More Moments of Beauty

Today we traveled to Volcano National Park, wandered through art galleries and coffee shops, and had a low-key day with the weather being cloudy to socked in and raining. Sometimes the worst weather can assist in certain shots, so I tried a few and here's some that I liked. The goat and the rooster are just for fun - Ernest is the goat and he liked to play. Of course, his play involves jumping and butting - and I didn't bring my hard hat! But we had fun, just the same.

Another gecko to start out the day - I love the selective focus and leading lines!

Mr rooster paraded around at a coffee shop - along with a couple of very loving kitties!

Below is a scene from the top of the caldera of Kiluea volcano, looking back through the fog, rain and sulfur dioxide fumes from the volcano.

Scenic views

Almost anywhere you go on the big island, there are scenic views that surround you. Capturing them is sometimes a challenge, but often worth the effort.  Here's a few views that caught my eye.  The black and white photos are of the same grass, just viewed from different angles and adjusted in Lightroom differently.

Gecko Day

We communed with geckos today, just sitting on our porch, rocking in our rocking chairs, drinking coffee and watching these goofballs run around!  What beauty!  Then, while visiting Akaka Falls Park, I find a chameleon - looks pre-historic!  In between just lots of great stuff - a very good day.  As I write, we are socked in with clouds and rain, on a day that started without a cloud in the sky!
Enjoy!

 The guy below is licking the palm frond - 'real lizard lick!'

Apparently these guys like to climb around on people - and are harmless except to bugs!

Akaka Falls Park is just about a mile from Rick and Carey's so I walked up there at mid-day.  In addition to the chameleon (above), the falls are spectacular.  Although the water flow is down due to the dry weather, at 442 feet tall (or is it long) the falls are an ecosystem all by themselves.

Moments of Beauty

This post is about moments of beauty - a few that I captured out of so many over the last couple of days. The various colors against the greenery as shown above, startle you into wakefulness and admiration.  Patterns in the foliage draw your eye as the breeze gently caresses the fronds.

We toured a botanical garden this afternoon with so many gorgeous plants that I became confused!!  But I still enjoyed it.

A black-crowned night heron joined us in the garden - his/her gift was to fly past us and land in full view and do various things to allow us to take photos!  Here's a shot through the greenery of the guest.

Just as we walk down the steps of our cottage, there is this beauty that causes us to pause for a moment, each time we go out or in.

Then a couple of arrangements that caught my eye:

And finally, at R&C's, a bullfrog posed for me!  He was the only one that did not jump away immediately; so I walked slowly towards him, stopping every couple of steps and taking photos, then move and snap again.  I wound up throwing away a bunch of images to get this one, but until I can predict with accuracy when a frog will leap, I take more than I need to get one!

Rainbow Day!

Today was a day of presents from the sky!  Rainbows started our day off and ended it, and we could feel the angels everywhere!  Black-crowned night herons, Common Myna, Saffron Finches, geckos and a tree full of cattle egrets - so much beauty everywhere.
Here's the best of the 'bows!

Aloha!

We left 12 degree weather in Salt Lake on 1/2 and are now ensconced in Honomu, Hawaii, at 72 +- degrees!  Honolulu airport was the first introduction, where there are open air gardens and walkways between the various terminals!!!
There is so much beauty that is just so obviously in your face, plus all the more subtle beauty that sneaks up on you at times!  The air is like a liquid massage, with all the fragrances to enjoy along with it.  The light quality changes constantly as the clouds and sun play tag in the sky above.  You can tell that I like it here.
Here's a few photos that I picked out of the many that I took.  Some show a classic view and others are just my view of beauty.  Enjoy!

 Above - the view from Rick and Carey's back porch!
Below - a banana flower!

 Butterflies enjoying the sun and nectar.

Torch ginger - it's beauty just astounds me!

Mist and flowers in the afternoon road to the beach.

Pretty classic view - many of these just off the circle highway.

 Below - cattle egret highlighted by the early morning sun on their way to cattle, I guess!

Three for one!

Earlier this week Murphy and I were out at the Farmington Bay refuge, as per a previous post.  Murph and I usually park and walk at a certain place - it gives me a chance to stretch my legs and him a chance to run!
This time, he got a 3 for 1!  Down in a corner of a secluded area, he flushed - all at the same time - a hen pheasant, a Great Blue Heron and a kestrel!  Yay, Murphy. 
I anticipated something being spooked, but not all three.  The kestrel I caught up to and photographed later; the pheasant I just watched noisily fly away; and the GBH flew up, turned around and came right back at me - squawking mightily his displeasure at being disturbed!  I'm glad he kept on flying 'cause he was a big guy.
I shot him against the white clouds with a +0.7 EV.  The photos came out pretty grainy and most were not usable due to issues focusing on him. The Nikon 80-400 lens will sometimes do wierd (to me) things when I shoot into a bright background.  I'm still sorting these out so I can get some consistency in these situations.
Anyway - here's the big guy!

Diana and I are flying out tomorrow morning to Hawaii - we'll be staying just outside of Honomu, HA.  Our friends have the places already scouted - Peo, 'lo, sea turtles, black sand beaches, Brazilian Cardinals, Saffron finches, etc.  Will post what I get!
Aloha!!