indoor houseplants. Water lilies, sugarcane fields and giant banyan trees are just a few things you will encounter during a casual drive.
7. Spinner Dolphins Take at least one whale-watching or dolphin-watching trip. Try to take one that includes snorkeling. The tourist information will tell you that the Humpback whales are in the bay between Maui and Molokai between November and April. It may be true, but the best time to see the whales is from January through March. You really need a camera with a long lens to photograph them if you see them. Spinner Dolphins are always around, as are giant sea turtles. They are fun to photograph and to snorkel with. They are friendly, but also wild, so don’t get your hands too close.

Tips & Warnings

• Always clean your camera after being at the beach or on a boat.
• Hawaii is expensive; make sure you bring enough media cards and your battery charger.
• Invest in skylight filters for your camera lenses to protect them from the elements.
• Do not get saltwater on your camera lens. If you do, clean immediately with lens tissue and lens cleaner.