The corral is one of the relics of ranching that litter the Waimea countryside. Just a short detour off my daily commute, I have long noted the photo potential of the place. A foggy day offered an interesting opportunity to shoot the corral, enough that I missed my usual turn to take advantage of the even, subdued light offered by a grey afternoon.
Arriving I noted that recent rains had transformed the brown grass into a verdant green. Vines had appeared to cover the old fence posts in foliage. This was a good day to go shooting.
Photography is an art that has to be constantly practiced. You need to shoot, shoot some more, and critique the results with a stern eye. I have better gear than I have ever had, it helps. Still, the magic is up to the photographer, not the camera. A practiced eye, composition and creativity, any camera can shoot a great photo in the right hands.
I did get some good shots. But did I get any great shots? I am always my own worst critic.
An old corral falls into ruin south of Waimea
Recent rains have turned the brown land to verdant green
Old wood and wire, patched and modified for generations
The wear of many seasons of work scar the wood, rust betrays the lack of use
Vines now keep this old gate permanently shut, Canon 6D and 24-105mm f/4 L lens
We found a few of these when hiking in Volcanos NP a couple weeks ago. A little searching revealed some ripe ones. Nice flavor, a little tart, not unlike cranberry they need a little sweetener to make them really good.
ʻŌhelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) fruiting on lava flows along Saddle Road
The plan was simple. Stay on the summit after work to do some nighttime scenic photography.
I was hesitant in going up after suffering my recent ear infection. The ear is vastly better, no problems with clearing the ear for several days. After two weeks absence the list of things I needed to get done on the summit was getting lengthy and urgent. Yet I worried a bit about going up. An idea… Take my own vehicle. If I have trouble I can go at my own pace without holding up the rest of the guys. If the trouble is serious I can abort and head back down.
If I did bring my own vehicle I could get in a little photography along the way. I had not really had a chance to try out the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens I had bought specifically for starry sky work. Why not stay late, watch sunset and take a few photos after dark? There is snow on the summit, the weather looked promising, the Moon would not rise until after 10pm, all good things.
The plan worked as envisioned. A good day getting stuff done. Actually a rather hectic day. The filter wheel problem of TRICK found and eliminated, the heater circuit at least looked at, I think the problem is still there. Warping data recorded for a segment in Keck 2 for the refurbishment project. Some wiring on TBAD completed, still more to do. An issue with the Keck 2 interlocks that popped up during the day was dealt with. Yes, a very good day.
A minimal dinner of instant ramen, and some paperwork accomplished while waiting for sunset.
Into the cold dark I go… The combination of the Canon 6D and the fast 14mm lens is impressive. This gear will really allow me to step up my game. I was able to shoot great material under very dark conditions. Photos that had been just out of reach for me until now. It will take me a couple days to go through and process the material, but a first look is very pleasing.
Only one problem… What is this red stuff showing up in my photos? Normal airglow is green, but this is crimson red and has very distinct structure? The idea of aurora crosses my mind, almost immediately dismissed as I am standing at 20°N latitude. I step away from the camera and the light for a bit. With some effort I can convince myself that I am seeing red in the sky, at least in the darker areas away from the Milky Way. But it is fleeting, and perhaps just an overactive desire to see something.
I get home and just out of curiosity I check the planetary Kp index… What?!? We have a Kp=6 geomagnetic storm in progress! Beautiful aurora photos are being posted from the upper midwest. Reports of aurora from across much of the United States. There is certainly a dramatic storm in progress. Perhaps this is a low latitude auroral glow!
It is a nice photo. You can see the glow from the lava lake at Halemaʻumaʻu, the winter Milky Way, and a research laser shining straight up from the atmospheric lab atop Mauna Loa.
Airglow or auroral glow? An odd red glow in the photos during a strong geomagnetic storm.
Headed for work, at least I had plenty of time… Ahead of me on the hillside I could see a military convoy with dozens of cars trapped behind them on the steep grades. Not wanting to join the mess I pulled over to take some photos. The convoy will turn towards the new Saddle Road at the top, all I have to do is give them another five minutes and I will have open road.
As we drove into Naʻalehu I spotted the tents ahead… Farmer’s Market!
The Na’alehu Market, open on WednesdaysWe had no idea that the town boasted a regular market, it was just chance that we were visiting on a Wednesday. The market was a pleasant surprise, we were looking to buy a few things… Snacks to keep in the cooler for the trip were on the list. Fresh fruit? An excellent option. Even better, island markets often offer odd tropical fruit, unknowns to explore, new things that become part of the adventure of travel.
The Naʻalehu Market occurs on Wednesdays, with tents set up in the Ace Hardware parking lot, right along the main highway. Better yet, the Punaluʻu Bakery is right next door. You can park between them and pick up a few baked goods to go with the market offerings.
A good saleswoman does not give up, she almost had this non-coffee drinker buying Kaʻu coffee!The produce was quite nice, the area offers excellent growing conditions, it showed in the quality of the produce. The usual apple bananas, papaya and pineapples were available, along with more unusual tropical fare. Soursops caught my eye… I have a newly planted tree just starting to bear fruit. It was nice to see a ripe soursop ready to eat, I need to learn how to harvest these odd fruit. Some nice green beans and garlic were added to the cooler, supplies for the kitchen at home.
Among the folks selling fruit and veggies there was also some jewelery, carved sandalwood, jams and jellies, and framed photography. It was a surprisingly good selection for a tiny town in the most remote corner of the island. I chatted with the photographer for a while, talking about the merits of canvas versus metal prints. The scent of sandalwood incense filled the air, creating an exotic atmosphere.
Markets offer a good opportunity while exploring the island. So much of what makes Hawaiʻi special comes to these events, ready to be sampled and taken home.
