Best Places For Photography :: Oahu

     In the next installment of Best Places For Photography, I present to you - Oahu!

     I'll keep it short and sweet, and just highlight my favorite picks from a photography perspective, sprinkled with a few tips here and there.  Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is a special mix of urban and tropical paradise.  There is no shortage of places and things to shoot here.  While looking for photos for this post, I've realized that I need to go back and redo a lot of the photos that I have.  There were times I didn't use my DSLR, or that I just photographed things at the wrong time of day/year.  That is one of the best things about photography, isn't it?  We can always improve on our craft and find ways to do better, or have a different take on a subject each time we shoot it.  In no particular order, let's get started!

NOTE:  This is the Cliff Notes version, because to be honest, I spent a long time on the original post and lost it somehow even though the internet claimed to be "saving" my work. 

1)  Diamond Head (Mt. Leahi) Hike

Why you should go there:  I've hiked this several times, and the view payoff is always rewarding.  It is one of my favorite views, and not a bad hike, either.  It is easy enough to do while lugging your camera gear up there.

Lenses you should bring:  A wide lens for a selfie, and a zoom such as a 24-70 mm to get a nice shot of Honolulu. 

Tip:  Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and go EARLY to avoid the tourists!

2)  Haleiwa

Why you should go there:  There are so many good photo opportunities here.  You can shoot everything from street photography, to macros, and landscapes.

Lenses you should bring:  A 35 mm prime or a 24-70 mm zoom would be perfect for this.

Tip:  Find a place to park once you enter Haleiwa, and photowalk the distance of the town.  Walk back to your car and grab something from the shrimp trucks and some shave ice on the way back!

3)  Kaka'ako Park and Magic Island

Why you should go there:  You can get a postcard-worthy photo of the skyline and Diamond Head from these places.  

Lenses you should bring:  A 24-70 mm zoom should give you ample room to play with different compositions.  I'd also bring a tripod if you're shooting this at blue hour or later.

Tip:  Start at Kaka'ako Park (below).  This is a great place to get shots of surfers, too.  

You can move closer by going to Magic Island for long exposures of the skyline.

4)  Manoa Falls Hike

Why you should go there:  You'll get great photos of what feels like a tropical jungle in the middle of the city.

Lenses you should bring:  To keep your gear light, I would bring a prime lens such as a 35 mm, and also a macro lens to get shots of flowers, plants, and bugs if you're into that. :)

Tip:  Wear good shoes.  The trail can be very slippery if it's been raining, and it's always raining.  

5)  China Walls

Why you should go there:  This is a nice place to get photos (that's also not as busy).  You'll see sunbathers and surfers out here, so I wouldn't linger too long taking photos (because that just kinda looks creepy.)

Lenses you should bring:  A 24-70 mm should suffice.  Clearly, a 24-70 mm would be a great lens to bring on any vacation!

Tip:  Be weary of the tide and slipping on the rocks.  I've seen some amazing photos of this area with the water crashing onto the rocks, but it also looks like it can be pretty dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or aren't familiar with the area. 

6)  Punchbowl Crater

Why you should go there:  There is a gorgeous sweeping view of the city from here.  You can also get some photos of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific while you're up here.

Lenses you should bring:  A wide lens.

7)  Valley of the Temples

Why you should go there:  It's very picturesque and serene here - the perfect place to get away from the busy streets of Waikiki if that's where you're staying.  

Lenses you should bring:  A wide lens and a 24-70 mm zoom.  A macro would also be great to get some detail shots.  

Tips:  Don't be loud and obnoxious.  This is a cemetery, and every time I've been here, it has always been so quiet and peaceful.  Don't be that person that ruins it for others looking to get away, worship, or visit their loved ones.  

8)  Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike

Why you should go there:  This is an easy enough hike, and is child-friendly.  The view payoff at the end is definitely worth it.

Lenses you should bring:  A wide lens and a 24-70 mm zoom.  

Tips:  Wear comfortable shoes.  The hike is paved, so you could get away with wearing sandals, but you should make sure they're still comfortable.  However, if you do the other trails here, you should wear sneakers.

9)  Pali Lookout

Why you should go there:  Again, the view payoff is worth this short stop.  There is a beautiful view of Kaneohe from here.  You can also learn a little history while you're up there.

Lenses you should bring:  A wide lens such as a 16-35 mm would be perfect.

Tips:  This area can get very windy, so be careful.

10)  Koko Head Trail

Why you should go there:  Well, I can think of a lot of reasons why you wouldn't come here.  I've only done this "hike" twice, and it kicked my butt both times.  I use the word "hike" loosely, because to me, this is more of a climb than a hike.  I recall literally climbing up the last couple steps because 1) I was so tired and 2) I was scared of heights and how steep it started to feel at the top.  Hopefully, you're not like me, and won't have this issue.  

Lenses you should bring:  A 24-70 mm, or a nice point and shoot

Tips:  Despite recommending a 24-70 mm lens, I have never brought a DSLR up on this hike.  It can be quite strenuous, and lugging a DSLR up there may not be a good idea.  Let's just say I know people who have, and it didn't end well. 

11)  A Luau

Why you should go there:  A luau is a great place to get photos of activities, demonstrations, and of course the dancing at the end. 

Lenses you should bring:  A fast prime is an absolute must if you plan on shooting the dancing, as it's usually pretty dark by the time the show starts.  I recommend a 35 mm and a longer prime such as an 85 mm or 135 mm. 

Tips:  I've done three different luaus on Oahu, and my favorite by far is the Paradise Cove Luau.  The hosts that bring you over on the charter buses are usually pretty funny, and once you get there, you can immediately get a drink.  The food isn't bad, and I enjoyed the activities and demonstrations they had at Paradise cove.  

12)  Kailua and Lanikai Beach

Why you should go there:  The water is so blue and crystal clear.  I never looked at SoCal beaches the same again after these beaches.  

Lenses you should bring:  If you plan do some shooting before enjoying the beach, I recommend doing that with your DSLR.  I bought some cheap waterproof housing for my point and shoot to bring out onto the water with me, and I don't regret doing that.  I had a Leica D-lux 6 at the time, and here's a link to what I bought for it.  I had a great experience with it, but you use this at you're own risk!

Tips:  If you think you'll require a bathroom, I'd recommend Kailua (below) over Lanikai.  There are no public restrooms at Lanikai.  You'd also have to access the beach by parking along the residential road and walking through one of the access points between two properties.

13)  Pearl Harbor

Why you should go there:  Aside from all the history, Pearl Harbor is a great place for photos.  There is the memorial, the USS Missouri, and museums to keep your camera occupied. 

Lenses you should bring:  If you want to bring the perfect lens, I'd bring a 24-70 mm.  

Tips:  There is a very strict no bag policy when you enter Pearl Harbor.  I wouldn't bring anything valuable with me that would have to be left in the car, either.  Basically, I'd recommend bringing your wallet, and leaving your purse at the hotel room.  They WILL tell you to check in your backpack or purse if you bring one.  As for camera gear, you pretty much should bring a zoom lens.  I'm not sure if they'd let you bring multiple lenses because that would require a bag.  Please consult their website for more detailed information.

14)  Dole Plantation

Why you should go there:  Because you want to know about everything pineapple-related. :)  Kidding.  You should go here because despite it being a tourist trap, it is a great place to get photos.  Even though it's kinda cheesy, I recommend doing the train ride.  It'll take you out to the fields, and there are so many great photo ops out there.  

Lenses you should bring:  I recommend a 35 mm or a 24-70 mm.

Tips:  Have some Dole Whip.  Aside from Disneyland, I don't know where else you can get this.  I once had some Dole Whip at a convenience store in Waikiki, and it was NOT the same Dole Whip I've had at the Dole Plantation or at Disneyland's Adventureland.

15)  Waikiki

Why you should go there:  This is an amazing place for street photography.  If you can get up early enough, you can get shots of the streets without all the tourists as well.  Take a walk to the water, and you can grab shots at The Wall (below) or take photos from one of the many jetties along the water.

Lenses you should bring:  I recommend a 35 mm or a 24-70 mm.


Tips:  If you're up for a walk, go to the Rainbow Drive In.  It's about .75 miles from Walls to Rainbow Drive In, and you won't regret walking there.  It's my favorite place to get a plate lunch (and a slush float!)  You. Won't. Regret. It.

     Clearly, I could name more places worth photographing on Oahu, but I had to limit it to 15.  These would be my picks if I had to cram it all into one trip.  I'm definitely longing to go back and redo a lot of my photos now.  What are your favorite places to shoot in Oahu?  Let me know in the comments!  :)

One Backpack Travel :: What Fits in the Peak Design Everyday 20L Backpack?

     Many years ago, on a day trip to Catalina Island, I snapped a photo of two backpackers that were out on the pier, looking out onto the ocean.  In that brief moment, a desire to travel with just a backpack all over Europe manifested itself in me, and I've not been able to shake it off since.  Countless hours of pinning ideas and tips on backpacking Europe later, I still haven't fulfilled this dream.  One of the most obvious factors standing in the way right now is my physical ability inability to carry such a backpack that would hold everything I'd need for a trip that could span several weeks to maybe a little over a month.  

     Since I knew I only needed to survive a few days in San Francisco, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to 1) test my ability to survive with only things that would fit into a backpack, and 2) be able to carry said backpack for long periods of time.  Yes, I know it's not the same thing as carrying a large pack meant for backpacking/camping, but hey...baby steps here. :)

     I managed to fit everything into my Peak Design Everyday backpack in the 20 liter size.  I was quite impressed with myself, and honestly was shocked by what I was able to fit into this bag!  Here it is, empty. 

Here is what I was able to fit into the backpack.  

Camera gear (I was able to fit all this gear in the two bottom compartments of the backpack.  Those of you familiar with the Everyday backpack know the original configurations of the dividers, and I did not change the configuration upon receiving the backpack.

• Canon 5d mark III
• Canon 28mm f1.8
• Canon 50mm f1.2
• Canon 16-35mm f2.8
• Set of ND filters (which I never used by the way - should've left these behind!)
• Manfrotto pixi tripod
• Canon G7x
• CF and SD card holder (which I placed in the zipped side panel of the backpack)
• miscellaneous items such as backup batteries were stored in the backpack's side compartments

In the top compartment I was able to fit the striped make-up and toiletry bag and beanie.  The key to fitting all my clothes into the backpack was definitely using my medium sized Eagle Creek packing cube.  I love using packing cubes!  

I was able to fit the following in my packing cube:

• two long sleeve shirts
• two pairs of black leggings (these are the key to packing light!)
• two tank tops
• one dressy blouse
• three pairs of underwear
• two pairs of socks

I wore jeans, a tank top, a sweater, and comfortable walking shoes to the airport.

In addition to these items, I also slipped a reusable shopping bag and packable Tumi tote into the laptop compartment of the backpack.  I love packable totes, and this one by Tumi has really saved me when I end up purchasing more than I have room for in my luggage.  I only brought this one along in the event I really wanted to buy something.  Luckily, I didn't end up using it at all!

     To keep my wallet and essential items easily accessible, I brought a small handbag with me that I could carry crossbody.  I ended up bringing my Proenza Schoulder PS1 in the tiny size.  It was the perfect bag to allow me to comfortably carry my backpack, and easily get to my wallet when I needed to without having to take my backpack off and rummage to find things.  I also carried my essential make-up items in a small make-up pouch inside my purse.  When doing this, I find it useful to only pack essential items that I know I'll use, and I will pack trial or single use items if possible.

     So how did all this fare? Well, I survived.  It kinda sucked to carry all this around on the first day I arrived.  I basically hauled it all over the city, and within a few hours, I felt like I needed a break.  The backpack itself was not the problem.  The issue was more that my feet needed a rest.  Perhaps next time I'll try this with actual sneakers or shoes designed for walking.  I liked that the Everyday backpack had an external carry option that allowed me to attach my jacket when I wasn't using it.  In lieu of an umbrella, I ended up using my long Columbia jacket all weekend, and it was perfect. 

Here is the backpack fully packed, with my jacket attached externally.

     Would I do this again? Absolutely!  I loved being able to get off the plane, and just GO.  That was probably the best part of doing this.  Doing this really made me think of what I actually needed, as opposed to just what I wanted with me.  I realized that I normally tend to over pack and bring things I never end up using anyway.  If you can relate to this, I highly recommend giving this a try, even if you start small with a weekend trip like I did.  Hopefully with each subsequent attempt at one backpack travel, I will be able to hone in on what is really essential, and by the time that backpacking all over Europe trip rolls around, I should be ready! *crossing fingers* :) 

San Francisco Photography :: A Weekend of Surprises!

     If you may recall, the last time I had a short stint in the Bay Area, things did not go well towards the end of my 24 hours.  When a mutual friend asked me to surprise my bestie in San Francisco, at first I was a little hesitant, fearing that history would repeat itself.  I quickly swept any doubts I had about doing this under the rug, and decided that it would be fine as long as I spent the whole weekend there, instead of trying to cram everything into one day.  Everyone else was making a weekend of it, and through careful planning via texts and Facebook messages, I think we managed to surprise the birthday girl in a big way for her 40th!

*All photos taking with my Canon 5d Mark III or G7x.

Take off from LAX.

I even got the whole row to myself - it was AWESOME. 

I will have a blog post later on how I managed to do the weekend in San Francisco with just ONE BACKPACK and my small purse.  I knew my choice of backpack was hands down going to be my Peak Design Everyday Backpack.  For my small purse, I decided to bring my Proenza Schouler PS1 Tiny.  I loved using this bag for this trip.  It was big enough to hold everything I needed cross body so that I could be hands free, but small and obscure enough to go unnoticed.   

I spent the entire plane ride, writing out my card and filling in gaps in a little scrapbook I made for the birthday girl.  Yes, I know.  I am the best card picker-outter. :) 

I had never flown into SFO before.  I have only heard horror stories about this airport.  However, I had a beautiful landing, and was optimistic.  I was mostly excited to use the BART and other public transportation that San Francisco had to offer. All my previous trips here had been road trips or I had a rental car.  This would be the first time I was wandering the city without a car, and I was quite excited about it.   

My first impression was that the BART trains are really old.  They reminded me of the subway trains they have at Universal Studios when they simulate the flash flood and earthquake.   

It was a smooth and costly ride into the city.  FYI, it is $8.95 one way into the city from SFO.  I decided to get off at the Embarcadero station, and photowalk from the Ferry Building to the Wharf. 

Okay, so about halfway between the Ferry Building and the Wharf, I was starting to tap out.  It was a combination of sleeping only two hours the night before, and also carrying my backpack the entire time.  I saw my dreams of backpacking through Europe slowly start to slip away from me.  Surely, I would get used to carrying this backpack?  And for the record, the everyday backpack is waaaaay smaller than the pack I chose for backpacking through Europe LOL.  What did I get myself into? 

I decided that I needed (and deserved) some ice cream, so I pushed through the pain that was beginning to develop in my feet and marched my way up the hill to Ghirardelli Square.   

Butter pecan ice cream in a waffle cone cures all.

I sat for a bit to let my feet recover, as I contemplated what I was going to do next.  This would be a perfect time for me to use Uber or Lyft for the first time, I thought.  After a few failed attempts trying to use the app for Lyft, I decided to see what my other options were.  Luckily there was a cable car stop nearby that would take me up to Union Square.  It has been ages since I last used the cable cars in San Francisco.  When I hopped on and asked how much it was, I was so tired that I didn't even balk at the $7 price tag. 

This was my view as I bid a big peace OUT to walking up hills.

I made it to Union Square, and then decided I was done.  Everyone has that moment where they just kind of give up and decide no photos are worth the foot pain.  A big shout out to my friends that have had this moment - you know who you are! ;) 

I decided checking into the hotel, and relaxing was a good idea.  It definitely was.  You're only seeing a glimpse of the junk food I ate.  It was going to be cheat day all weekend from here on out!

After almost giving the birthday girl a heart attack after surprising her by jumping out at her from a dark corner, we decided to get some dinner.  Luckily, everyone else drove in, so we had a nice cushy SUV to take us to dinner.

One of my favorite places to eat in San Francisco - King of Thai!  A word of advice - don't read the Yelp reviews.  I've always had pretty decent service here, but for the price, I really love the food.   

My favorite dish to get at any Thai place - pad see ew!

Someone brought an interesting Cards Against Humanity-esque card game to play.  It is just as vulgar as CAH if you're wondering LOL.  For the record, I did not win this game. 

The next morning, we got up bright and early and took the Bart back into the city.  Disturbingly enough, we got off at Embarcadero again, and we basically did the same walk that I had done the day before!  However, this time the clouds and light were amazing so I didn't mind. 

Farmer's market at the Ferry Building. 

A quick stop for drinks. 

It started raining, but that didn't deter us one bit.

The birthday girl and Mike.

  

There were some gorgeous flower beds by Pier 39!

A quick stop for drinks and a snack. 

A strange photobooth that prompted us to make weird poses. Clearly, we obliged.

We ended up taking a bus from Pier 39 to Chinatown.  After a failed attempt at finding dim sum, we decided to head over to Union Square.  We had another friend who had flown in for the surprise waiting for us there.

Once everyone had made it into town, it was such a relief.  I could finally not be constantly texting someone to make sure we achieved the surprise.  We stopped for lunch at the Daily Grill.

I love this photo of Jen. She whipped out her phone to read to everyone the screen shot of the itinerary I sent her.  She said we have to do these things because it's on Soupy's itinerary! :D

This is the skirt steak salad.  Get this if you're ever at the Daily Grill.  This thing was DELICIOUS!

For dinner, we ate at this seafood place.  It was raining, and getting there was a little cumbersome.  By the time we got there, and after a long wait for our food, we were all just ready to eat. 

The birthday girl's choice for what she wanted to do.  

I'm really glad that anyone who has video of any of the karaoke that went on knows that I have photos and video of them from this trip.  Let's just say photos or video of me singing this song (or the failed attempt at Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun") shall never surface because people KNOW what I have on my camera(s). :)

The next day, I took off on my own to hunt down some photos I wanted.  I went back to the Ferry Building in search of Cupid's Span - a giant bow and arrow sculpture I had seen in photos.

I was thrilled to find this!  It is situated between the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge.  I really wished I had a couple to shoot in front of this!

I found myself a jelly-filled donut for a whopping $2.50.  I needed money for the bus. 

I discovered that I really enjoyed taking the bus in San Francisco.  It was nowhere near as shady as I had imagined it was going to be! So far, the shadiest bus rides I had ever been on were in Los Angeles and Seattle.

One of the items on my to do list was the Cable Car Museum.  It was small and to the point.  You can easily do this in an hour.

Afterwards, I decided to walk to Union Square again. It was a long walk...and I hate hills.

I was going to check out this restaurant I wanted to try, but after finding it and looking at the menu, I really wasn't excited to eat the food there. 

I'll give you one guess as to where I ended up eating.  Hahahahaha... hey, if it ain't broke... :)

This time I had a Thai tea to go with my pad see ew.  This made me so happy.

I decided to wrap it up and head to the airport early and just relax there.  I spent the ride to the airport thinking about how much I loved San Francisco despite all the walking.  I was raving about the Bart and the bus system the whole weekend. I laughed to myself about my first experience driving an SUV as a designated driver with a car full of tipsy people back to the hotel.  This happiness didn't last long.

 Remember when I said it would be fine since I made a weekend of it all?  Well, I arrived at the airport around 3pm for my 6pm flight.  I found out after getting there that my flight had been cancelled.  They rebooked me on a 7pm flight, and gave me priority boarding and a meal voucher.  At first, I thought this was no big deal, and plus I enjoy being at the airport anyway.  

Fast forward another hour, and I found out the plane for the 7pm flight is delayed.  It wouldn't get to SFO until 8pm.   Then it wouldn't get to SFO until 9pm.  This frozen yogurt was the last thing that made me happy at the airport.  Six hours at SFO was enough to turn me off to airports.  I just wanted to go home, and vowed never to fly into SFO again. EVER.

It took me about a week to fully recover from the experience of this weekend.  Maybe there is something to taking a vacation where you just chillax at the beach and do nothing.  That's not really my idea of a good time, but after this particular weekend, it started to sound more and more appealing. Or maybe I'm just getting old - 40 next year! Waaaaahhh! :'(