Ferenc Ecseki Fashion Model Portrait Travel Photographer

Hawaiian Bikini And Swimsuit Model Photography

Bikini and swimsuit model photography in Hawaii can result in exciting and exotic pictures because the Hawaiian Islands have incredible biodiversity offering a wide variety of fauna, landscapes and locations.
Lava pools, beautiful white, yellow, black, green and red sand beaches, rugged volcanic shore lines, craters, lava flows, tropical rainforest, deserts with cacti, mangrove swamps and more.

There are opportunities and a market for the typical curvy blonde swimsuit model on a sunny beach hopefully not in clear high heels. While this understandably may be the dream of many photographers it holds limited appeal for me. When doing photography in Hawaii, I try to blend the natural beauty of exotic models with the rugged beauty of Hawaii.

First photo:
Exotic, androgynous Asian swimsuit model wearing an orange bikini in the famous Manoa Valley bamboo forest. Orange and green being color opposites ensures great color contrast and a photo that pops. Notice the signature strong jaw line which is a feature I really admire.

Photography tip: turning the model's head sideways will accentuate her jaw line and create a more sensual looking neck. The neck muscles will create lines that will point towards the model's face, guiding the viewer's eyes. This composition is called the classic three quarter portrait.

Second photo:
Athletic Japanese fashion, bikini model and surfer girl with a perfect body. The location is the lush tropical Pali rainforest just outside Honolulu, where I return on a regular bases. The dead tree or any prop that offers a place to sit, lay or lean onto will make the model feel more comfortable and enable her to have a more natural posture. This trick can be very handy when trying to achieve natural unforced poses with amateur or first time models.

Photography tip: when composing your photo, make sure there are no branches, light poles, wires or other distracting elements in the background that intersect your model's head. On the two dimensional photograph these lines will look like a painful impalement which can distract the viewer either consciously or unconsciously.

Third photo:
Adventurous and beautiful multiethnic bikini model in a refreshingly cold rainforest creek in the Pali rainforest. The monochromatic scene, due to the model's black bikini and the black lava rocks needed some more visual excitement. A red hibiscus flower and a yellow dry branch was found on location and used.

Photography tip: ask your model to relax and slightly open her lips (drop the bottom lip). This will result in a more relaxed and sensual look, which the model may not be able to naturally achieve, given the sometimes strenuous photoshoot environment.

Hawaiian Lingerie Model Photography

Lingerie model photography in Hawaii is a rewarding concept because all the mixed ethnicity Asian models who live on the islands, are able to add an exotic element to pictures taken in paradise. Lingerie is supposed to be worn in the bedroom but when beautiful models are photographed in a tropical rainforest or rugged beach with lava rocks, the resulting photos tell a more exciting story and convey a more eye-catching fantasy to the viewer.

First photo:
Beautiful multiethnic Asian fashion and lingerie model photographed at the Zanzabar Night Club of Waikiki where she is a Go-Go dancer. The on camera flash was enough to fill in the scenes at some of the darker areas of the club. When doing lingerie model photography, choosing a red outfit is not only an obvious but a smart thing to do for an added color pop and visual excitement.

Photography tip: if possible try to incorporate the color red in some of your fashion pictures. Red color will make photos pop. The red colored area is where the viewer will first look at. Adding the excitement of red can be further enhanced if the color is repeated.

Second photo:
Exotic Japanese lingerie model wearing lime green fishnet top at Sandy Beach, during a nighttime photo session. I often experimented with night photography to achieve not-so-typical Hawaiian photographic results. The pitch black background created during night photography adds a mysterious mood to these pictures. Potential busy backgrounds are also eliminated which can be a challenge to achieve during on-location, outdoor photography during the day.

Photography tip: make sure you use bright, vivid colors during night photography, especially if the resulting images will be in color. If the pictures will be in black and white, make sure there is enough tonal contrast between the clothes and the sparsely lit surroundings and backgrounds.

Third photo:
Stunning Asian Go-Go dancer with beautiful face laying on the top of Zanzabar Night Club bar. As an employee she was able to arrange our photoshoot before the club opened. Many amateur models, just like most young women love to shop of course, so their own wardrobe most of the time contains enough eye-catching pieces for several photo sessions.

Photography tip: I recommend using a proper choker (bought from a store) or if must, a makeshift choker when it comes to certain fashion or lingerie photography themes. The separation and line created by a choker across the neck creates framing for the face, that is not usually seen everyday, adding an eye-catching, fantasy-like element to the photo.

Hawaiian Fashion Model Photography

Fashion model photography in Hawaii is only limited by the photographer's imagination and not by his or her budget. There are so many ways to save photoshoot costs, that there is no excuse for not coming back with exciting and unique pictures every time. Amateur or traveling photographers who own or carry limited photography gear are not in any disadvantage.

If there is no budget for professional models, make-up artists, hair stylists and wardrobe, most of those expenses can be substituted by working with aspiring talent in the above fields. While a portable soft box will provide superior results on location, lack of it should not be a hindrance. Available light with or without moderate fill flash will suffice in many situations. Locations without onlookers and plenty of privacy can be easily found often just a few minutes of walk away from busy tourist spots.

First photo:
Beautiful Asian fashion model in sparkling red dress laying on green steps of a random Waikiki apartment building. Red and green being color opposites means the photo gains a strong color contrast. I love geometry and the use lines in my compositions. Especially diagonal lines, which add drama and excitement to images!

Photography tip: take advantage of diagonal lines which aid in creating dynamic and exciting compositions. Try not to create diagonal lines by tilting the camera. Camera tilt can become a crutch for beginner photographers, and it is sometimes utilized too often.

Second photo:
Exotic Asian fashion model with perfect body wearing a white dress. Photographed during the brief Hawaiian sunrise at the lava pools of Sandy Beach Park on the East Coast of Oahu Island. To achieve the most natural results, often times I give few or no directions to models, letting them get inspired by the location and their wardrobe.

Photography tip: use side lighting to achieve slimming and three dimensional looks. If it is an outdoor photography session, it means this will take place during sunrise or sunset which can be a short window of opportunity a tropical latitudes. So prepare in advance, set up the shot and be ready to photograph quickly.

Third photo:
Beautiful multi-ethnic Asian fashion model in the beautiful Manoa Valley rainforest. The illumination is all ambient light, which I love for its natural and often dramatic look. There is mostly top light when photographing in a rainforest. The size and angle of the light source depends on the opening in the canopy. Most studio photographers would probably want to fill in the shadows created by this harsh, directional light but I prefer the dramatic results I get naturally. There is something primal about the lack of perfection, that studio light would try to fix.

Photography tip: There is no wrong light, only wrong use of it! Even the often demonized harsh midday light can be harnessed to achieve dramatic results in both color and black and white images. The high angle of the light can accentuate shapes (jaw, shoulder, neck lines etc.) successfully if a model with the right kind of dramatic features is selected. Directional light is also able to add a three dimensional effect to photographs.

Hawaiian Female Portrait Photography

When doing on-location female portrait photography in Hawaii, I try to have the exotic locations participate in telling the story as much as possible. These exciting locations inspire the models as well, the surroundings can set the mood easier then a sterile photography studio, especially for first time or amateur models. An inspired, relaxed model will in turn inspire the photographer.

First photo:
My all time favorite Chinese model and muse. The shadows on her face were created by low-hanging dry branches in the secluded Pali rain forest. When the photographer goes with the flow without forcing concepts to emerge, it will become clear that many great pictures are "given" as gifts and not "taken". The spider web-like shadows create drama and mystery with this model but they would not work with someone who has a cute or sweet look.

Photography tip: place shadows on the model's face creatively - even randomly - but with care! There are no rules on how to achieve shadows over face because all situations are different. A word of caution though: the camera sensor and the human eyes see differently so the contrast between highlight and shadow areas will be greater on the photograph than what the eyes see during the photoshoot.

Second photo:
Exotic portrait of a beautiful Japanese fashion and bikini model. Without make-up artist and hair stylist on set, utilizing simple techniques can produce striking looks. In this instance, wetting the model's hair, using our drinking water added a wild and stunning look, transforming an otherwise "just nice" portrait into an more eye-catching image. Open shade provided plenty of soft, ambient light for beauty photography on an otherwise typical Hawaiian blindingly bright day.

Photography tip: introduce the wet hair look after dry hair concepts are shot. This especially is a good way to achieve different looks for beginner photographers who may not have an on set make-up and hair artist. The randomness will create the most beautiful and effortless looking photos, so do not spend time to meticulously arrange hair strands, instead have the model toss her hair until a visually pleasant arrangement is achieved.

Third photo:
Beautiful, local Hawaiian amateur model photographed without a big budget, assistants, professional lights and fancy photography equipment. The casual, laughing portrait was taken spontaneously as the model was laying in high grass. The ease of the photo was the result of relaxed photography session and natural chemistry between model and photographer.
I enjoy experimenting with available light, especially on exotic locations. These photography sessions are always a lot of fun and very productive!

Photography tip: there are endless ways to frame a model's face to achieve eye catching beauty shots or casual portraits. Use the model's arm as a frame only sparingly as it is the most obvious way. Careless positioning of arms in compositions can become unflattering, especially if the arm is closer to the camera than the models face. In this case the arm will appear enlarged, adding weight and bulk to he model.

Hawaiian Black And White Model Photography

Black and white photography in Hawaii might seem like a challenge at first. Converting the blue of the sky and the ocean, the green of the vegetation leaves us with uninspiring shades of gray. But by selecting the right model who has strength and confidence, the right location with tonal contrast and the right natural lighting, it is possible to create visually exciting images.

I prefer my models as close androgynous looking as possible with a strong jaw line and athletic figure. This may seem obvious but the opposite definitely doesn't inspire me which is girlie, sweet and cute. The best Hawaiian locations will yield challenging but creative lighting. The rugged beaches with lava rocks and lava pools offer a primal look at sunrise, drama during midday and mystery at night.
A tropical rainforest not only adds an exotic background but through its tricky lighting can create fantasy and intimate moods. Photographers in Hawaii can especially appreciate the soft light - available in open shade - when the harsh and blinding midday sun would prevent beauty photography.

First photo:
Beautiful, mixed ethnicity Italian and Persian bikini model with perfect body laying on the picturesque Diamond Head Beach, which is a favorite spot for local Hawaiian photographers. The harsh midday sun provides contrast and drama. The persistent, warm Hawaii Tradewinds can wreak havoc on the hairstyle of the model. Often times it is best to go for a wild and exotic hair concept so the unavoidable messy hair compliments the photo.

Photography tip: be conscious where you place the horizon. All compositions are different so there is no one rule but usually the horizon slicing through the model's head is to be avoided at all cost.

Second photo:
Edgy, dramatic portrait of a Chinese-American amateur model and my Hawaiian muse. Notice some of the signature elements for many of my pictures; the strong jaw line, strength and confidence. The open shade provided even, soft light and prevented unattractive shadows on the model's face.

Photography tip: editing and simplicity is a great way to achieve powerful compositions. The very ordinary leaves of an ordinary plant that were found next to the model's house added mystery and drama to this photo. This concept was not preplanned, as I did not know that there would be such plant. It can be preplanned and written down into a notebook though to look for simplicity!

Third photo:
Hawaiian night photography at the rugged Sandy Beach Park with a beautiful multiethnic model as she is half submerged in a lava pool. No expensive lighting equipment is needed for my night photography sessions, as I love the look of harsh, invasive, paparazzi-like lighting, that a single flash unit can provide.

Photography tip: create a relaxed photoshoot environment, so the model will be at ease. The surroundings and wardrobe will inspire her, which in turn will inspire the photographer. The results will be: more natural poses and emotions, even in a unique setting, such as a lava pool at night in almost complete darkness with nobody else around.

Hawaiian Bodyboarding Photography

No photoblog of a Hawaiian photographer would be complete without pictures of bodyboarding local kids. Waikiki Beach nthe South Shore, Sandy Beach Park, Makapuu Beach on the East Shore and Waimeia Bay on the North Shore are just a few popular spots that provide great locations to capture the fast action.
The ingredients are simple and readily available almost year around: bright sunny day, beautiful blue ocean, big waves, local kids with awesome skills to show off.

During the hours I spend photographing on the beaches of Hawaii, there are hundreds of chances to capture fantastic and unique moments.
The faster pace of action and something exciting happening around me all the time is a breath of fresh air compared to the structured and slower paced way of model portfolio or portrait photography.

First photo:
Skilled local Hawaiian boy on his boogieboard slicing through waves in the shallow water over a razor sharp coral reef of Waikiki Beach. The pier on Waikiki Beach provides an elevated vantage point which allows to shoot downward, therefore eliminate the sky and horizon. I really like to fill in the entire background with waves and water, as often times the horizon only complicates the composition.

Second photo:
The beautifully blue water of the Pacific Ocean forms a frightening wall at Sandy Beach Park, the popular local bodyboarding spot. Sandy Beach is excellent for fast-paced action photography even with modest photo equipment. No need for expensive long zoom lenses as the waves break only a few feet off shore.

Third photo:
Silhouette of a local Hawaiian boy bodyboarding off Waikiki Beach. The beauty and purity of bodyboarding, plus the scenery of Hawaii ensures never ending photographic opportunities. Hawaiian kids with darker skin will almost become silhouettes due to the great difference in luminosity between bodies and water. Unfortunately the subjects are too far for fill flash to make any difference. Some recovery of the dark areas is possible in Photoshop though.

Photography tip: there is an obvious and an artistic camera setting - in shutter priority mode - which both will work and produce very different results. Using slow shutter speed when used with panning motion - by following the fast moving subject - will blur the background and add a sense of movement and speed to the image. Using fast shutter speed will freeze the action, waves and water droplets, creating a more static composition.

European Lingerie Model Photography

Lingerie model photography in Europe is easier in my opinion because of the less conservative mentality. The higher comfort level of amateur European models becomes significant when compared to their American counterparts who sometimes just cannot produce effortless, natural photos. Europe also offers photography locations with character around every corner, simply due to its age.

First photo:
Beautiful, blonde, smoking Slovenian lingerie model photographed in Berlin, Germany. What helped with creating this and many other successful, natural pictures was the chemistry between model and photographer. Plus our willingness to experiment and the always present accidental opportunities which are unforeseen but crucial to producing eye-catching and creative photographs. This photo was not set up, but was taken during the model's smoke break.

Second photo:
Beautiful, brunette, amateur Belgian lingerie model photographed as I traveled the world on a tight budget with minimal photography gear. I was able to create diverse images while having great adventures everyday. Photographing amateur or first time models offers a chance to capture innocence, real moods and emotions without diva attitude or pre-learned, bad poses.

Third photo:
Blonde, athletic German lingerie model with strong, well defined jaw line in dramatic dark make-up. Her beautiful figure is a result of being a dancer. The black, lacy lingerie really stands out against the red color of the leather couch in the penthouse of her Dusseldorf modeling agency. The actual budget of this photo shoot was zero Euros. The location, wardrobe and make-up artist were provided by the modeling agency in exchange for free pictures from me.

Photography tip: try to stay away from overtly suggestive poses as they can quickly cheapen the resulting photos. Once these kind of trashy images show up in a model's or photographer's portfolio, they can often times turn off potential clients.

European Fashion Model Photography

Fashion model photography in Europe can significantly improve the portfolios of an amateur or traveling American photographers. Amateur or first time models are just liky typical girls who most likely are shopaholics. So it is usually no problem to use the model's own wardrobe and pick out visually interesting pieces during the pre-photoshoot meeting.
If new in town, the photographer can find out about popular locations the model already shot at, with other local photographers.

First photo:
Beautiful, blonde Slovenian fashion model in the courtyard of a Berlin apartment building. This location provided artistic, painting-like studio-quality backgrounds and soft, diffused light. The patterns on the old wall provided texture and colors, that really elevated the composition.

Second photo:
Young, blonde Russian fashion model in a relaxed pose wearing her colorful knitted dress, in the same Berlin courtyard. The muted color palette of the walls made the colors of the clothes really pop. The soft, defused light was bounced around off the surrounding sunlit, white walls of buildings, which acted like 5-story tall professional quality soft boxes.

Third photo:
Beautiful Russian fashion model with edgy, dramatic look photographed at a generic Belgian countryside. Most on-location photoshoots will provide unexpected props and other surprises that were not and couldn't have been pre-planned. The friendly and curious brown horse added another instance of an earth color tone, that was in perfect harmony with the model's wardrobe. The stormy sky created a dramatic background, fit for the look of the model.

Photography tip: the photographer should be mindful of the look of the model and choose matching locations and concepts. This may seem like a steep challenge in a foreign country, but in fact it just becomes a mental game, which can train the brain into more conscious thinking instead of always running on autopilot.

European Female Portrait Photography

Female portrait photography in Europe can also improve the portfolio of the amateur photographer simply because the beauty of European women rule the fashion world. All fashion model photo sessions are also portrait photography sittings as well. When the wardrobe and location inspire the model, it is time to eliminate all extraneous distractions and focus on the face.
I am only repeating myself to make my point more clear: notice the strong, well defined jaw lines of the models in the above portrait photos as well.

First photo:
Beautiful, young Russian fashion model close-up portrait. The composition is according to the Rule of Thirds. This classic three quarter turn of the head most of the time results in a visually balanced, natural and complimentary portrait. The location is that same, perfectly lit courtyard that's been mentioned above. Beside a possible fill flash, no other expensive lighting or photographic equipment was needed, not even assistants.

Second photo:
Beautiful blonde Slovenian amateur model close-up portrait illustrates that symmetry IS beauty! This tightly cropped composition of her face highlights her full lips and big eyes that are "sufficiently" far apart. The lack of distance between the eyes is considered significantly less attractive - even suggesting mental retardation in some circles. That Berlin courtyard was also able to light beauty shots like this.

Third photo:
Russian fashion model with dramatic features conveys strength and confidence through her androgynous beauty - especially via her perfect jaw line. When our fashion photography session got interrupted by a storm, we continued photographing inside of the model's car. With a simple accessories like designer sunglasses, a black neck choker with a silver lock, plus with harsh and unforgiving flash, an eye-catching, mysterious and intimate story could be created.

Photography tip: be aware that head-on portraits can easily resemble boring, two dimensional passport photos. Simple sidelighting can add enough three dimensional effect to combat the flat look. With that said, there can be instances when a flat look would work. To each their own - as long as the photographer is aware of the choices available.

European Black And White Model Photography

Black and white model photography in Europe takes advantage of forms, shapes and textures coupled with European fashion, European architecture and European facial beauty. The geometry of European architecture and interior design are prefect candidates for black and white photography or black and white digital conversion.
I look for drama even during color photography, so I happily embrace every chance when excluding color will further improve my pictures.

First photo:
Beautiful, blonde Finnish fashion and lingerie model with a perfect body wearing only a knitted scarf at a German construction site that was closed on a Saturday. I like how those stands in the background provide vertical lines, which further elongate the already gazelle-like body of the model. There are several other lines in the composition, that create geometry, which compliment the model's pose.

Second photo:
Dramatic portrait of Tanja Dexter, Belgian fashion and lingerie model who is also Miss Belgium 1998. The unique location was a Belgian brewery that offered a chance for creativity and out of the box, quick thinking. Without professional lights or assistants, most setups required a good dose of resourcefulness.
The light for this portrait came from a narrow beam of the setting sun that found its way - for a few seconds - through one of the factory's windows.

Third photo:
Exotic Russian fashion and lingerie model photographed in a 100-year old elegant Dutch castle. This location offered the discovery of many lines, that assisted in creating powerful, geometrical compositions, which are tailor-made for black and white photography.
More lines were created by the model's elegant and natural pose, which were not directed by me as usual.

Photography tip: the model doesn't have to wear black and/or white clothes and the surrounding don't have to be black and/or white for the creation of successful black and white images. With practice, the photographer can successfully judge in real time, how bright and dark colors will transform to black, gray and white after conversion, and if there is enough tonal contrast in the scene.
Sometimes there are unique instances, when the real world will be black and white or at lest monochromatic, making the photographer's job a little easier.

Southeast Asia Buddhist Travel Photography

There are few places better on Earth - if any - than Southeast Asia, when it comes to Buddhist themed travel photography. Although no country is completely crime-free, Buddhist nations are famous for their safety, plus the genuine kindness and hospitality of the people.
Buddha statues, Buddhist pagodas, Khmer architecture, religious paintings and all Buddhist iconography are extremely photogenic, making this region a paradise for travel and cultural photography.

First photo:
Buddha Head in Tree at Wat Phra Mahathat is one of the most famous local and tourist spots of Ayutthaya, Thailand. At no other location did I ever see guards attending a Buddha statue during my 9 months in Southeast Asia.
Even during the few short minutes I spent there, I did see the reason for guards, as culturally insensitive / ignorant tourists were breaking simple, well known rules of how to behave at a Buddhist religious site.

Second photo:
The stunning ancient Khmer ruins of Wat Mahathat can be found in Sukhothai, Thailand. While this location does get its fair share of local Thai and foreign tourists, it is possible to have private walks early in the morning, virtually tourist free.
When the first tourists start to arrive, a fun game can be played: "hiding the tourists" behind the ruins. Basically it means pressing the camera shutter as tourists are walking behind walls, statues or columns.

Third photo:
This unexpected pink Buddha face in Khmer Buddhist temple was found in Tra Vinh, Vietnam. There is a large Cambodian minority that lives here, in Southern Vietnam, in the Mekong Delta.
I was told by an English teacher, whom I bumped into at this pagoda, that the color of the Buddha face was dictated by the Vietnamese government.

Photography tip: by checking the internet or reading travel guide books, the travel photographer can quickly get familiar of basic etiquette regarding how to dress and behave at Buddhist religious sites. This is the minimum everyone should do - photographer and tourists alike - as it is readily available and only takes a few minutes. This knowledge not only can prevent uncomfortable situations but also can get locals' respect and increased willingness to assist.

Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Laos Travel Photography

Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos were proven to be excellent travel photography destinations during the 9 months, I was able to spend in these beautiful and welcoming countries.
There are tourist traps of course, but most can be avoided by not only traveling to the most popular destinations listed in The Lonely Planet guidebook.

If there is a must see attraction near a tourist trap, a friendly attitude, vigilance and solid bargaining skills will eliminate most unpleasantness. Finding out prices from a hotel clerk beforehand, can be helpful when bargaining later on.

First photo:
Flower Hmong little girl riding a water buffalo in the outskirts of Bac Ha in Northern Vietnam. While the Hmong hill tribe minority peoples are quite camera shy, younger kids are still curious and friendly so not all travel photos turn out to be landscapes.
The chore of taking the buffalos to graze is common here. I cannot help but laugh at the thought how over-protective Western parents would be at the sight of this type of independence given to children.

Second photo:
Ethnic Cham little girl with unusual haircut standing on her porch in the border town of Chau Doc, Vietnam. I took this picture on a routine walkabout street photography day. Spite the ever present language barrier in Vietnam, I was able to gather, that the little girl has been been sick and this haircut supposed to protect her from illness.

Third photo:
Squatting Vietnamese man photographed at the border check point between Chau Doc, Vietnam and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This photo was taken in a candid fashion of this man who was taking a cigarette break on the top of a river levy. I took this photo using telephoto lens, as I was aboard a Mekong River boat, that was about to dock for passport control.
Although the squatting position on this photo is extremely common throughout Southeast Asia, for it to be comfortable it needs to be started from childhood in my opinion. At least in my case because even though I tried it, I had a hard time squatting like that for longer than a few minutes.

Photography tip: a sincere smile, respectful and non-flashy clothes plus a laid back attitude are key to establish some level of chemistry and understanding while doing travel photography in a country with severe language barrier. While at tourist traps, locals may not be so keen on being photographed, there are no known "you are stealing my soul" reactions in this part of the world.

Creative Plants And Flowers Photography In Hawaii

There is more to Waikiki than the busy, crowded beach, the non-stop rows of hotels and apartment buildings. The parks and even common streets can spark creativity, once the extraneous is cropped out and the subject matter is isolated from the surrounding distracting chaos.

As opposed to street photography, the plant and flower photography subjects will not get impatient or keep walking, therefore plenty of photos can be taken during a relaxing stroll. These walks provide a great opportunity to take a refresher composition course. A seemingly ordinary scenery can be dissected and visual gems can be discovered.

First photo:
Winding tree roots and foliage photographed in the Fort DeRussy military park from a straight above vantage point. The intertwining roots create a juxtaposition of shapes that offer many angles, perspectives and ways for the photographic composition.
The photographer can either apply certain rules of photography - i.e. rule of thirds, the power of perspective or diagonal lines - or can make decisions purely based on instinct and sense of aesthetics.

Second photo:
Beautiful bird of paradise flower picture taken alongside a walkway behind the U.S. Army Museum, adjacent to Fort DeRussy Park. In other words, it is an ordinary flower on the street - well ordinary with Hawaiian or tropical standards.
One of the beautiful benefits of living in Hawaii is that the streets are decorated with hibiscus, plumeria and bird of paradise flowers. This bird of paradise flower picture was taken just before sunset, so there was no harsh sunlight coming from above, which is not optimal to capture deep, saturated colors.

Third photo:
Nicely shaped root of a majestic tree and green foliage photographed from above. There was something elegant about the arrangement of the root and the leaves. The curves of the root seems like a foot with one big toe branching away from the rest of the toes, which were partially hidden under the leaves. As I was approaching, I had a feeling that a visually balanced and pleasing composition could be created.

Photography tip: photographing flowers and plants offers a chance to explore more minimalist compositions, that may have gotten ingrained during fashion model or portrait photography. One option is to try to eliminate items in the composition one by one until the photographer arrives at the last and most meaningful detail. If this last detail is not enough to convey the photographer's message, one by one more elements can be reintroduced into the composition until the story reappears.

Long Exposure Twilight, Dusk Photography In Hawaii

Waikiki Beach can get quite crowded especially around sunset but by twilight most tourist leave the beach and head back for dinner or drinks. The beach suddenly quiets down, so peaceful dusk and night photography can take place.

Even though the light and the atmospheric conditions are always different with every sunset, after awhile the same vantage point will yield similar results, regardless how many variables are changed. For this reason I started to add soft (out of) focus and motion blur effects to my beach photos. These manipulations are always done in camera, not in Photoshop.

First photo:
Out of focus photo of Diamondhead Crater and Waikiki Beach created without the use of a tripod. The camera was placed level on a large rock, the ISO was set at 100 for best image quality, the focus was switched to manual and set at the closest distance the lens could focus. The self-timer was set to trigger the shutter.
For me it is a very familiar view and it is photographed by 100's of tourists daily. Perhaps that's why I was compelled to distort it without taking away any of its beauty.

Second photo:
Tobacco colored sky at dusk over Ala Wai Yacht Harbor as seen from the West end of Waikiki. Because the lit up skyline of downtown Honolulu is reflected in the water, it is OK to place the horizon in the middle of the composition.
In the original uncropped image, 2 rows of sailboats on both sides lead the viewers' eyes toward the bright building in the background.

Third photo:
Weekly fireworks courtesy of Hilton Hawaiian Village over Waikiki Beach skyline is captured from Ala Moana Park on Magic Island. A cable release was used with the camera set to manual exposure, using a wide aperture and bulb mode. The shutter was open between 2-4 seconds, not set by a timer but just by feel.
It was a rudimentary way of bracketing but there were so many variables that trial and error seemed as the most time efficient way of shooting during the only 5 minute long fireworks.

Photography tip: creating more effects in camera and less in Photoshop not only cuts down on time spent in front of the computer but it lets the photographer see the effects in real time, through the viewfinder. The reason why this can be a benefit is because - in my opinion - it isn't optimal to tax the brain with asking it to imagine and overlay complicated, abstract special effects, while looking at the real world. There are already countless calculations that the brain has to make, based on the visual input. So why not provide as accurate input as possible, relative to the desired outcome.