Free Printable Greeting Card

January 18, 2026 • Leave a Comment

Join my quarterly photography newsletter and receive a free printable greeting card featuring my photography. I share behind-the-scenes stories, new print releases, and inspiration from the places I photograph.

Lanikai Beach Photography

July 01, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Sunkissed - Lanikai Beach Kailua

Capturing the Essence of Lanikai Beach: A Photographer’s Paradise

Lanikai Beach, located on the windward coast of Oahu, is a true gem and a paradise for photographers. Renowned for its pristine sand, crystal-clear waters, and stunning sunrises, Lanikai Beach is a must-visit location for capturing the serene beauty of Hawaii. For those looking to bring a piece of this paradise into their homes, prints of Lanikai Beach make for stunning wall art, capturing the tranquility and natural beauty of one of Hawaii's most picturesque locations.

Why Choose Lanikai Beach Prints?

1. Pristine Beauty: Lanikai Beach is famous for its soft, powdery sand and turquoise waters. The beach is often described as one of the most beautiful in the world, and its name, which means "heavenly sea" in Hawaiian, truly captures its essence. The vibrant colors and serene atmosphere make for breathtaking prints that can transform any space.

2. Iconic Sunrises: One of the most captivating aspects of Lanikai Beach is its sunrises. As the first light of dawn breaks over the horizon, the sky explodes into a palette of pinks, oranges, and purples, casting a magical glow over the tranquil waters. Prints capturing these moments bring a sense of peace and wonder, making them perfect for any room in your home or office.

3. Twin Mokulua Islands: The twin Mokulua Islands, located just off the coast of Lanikai Beach, add a unique and dramatic element to photographs. These islands, often featured in Lanikai Beach prints, provide a stunning focal point that enhances the overall composition and adds depth to the imagery.

4. Timeless Appeal: Photographs of Lanikai Beach have a timeless appeal that never goes out of style. Whether you prefer a minimalist black and white print or a vibrant color photograph, Lanikai Beach prints can complement any décor and bring a touch of paradise to your surroundings.

Capturing Lanikai Beach: The Photographer's Perspective

As a photographer with 30 years of experience living in Hawaii and the privilege of raising my boys in Lanikai, capturing the beauty of this beach is always a rewarding experience. Here are some tips for photographing this stunning location:

1. Timing is Everything: The best time to photograph Lanikai Beach is during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The soft, warm light enhances the natural colors and creates long shadows that add depth to your photos. Arriving early in the morning also allows you to capture the beach in its most serene state, free from crowds.

2. Use a Tripod: To capture sharp, clear images, especially in low light conditions, a tripod is essential. It also allows for long exposure shots, which can create beautiful, ethereal images of the moving water.

3. Experiment with Angles: Don’t be afraid to explore different perspectives. Climb higher for aerial shots, get low to capture interesting foregrounds, or use a wide-angle lens to take in more of the scene. The twin Mokulua Islands provide a great focal point, so try to incorporate them into your compositions.

4. Embrace the Weather: Hawaii’s weather can be unpredictable, but this can work to your advantage. Rain showers can lead to vibrant rainbows, while stormy skies add drama and contrast to your images.

5. Respect Nature: Always be mindful of your surroundings and respect the natural environment. Stay on designated paths, don’t disturb wildlife, and leave no trace.

Bringing Lanikai Beach into Your Home

Whether you’re looking to add a touch of tranquility to your living room, create a serene atmosphere in your bedroom, or bring a bit of paradise to your office, prints of Lanikai Beach are a perfect choice. The vibrant colors and serene scenes captured in these photographs can brighten any space and provide a constant reminder of the natural beauty of Hawaii.

By choosing prints of Lanikai Beach, you’re not just decorating your space – you’re bringing a piece of Hawaiian paradise into your home. Explore our collection of Lanikai Beach prints and find the perfect piece to transform your space today

Using Color Theory

September 28, 2023 • Leave a Comment

Using Color Theory

As I prepare to click I often ask myself “should I include that purple flower? The yellow bush? That red plane?”

Ever since Sir Isaac Newton developed the color wheel back in 1666, artists and scientists have been studying the relationships that various colors have on us humans.

Colors can stimulate emotions and using the optimal combinations can help a photographer create a stronger and more pleasing image. Like so many artists, I view the use of color as yet another tool in order to invoke a desired emotion. For example, when looking at a scene I may want to create a sense of harmony or perhaps evoke a sense of shock. I can accomplish this through composition using natural light and color (see Tips).

Thanks to Newton’s mapping of the spectrum of colors into the first color wheel, artists use of the 12 basic colors which are broken down into three combinations: primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. As we delve deeper, we become more aware of their main properties: hue (warm or cool), value (lightness or darkness), and saturation (purity).
So when you shoot, it helps to know basic color theory and to be conscious of how the colors that you see through your lens will reflect the desired feeling once the image is captured and viewed

Tips on Using Color Theory

Analogous
Selecting a set of colors next to each other on the color wheel like red, orange & yellow or blue & green. Analogous creates a sense of harmony. Without the strong contrast of complementary colors, analogous colors are calming to the eye which is ideal for nature photography.

Complementary
Selecting two colors on the opposite side of the color wheel like red & green can be quite stunning. Be careful not to overdo. By this I mean keep the ratio of one color lower than the other. Use complementary colors in photography to draw attention to a focal point or to accentuate bold colors that you want to stand out.

Monochromatic
Some consider the use of a single color to be rather bland (black and white is a common example) but it can be quite dramatic when using different values of the same color. When visual distraction is removed, there’s a greater degree of concentration on composition or texture.

Triadic
Selecting colors that are equally spaced from one another on the color wheel, like blue, yellow and red can give a stunning effect. A beautiful sunset is a good example.

Quadratic
These are four colors that create a rectangular shape on the color wheel like blue, green, orange and red. This is also referred to as a double complementary.

Diad
Selecting colors which are separated by two hues of color creates harmonious vibe similar to Analogous tones.

Keep in mind the Color Theories are guidelines, within the color wheel of each color you have many different hues, values and saturation. This is just a taste of the color theory!

"Maui Dreams"
Triadic - Blue, Yellow, Red/Orange

Analogous
Selecting a set of colors next to each other on the color wheel like red, orange & yellow or blue & green. Analogous creates a sense of harmony. Without the strong contrast of complementary colors, analogous colors are calming to the eye which is ideal for nature photography.

Complementary
Selecting two colors on the opposite side of the color wheel like red & green can be quite stunning. Be careful not to overdo. By this I mean keep the ratio of one color lower than the other. Use complementary colors in photography to draw attention to a focal point or to accentuate bold colors that you want to stand out.

Monochromatic
Some consider the use of a single color to be rather bland (black and white is a common example) but it can be quite dramatic when using different values of the same color. When visual distraction is removed, there’s a greater degree of concentration on composition or texture.

Triadic
Selecting colors that are equally spaced from one another on the color wheel, like blue, yellow and red can give a stunning effect. A beautiful sunset is a good example.

Quadratic
These are four colors that create a rectangular shape on the color wheel like blue, green, orange and red. This is also referred to as a double complementary.

Keep Shooting!

Butterflies - Nature Flying Flowers

June 29, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Butterflies – Nature’s Flying Flowers

Nature’s most exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, the butterfly has become a metaphor for transformation and hope. For many cultures it is a symbol of rebirth and resurrection and for us nature photographers, shooting butterflies represents one of the great joys and challenges of our beloved pastime.

Because butterflies only live for a few weeks, one needs to be ready to pursue and capture these beautiful creatures in early summer when they are most abundant. With such a short window of opportunity you’ll need to have your camera equipment specifically set up and at the ready.

To maximize your chances, you might investigate the nearest butterfly habitats which are often botanical gardens, arboretums, large flower gardens and even nurseries as they may provide you with the best opportunities to set up for this pleasurable experience. Of course patience is the key so give yourself some time and be ready to take plenty of clicks!

Tips for Shooting Butterflies

DSLR

My first choice for lens would be a macro lens 1:1 ratio which is ideal for up close shots. Alternately you can use a diopter or an extension tube to create a macro effect. Another good option is to use a telephoto lens to zoom in and isolate your subject without disturbing it. Using a wider angle lens would help show context. You have many choices depending on budget and what artist vision you have.

Use a tripod if you have one but keep the head loose. Your tripod is still going to help you achieve the added stability you need in order to prevent camera shake and to maintain your focus point. When in a crowded place with lots of people a monopod can be a great choice as it will give you some stability.

Butterfly on a flower/leaf - Use a shallow Depth of Field ( f2, f4, f6 ) to create a blur background, be on burst mode, prefocus. Try shooting the butterfly so its wing is parallel to your lens—keeping all that fine detail on the same plane will guarantee that it is all tack sharp in the final image at these shallow depth of field. If not and its wings are spread out you might need a higher f-stop (f/8 or f11).

Set your Focus on the eyes of the butterfly if all possible, sharp eyes is a key element for a outstanding image. I find I get best results when I focus on a flower and wait for the butterfly to arrive, instead of changing them around.

Phone Camera

Use portrait mode for the background to be blur, a low f stop if you have that option. Try shooting the butterfly so its wing is parallel to your lens—keeping all that fine detail on the same plane will guarantee that it is all tack sharp in the final image at these shallow depth of field.

Hold down on your shoot button to get multiple pictures a few seconds apart. This is also know as "burst" in the photography world.

Focus by taping on subject or an flower and wait for the butterfly to arrive.

Tips for Shooting in a Slot Canyon

February 03, 2021 • 1 Comment

Slot Canyons can be the most challenging of environments for landscape photography so preparation is very important. For upper Antelope Canyon you will need to book a photographer tour which requires the use a tripod.

Dust is everywhere and it is dark inside. The light from the sun peeking inside the slot moves fast so be prepared to work quickly.  I recommend not changing lens inside the canyon and shoot with a widest-angle lens that you have.  I didn’t use filters due to the dust, working in the dark and the lack of time to set up for a shot.

Be ready to adjust your setting in the dark.  Preset as many settings as possible. I recommend starting with ISO 100, F8, mirror lock up, evaluative metering and white balance set at 6500k-7500k for warmer tones (orange & reds) or 4500k to 5500k for cooler tones (purple & blues).  I used Auto white balance so that in post production I can determine image by image if I want it to warm it up or cool in down.  Expect a longer shutter speed (1-8 sec) so use a sturdy tripod and cable release.

It’s also important to use your RGB histograms red channels are easily over exposed and set highlight warning to “on” to verify that your highlights are not over exposed.

For those HDR photographers there’s just not enough time for too many exposures at each location so I shot most images with a wide range of light, underexposed, shooting for the highlights and pulling out the shadows in postproduction.

Smartphone Photographers
You can go on the general tour.  Set your phone on HDR mode and turn off your flash then your phone camera will capture much of the same the magic!

Have fun shooting!

Melody