Dachs Thoughts

The last shooting day of the workshop was described by Aaron as going to be an “easy” day. In fact we did three shoots and ended up walking farther than any of the other days. But we saw some nice sights and had some good shooting locations.

We arrived at the first location in Poipu on the southern tip of the island before sunrise. I think it was the first time on this trip we actually began hiking going uphill. We went up a short rise to a cliff overlooking the ocean with a nice view of the sunrise. I believe this was Shipwreck’s Beach in Poipu. Apparently this is a popular spot to watch the sunrise as there were quite a few people going up there. There were some nice secluded nooks to shoot in, however, we periodically got some looky-loos peeking in on our models. We got some nice shots overlooking the ocean and some nice rocky environmental shots. This beach is at one end of the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail which goes a few miles along the beach. Rather than walking it, we drove to our second stop, which was near the Makauwahi Cave and Gillin (Mahaulepu) Beach. We basically hiked around a bit, saw a tortoise reserve, and got to the beach. We did a little shooting there, but the sun was getting high and there were a lot of people around. One the way back we went through the ancient cave which was kind of interesting.

After our morning’s activities we went and visited Aaron’s gallery in Poipu. It was quite nice and we got to see some of his art prints that he sells. Afterwards we had a nice relaxing lunch at a restaurant in the little shopping center where the gallery is located.

In the afternoon, we went to our final location in Kawaihau not too far from where I started my adventure in Kapaʻa, hiking along the Kapaʻa stream, taking us to Hoʻopiʻi Falls. The beginning of the trail abuts private land, and there are markings that we were going along sacred lands. The trail was fairly level for the most part, but made challenging again due to the ruts from rains and collapsed trees across the trail. We did one shoot in the river down there, and ended up finally shooting in the falls. It was dark by the time we headed back. I thought I had escaped the mosquitoes on this trip, but at the last location, after working in the river which probably washed off my repellent, I got eaten alive with a dozen bites.
After the shoot, and after a long day, we made our way back up to our Princeville house where we had to get packed and prepared for our travel day back home. We cleaned up the house, then started dropping off folks who were traveling back. I was sad to leave the group as you build up quite a comraderie with folks living and trekking together for a week. At the time it seemed pretty physically intense, but I’m glad I did it and got to see things I’m sure I never would have any other way.
(17,600 steps, 53 floors, 7.9 miles)

Day 4 of the workshop was a much needed rest day, and we just relaxed and reviewed some of our images from the previous two days of shooting. On Day 5 we again got up early to beat the sunrise, and headed not too far from Princeville to Anahola Beach on the north east side of the island. We caught the sunrise and shot there for a couple of hours then headed to the next location. On the way we stopped at a local joint for some refreshing berry smoothies.

The next location was on some amazing private land near Kilauea that was owned by a friend of Aaron’s that had a cool waterfall on it. When we got to the waterfall it had some fallen trees from recent storms, and some of the guys felt obligated to clear them out to make a cleaner shot. Eventually we shot around the waterfall, and further down the stream, and even played with smoke bombs to add some drama to the shots. It was actually pretty cool. We spent about three and a half hours shooting here, and as we were leaving the caretaker, who knew Aaron, offered us some fresh squeezed orange juice from trees on the property. It was great, particularly after all that shooting. After that, we headed back to the house to rest up a bit before the evening’s shoot.

The last shooting location of the day, the Queen’s Bath was within walking distance of our house. As we made our way over there a security patrol unfortunately prevented us from going down the easiest route, and we were forced down another steep, slippery, muddy path to the rock cliffs at the bottom. There were again warnings of life threatening hazards from the waves. It was a bit rainy and grey, but we persevered and got some cool shots. We shot along the rock cliff and eventually got to the “bath.” The Queen’s Bath is a green tidal pool perched atop the rock cliffs. It must be amazing in good weather. We got some interesting shots, and Aaron even got into posing with Anoush Anou. We made our way up to the top in the dark by a much smoother path than we came down.
(10,150 steps, 23 floors, 4.6 miles)

The second shooting day of the workshop turned out to be a big day. We got up early do drive from our house in the north around the island to Weimea Canyon that starts towards the southwest part of the island and works its way back north. The original goal was a challenging hike that started at the Kalalau Valley overlook worked it’s way towards the ocean and the Nā Pali Coast, which Arron termed having a great bang for the buck. When we got to the top it was cold, raining hard, and foggy. So we drove back down a little way and found a nice little barricaded area that had a scenic cliff overlooking the Weimea Canyon. We shot there for a little less than an hour, which would have satisfied my needs, but then Aaron decided we should go try the original site again to see if the weather had let up.

It was pretty grey, but the rain had let up and we decided to proceed ahead. The trek again began with going around a fence with some menacing hazard warnings. The path was steep, muddy, pitted, and very slippery from the recent rain. My compromised back along with my sub-optimal fitness made me use a lot of energy to get down. It never really leveled out, but after about an hour we eventually got to a sloped open area were we were able to stop, rest, and do some shooting. This field provided some beautiful views of the valley as well as the ocean in the distance. I can only imagine how it would look on a clear day. We hung out at this first stop for about 45 minutes, then we moved on to what Aaron termed the elephants graveyard because of the interestingly shaped fallen trees. Many of us were already toasted from the hike to the first stop, and while the second hike was a bit more level, it was still muddy and slippery. It also had started raining again, so we didn’t get shooting again for about an hour and a half from the first stop. We got some interesting shots in and around the interestingly shaped trees, then we started to make our way back up and out. I left a little earlier than everybody else since I seemed to be going slowest. Going up was easier, and luckily Aaron helped me with my pack for the last steepest bits. I survived and got out uninjured (but not un-muddied). I’m glad to say I got down there, but I’m not sure I’d do that again.

Driving home, Aaron made an improptu suggestion about a cool tree we were passing as it was near sunset. It turned out to be a very cool sunset and I got some amazing pictures there. After than, we decided to have dinner in Lihue at a brewpub where Aaron knew the owners. It was good, but I felt a little sheepish as I was filthy from mud.
(10,100 steps, 54 floors, 4.5 miles)

The first shoot of the workshop was on Kauapea (Secret) Beach on the northern part of the island, not far from the Kilauea Lighthouse. Arriving pre-dawn, we made our way down (what I would come to discover was a typical) steep rutty muddy path down to the beach area. Our trek was in pre-dawn dark, and I was aided by a head lamp.

There were interesting rock backdrops with great texture and tidal pools and great ocean views along with the beautiful morning light. I started shooting with Anoush and got some great shots. The group moved up the beach in one direction, then back and to the other direction, finding various beautiful shooting locations. I got a chance to shoot with my ultra-wide lens to create some interesting images, and the morning ended with the models in a pool in the ocean backed by a rock break, which provided some really cool shots. My original expectation for the morning shoot was going to be about 3 hours, but we ended up being there almost 5 hours, and that was just the first shoot of the day. Climb back up the path was a chore, but I got some great shots.

We returned to the house to have some lunch and rest up a bit. In the later afternoon we headed to another beach behind some cliff side apartments near where we were staying. Upon approaching the fenced cliff edge behind the apartments, we came upon the first of many signs we’d see at the start of our “paths” to our shooting locations, decrying the hazards of the way ahead. These steep trails would have been more manageable for me had my back been well, and had I not been carrying a heavy pack of camera gear. I have to say, I didn’t always feel safe and comfortable, but I made it out alive and mostly unscathed. We made our way down some sketchy paths and along rock cliffs to some nice locations on the sea cliff. I also got some really nice sunset shots at this location. We shot at this location for about 2 hours, then made our way back up the path in near-dark.

We headed back to the house for a late dinner then after cleaning up and backing up pictures, I collapsed for the night for some well earned sleep.
(11,400 steps, 35 floors, 5.2 mi)

The primary reason I came to Kauaʻi was to attend The Landscape Nude – A Destination Art Nude Workshop, one of a series of photography workshops put on by Aaron Feinberg, a Kauaʻi based fine-art photographer. The five-day workshop had four days of shooting with a rest day in the middle, and described the shoot venues as requiring “moderate, but short hiking to get to some locations.” This last phrase set my expectations for how much physical exertion I would be doing waaaayyyy below what turned out to be required, and exacerbated by my less than optimal back health it was quite a challenge … but I survived. There were three photographers including myself, and we were joined by two outstanding models, Anoush Anou (who I’ve worked with before), and St-Merrique.

The first day didn’t include any shooting and was basically just gathering up the group and ultimately making our way to our group house in Princeville on the northern edge of the island. It was a very nice house, with each photographer getting a bedroom, and the models sharing an upstairs bedroom accessed by a spiral staircase. I lucked out since I was the first to sign up so I got the master bedroom.

Despite the physical challenges, I had a great time on this trip. I came with pasty white skin and spotless white Nikes, and I went home with a bit of a tan and shoes thoroughly filthy stained with mud and water. I got to experience sun, sunrises, sunsets, rain, sand, mud, mountains, cliffs, ocean, beaches, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and mosquitoes, and I got to collaborate on some great photographs with some very creative people.

I began my first visit to Hawaiʻi with a few day stay in the southeast coastal enclave of Kapaʻa. I stayed in an Airbnb right near the beach as well as some decent restaurants and tourist shops. The island of Kauaʻi really is quite lush and beautiful, and I understand why it is called the garden island. Leaving Livermore in the chilly rain it was nice to arrive in the quite mild tropical weather.

I didn’t have a car, but I was able to do some local exploring by foot, and I walked the beach and even waded in and felt the relatively warm sea water. The area I was in was clearly a tourist nook, and it seemed like a good place to just come, relax, eat, and enjoy the views. A few days before I left for the island, I had some soreness in my lower back, which wasn’t bad, but which wasn’t helped by sitting on a plane for 6 hours. It didn’t bother me terribly, but after hiking around, and hiking the thick sand beach, on Friday night just as I was about to ascend the stairs to my apartment, my back seized up (I think sacroiliac). At least I was able to see a beautiful Hawaiian sunset. It was touch and go just getting up the stairs, and I ended up basically spending the next day in bed, trying to relax my back, managing the pain, and trying to get it recovered enough to be able to survive the upcoming workshop. By the time Sunday rolled around and I met up with the workshop folks, I could move around, but still wasn’t feeling great. It was a challenge just rolling out of the bed. Nevertheless, I was glad I came to this beautiful spot.