A Stormy Afternoon Photo

Photographer’s Note

Kekaha Kai State Park, The Big Island (Hawai'i)

Under the flight path of the Kailua/Kona International Airport is a small state beach with a nice break for surfing and a lagoon for snorkeling. Getting to this park required a very rough 1.5-miles drive across an old lava flow. After a day of sight seeing along the northwest coast of the island my wife and I stopped for a while just to get off the road and log some beach time. As you can see it was trying to storm, rain was falling on Mauna Loa (of to the right of the image) and along the north shore of the island. It was windy but the temperatures were in the upper 70's F.

As I roamed along the beach I caught this lady sitting under this tree (Sea Grape?) writing in a journal. I liked the stormy sky's in the background, the bright green tree, and the warm afternoon light falling on the beach.

andante, kiwi_explorer, feather, jhm, john_c, Photo65Net, jmcl, lilimih33, sam224, pboehringer, stego, wishlist, abulafia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

triptych2003 (1398) 2007-02-18 20:43

hi john

this is an interesting composition. nice contrast of the calm lady writing and the impending fury of the storm. i'm trying to think of things to improve but all i can think of is maybe some of the foreground could go. but that would be it. it's a shot that tells a story, which is good. well done!

poulinp (4464) 2007-02-18 20:46

Nice shot, poetic. We can feel the peace of this place. Excellent quality, good job.

Brendon (285) 2007-02-18 22:24

Almost a humerous feeling to this shot, like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. The impending doom lurking behind as the the writer, unbeknownst to them sits in quiet focus.
Good storytelling shot with sharp focus on the subject in the front, that wanes out into the rear with the waves and rocky shore behind.
Brendon

PJE (19401) 2007-02-18 23:10

Good Evening John. This is a very nice capture showing that weather on the Big Island is not always balmy sunny and dry. A number of years back I took my entire family to the Big Island. We visited many beaches and drove around the entire island. When I look back I still think it's an incredible place. I especially loved the black sand beaches. They were great for black and white photos. Of all the places I have been to I think that the Hawaiian Islands have a special way of touching your inner soul . You feel as if you have left something behind when you leave and you commit yourself to returning to rediscover the wonder and beauty of these paradise islands. Great shot.. brought back many memories of enjoying my holidays there.
Cheers Paul

trinko (2940) 2007-02-19 0:04

nice composition. i think the tree could be sharpened a bit.

carper (64546) 2007-02-19 0:39

a very nice moment John,
good capture of the stormy weather, fantastic light, good pov and a very good composition and quality, very fine job John. have a nice day.
gr. jaap

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2007-02-19 2:11

Hi John,
Fantastic photography. Contrast, composition, and color quality is just superb. Technically excellent. TFS
Cheers,
Renier

anesugur (16800) 2007-02-19 8:21

Hi John,
Very nicely captured and composed shot from a very good POV.
Beautiful light and good sharpness.
Well done. Best wishes. Uğur

feather (49858) 2007-02-19 9:52

Great shot John. The black stormy sky makes an excellent background yet there is enough light for contrast. The lady found a perfect place to write her journal under the tree which looks most unusual to me growing out of the sand.
Kath
PS after my accident with the 24-120mm lens I now have the VR version like yours.
K

jhm (82201) 2007-02-19 11:55

Hi John,

A very lovely moment with the lady under the tree, she write maybe a loves story!!! Alone on a bench with the imminent sky, the rain fall maybe very quick, it's a very nice picture for looking.

Best regards,
John.

john_c (24635) 2007-02-19 12:57

Hi John,
You really nailed this one. The combination of the threatening sky with great light, the character tree, and the interesting profile of the woman really come together for a pleasing image. I like the exposure level here and the complete lack of glare form the sand. The Big Island is my favourite of the group, with so many varied climate zones and constantly changing landscape. First rate, John.
John

Photo65Net (43084) 2007-02-19 13:34

Hello John,
A great one, with interesting POV. You caught an amazing life moment, with a nice landscape.
Very nice.
Regards,
JB.

jmcl (13721) 2007-02-19 14:13

Hi John

welcome back .. hope you had a wonderful trip ..

I love the green against the stark beach ... I love this ominous sky and sea and her complete lack of concern.

take care,

John

sam224 (5851) 2007-02-20 4:31

The composition is perfect here: the lonely tree is well off centered and lets the eye have a look to the coast in the background. The foaming sea adds dynamism and interest to the image with a good colour contrasting with the cloudy grey sky. The lady sitting under the tree let me think about a writer finding ispiration in this fascinating landscape.
Well done. Thanks for sharing

rbcy1974 (20742) 2007-02-22 14:32

Hello John
Wow
THis is really nice,
The light is excellent and it filters itself well through the clouds. THe lonely reader gives a nice touch to this ambiance of tranquility
Regards
Daniel

pboehringer (770) 2007-02-25 1:43

Aloha, John!
You nailed it! What a lovely composition with this tree giving protection to this person sitting there and writing an old fashioned postcard to its relatives in continental US. You see there is a story in your picture and I like that sort of shots ... The colors are superb and you're right the dark grey of the upcoming storm gives a very interesting contrast to the story in the foreground.
Regards, Peter

stego (22350) 2007-03-01 21:08

Hi John,
A great photo indeed. Very clever pov, with the tree on the vertices of the triangle done by the shoreline. Very dramatic for that sky and the amazing light. The inclusion of the lady makes it even more moody; her apparent tranquillity is a bit contradictory with the dramatic weather, but that actually makes the image even more attractive.
Regards, José.

kensimage (8539) 2007-03-04 12:58

Nice composition, John! The light on the tree, set against the ominous sky, is great. The lady seems to be protected, but not very well, by the tree--there is an element of human vulnerability before nature. Or maybe I'm reaching a bit there, but regardless, it's a beautiful shot of something Hawaiian that's not in the tourist brochures. Regards, Ken.

wishlist (4133) 2007-03-12 6:55

Hello John,

nice shot here. Picture very well balanced and composed..fantastic lightning..great the contrast and colours.

best regards
Igor

sebinho342 (18734) 2007-03-13 8:50

Hi John, this is truely a piece of art this picture, this beach looks so natural and what a scene you got !
Colors are marvelous and as a lover of "dark skies above beach" i can't resist to this one.
Excellent my friend :)

Standa (1861) 2007-05-21 9:52

Hi John,
you captured fantastic moment here. I like this composition with the lady under the tree. Good sharpness and very nice colours.
Best regards
Stanislav

darrasin (2860) 2007-06-11 23:42

Hello John! Now that is a well-placed picnic table. The composition is very intriguing as the weather looks threatening with the gray clouds and windy surf yet the woman is the picture of tranquility as she writes in her journal. The leaves of the tree glow against that dramatic sky. Well done!

-Doug

abulafia (4802) 2007-12-15 20:51

That looks like a perfect spot to sit and write a diary or maybe postcards!
Not much to say about the quality, which obviously is very good, and I like your framing.
Harry