2013
Stretching across Kauai’s northern end, the Na Pali coast’s steep, dramatic terrain is rimmed with narrow beaches and booming surf. It’s vivid colors range from the lush tropical greens to the island’s red, oxidized basaltic foundation and a myriad of colors in between. The crystal clear sunlight intermittently filtered by the voluminous clouds adds a vast and brilliant pacific blue border for this magnificent coast.
I have yet to have a bad day – light wise or cloud-wise – on Kauai! Having lived for the last ten years in the southwest’s high desert country, it was truly a luxury…
2013
Kauai is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago; it is also the oldest and most northern. Just over one hundred miles across the Kauai Channel northwest of O’ahu, its 562 square miles has a population of 67,000.
From the spectacular Na Pali shoreline, along Kauai’s north end, looking in all directions is classic Kauai. Rarely without wind, the white surf rims the incredible blue ocean as its shoreline bends east and west.
Known as the “Garden Isle”, the Na Pali coast receives more rain than nearly any other place in the world. The contrast of its vivid greens interspersed with rust red earth and shadows from the usual voluminous cloud cover makes for one of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen.
How can I resist overlaying all this with a vivid sense of the passage of time?
2013
The interior of Hawaii’s “Garden Isle”, cries out to be captured with panoramic composition. As the flowing lava built up and solidified over several million years, it formed subtle exaggerated layers, which turn increasingly abstract as the colors meld with the sky.
Oh, to have one’s own helicopter, or better yet, imagine what could be captured with a camera attached to one of the new quadcopter drones!
2013
About midpoint along Kauai’s west coast is the town of Waimea; situated at the mouth of the Waimea River, the flow of this river helped form Waimea Canyon, one of the world’s most scenic canyons, which at 3,000′ deep is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.
Waimea Canyon is also the result of a partial collapse of the island, which formed a depression, that filled with lava flows. Since the collapse 4 MM years ago, while Kauai was still erupting almost continuously. Over time, the exposed basalt has weathered from its original black to bright red, which is one of the hallmarks of Wimea Canyon, and much of Kauai’s land as well.
2013
Like the other Hawaiian islands, Kauai is the top of an enormous volcano rising from the ocean floor. Kauai’s formation began nearly 6 million years ago as the Pacific plate passed over the Hawaii hotspot causing lava to begin to flow. The 5,243′ Kawaikini is the highest peak on this mountainous island. Near the center of this island is Kauai’s second highest peak, 5,148′ Wai’ale’ale; to its northeast, 460″ of annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains, carving out canyons with many incredibly scenic waterfalls.
Much of Kauai’s southwest coast is lined with high bluffs and cliffs, along with beaches, interspersed with fields of sugar cane and coffee plantations. Most of the island has bright red soil resulting from millions of years of weathering of the original black basalt that comprises most of the island. The incredible greens, contrasted against the island’s bright reds, marks its signature landscape.
Looking at a book on Alaskan Totem Poles a few years ago got me thinking that totems were panoramics turned on their end. (more…)
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