How to Photograph a Maui Sunset
The sun seems to set faster in the tropics. I don't think this is actually a scientific truth-but in West Maui where there is nothing between you and the Pacific-it seems to just drop into the ocean. The air is usually clear and there is little atmospheric haze. It is the clouds and haze that make for spectacular sunsets. When I visit Maui I try to be outside each night at sunset, but am not always rewarded with great pictures. The beaches at Kaanapali, Wailea and Kehi and the Western slopes of Haleakala are the best places to catch the sunset, although any spot on the West side of Maui is good. Read on for some of my personal tips for getting great pictures at sunset in the county of Maui.
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Instructions
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Don't wait for sunset to get to your location. During the day, think of where you want to be at sunset and then get there while there is still light in the sky. As the sun gets closer to the horizon you will see many unique lighting conditions that are as colorful as the sunset. This sailboat was photographed right before sunset with the setting sun creating the yellow highlight on the hull.
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Most of the time Maui sunsets are pretty, but nondescript like this one. This was taken in July and there is no haze. There was some dust and haze in the center of Maui and upcountry where they were harvesting sugar and dealing with the waste. However, on the Western shores the skies are generally clear with no haze. Using a tripod will let you photograph the sky longer since you can use longer shutter speeds.
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After the sunset, there is still interesting available light. The closer you are to the water the better, since the ocean is like a giant light reflector. This available light allows you to include objects in your sunset picture to help convey a story. Using people and silhouettes like the boat in this image help to tell a story, which is the goal of most good photographic images.
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You can also use the sunset reflections to help create a certain feeling of place. In this image the sunset reflects not only in the window, but creates the warm wood tones and adds texture to the plant. This was taken at a Pan Asian Restaurant and captures the warm tones and feeling of the space.
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If you are patient, eventually you will see a classic sunset. In this one you can see the rays of the sunset as the sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean. If you have a tripod you will be able to shoot at slow shutter speeds and use a low ISO setting to get the best resolution.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use a tripod for scenic photography if possible.
Use a slow shutter speed and small aperture (f11) if possible.
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Comments
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wannawrkfrmhome
Sep 11, 2009
I agree - the sunsets on Maui are typically spectacular! I have taken many myself that have that WOW factor! 5*
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mymukki
Sep 11, 2009
These are wonderful photographs and great instructions! The sun rises just as fast over the ocean on the East Coast and I've seen it drop like a rock in the desert! Great tips to catch it!
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Richard Burke
Aug 29, 2009
True and you can also achieve similar results by adjusting the white balance in post-production or by adjusting the curves and color models.
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donahuememp
Aug 28, 2009
Experimenting with the Different White Balance settings on the digital camera will produce a variety of color sensations of the same scene. I often use the Kelvin scale on my D 300 along with different levels of minus exposure for dramatic results.
