Honolulu
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This and the following four photos were taken from out hotel balcony. I wanted to capture the changing face of Diamond Head as the sun moved across the sky. In this view, taken early in the day, the headland has no direct sun in the shot, as a result, it looks rather dull and flat.
This beautiful sunrise greeted us on our first morning in Honolulu. It was a harbinger of four beautiful days on our stopover on the way to Vancouver.
Banyan trees are fig trees. Older banyan trees are characterized by their aerial prop roots that grow into thick woody trunks which, with age, can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. Old trees can spread out laterally, using these prop roots to cover a wide area. In some species the effect is for the props to develop into a sort of forest covering a considerable area, every trunk connected directly or indirectly to the central trunk. In a banyan that envelops a support tree the mesh of roots growing round the support tree eventually applies very considerable pressure and commonly kills the tree. Such an enveloped dead tree eventually rots away so that the banyan becomes a "columnar tree" with a hollow central core. In jungles such hollows are particularly desirable shelters to many animals.
In this shot a sailboat is silhouetted agains the sun just seconds before it sinks below the horizon.
Taken later in the day, the sun is casting its golden rays on the west side of the headland, creating highlights and shadows.
Palm trees, beach umbrellas, and Diamond Head. I love this view.
Looking closely, you can spot people surfing below Diamond Head. Though not an original composition, one can't visit Honolulu without shooting this beautiful headland.
Shop - shop - shop!
More sun - more gold.
This is an artistic rendering of Diamond Head in a pastel style.
This iconic view of Diamond Head dominates the Honolulu waterfront. This is the first of many photos I took of this captivating landmark.
Waikiki's first hotel, also known as the First Lady of Waikiki, the 1901 plantation-style oceanfront Moana Surfrider offers a dose of historic charm on one of the nicest stretches of Waikiki Beach, with impressive public spaces, including an outdoor courtyard with live nightly music beneath a sweeping banyan tree.
In this shot, the sun is getting low in the western sky. The overhead cloud cover has become colourful reflecting the setting sun.
Some find this kind of view to be less attractive, bit it is essential Honolulu.
Morning Rain in Honolulu is very refreshing. Before the sun has a chance to warm the air is the best time to walk along the beaches.
A view from our hotel reveals dozens of young people enjoying the warmth of the tropical water and sun, trying their luck at gentle surfing. I've tried counting the number of people in the water in this shot, but I gave up at 79.
The sun has fallen beneath the horizon for about 30 minutes in this view. The lights of Honolulu are now on providing a warm glow in the foreground.
Four in the air and one in each hand. He kept this up for over a minute which is pretty amazing. When I spoke to him, he told me he practiced every day at this location on Waikiki Beach and has been juggling for over 20 years.
I suspect there are thousands of photos similar to this. I had to stand in the water to be clear of others taking the same shot.