Family shots...

My family was here for Christmas and New Years.  This means I had my tripod in tow and had my picture taken more times that I'd have liked.  Thus, it has left me with a bunch of 'group' shots from various places around this island.  Here are a few...plus a couple other pictures from their circle island tour.

Christmas Eve around the Charlie Brown Tree.

Christmas Day in Waikiki after church.

Jerry, Laura and Beth on the lava flow rocks (Spitting Cave of Portlock).

Their picture with the cave below...can you see them way over there?

Laura and the Spitting Cave

Laura found a coconut!  She was very excited.

Sunrise at Kailua.

Sunrise at Kailua.

Us all posing with Chinaman's Hat Island (The politically correct name of the
island is Mokoli'i, but no one in this state is politically correct).

Shave ice at the famous North Shore shop, Matsumoto's

Sunset at Kaena Point

Mahalo for visiting.

Ala Moana Fireworks

Laura and I have been sightseeing like crazy.  We went to Ala Moana to see the fireworks against the skyline (unlike the last time when I went to the 4th of July Fireworks; I was closer then).

Waikiki skyline and boat harbor.

Laura is pumped about her Starbucks.

Fourth of July Fireworks

Aloha family and friends.  I hope it's starting to cool down a little back home.  I hear its been miserable.  Like I said earlier, I didn't do anything too exciting for the holiday since I worked, but I did go to the fireworks on the beach in Waikiki.  I wanted to try to capture some on film.  I was batting about .250 (apparently fireworks do not go off on a regularly 'lighted schedule' which creates some exposure difficulties).  Some of the good ones are below.  Mahalo for looking!

Waiting for darkness

FL: 30, SS: 10, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 18, SS: 8, f/10, ISO: 100

FL: 18, SS: 6, f/10, ISO: 100

FL: 33, SS: 6, f/10, ISO: 100

FL: 41, SS: 10, f/13, ISO: 100

FL: 35, SS: 8, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 21, SS: 8, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 21, SS: 6, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 21, SS: 6, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 21, SS: 6, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 25, SS: 8, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 28, SS: 8, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 21, SS: 8, f/8, ISO: 100

FL: 30, SS: 10, f/8, ISO: 100

Super Moon Night!

Saturday evening was the Super Moon for 2012.  In case you don't know what that means: its a full moon during the calendar year of 2012 that is closest to Earth (when compared to the other full moons of 2012).  The full moon this year was 15,400 miles closer than its typical average.  So the moon appeared brighter and 14% larger.  The moon pictures are after the following set (while waiting for the sun to set I was just playing at the beach).

Smess this pictures is just for you since you like pictures "with multiple depths."  

I took about 30 pictures to get this one shot just for you.

T3i: SS 1/500, f 4.5, ISO 100, FL 18.0

T3i: SS 1/320, f 5.0, ISO 100, FL 18.0

T3i: SS 1/320, f 5.6, ISO 100, FL 50.0

Thanks to Sends and his constructive criticism, my new and improved camera settings allowed me to get the next shot!  The sun was actually already fully set when I snapped this picture.  Crazy right?  Not really sure how I managed it.  This shows the Waikiki Beach Hotel Strip.

T3i: SS 1/20, f 4.0, ISO 200, FL 20.0

T3i: SS 1/50, f 4.0, ISO 200, FL 24.0

T3i: SS 1/50, f 4.0, ISO 400, FL 18.0

T3i: SS 0.60, f 4.0, ISO 1600, FL 18.0 

T3i: SS 0.8, f 4.0, ISO 1600, FL 22.0

T3i: SS 1.3, f 5.6, ISO 800, FL 55.0

The Super Moon looks like its rising right out of Diamond Head Crater.

T3i: SS 0.6, f 5.6 ISO 3200, FL 18.0

Shortly after the moon started to rise over Diamond Head, I realized there was too much light around Kapiolani Park, so I headed to a lookout at Diamond Head, which turned out to be ideal.  I was able to get away from the other lights, and it also afforded a view of the moon reflecting off the ocean by the seaside neighborhood of Kahala.  (tip: click on the pictures below so it magnifies them otherwise they are hard to see since the frame is dark compared to the blog's bright background)

T3i: SS 1/6, f 3.5, ISO 3200, FL 18.0

T3i: SS 0.5, f 5.6, ISO 800, FL 55.0

T3i: SS 0.6, f 4.0, ISO 800, FL 27.0

T3i: SS 0.8, f 4.5, ISO 800, FL 34.0

T3i: SS 1.3, f 4.5, ISO 400, FL 26.0

T3i: SS 0.8, f 4.0, ISO 400, FL 28.0

Thanks for visiting.  If you are reading this last little part then you should leave me a comment below.  I know plenty of people are reading but its great to hear from you.  (and if you have a nickname that you go by AND that I know then leave it written too....my niece likes to try and guess who it is that is leaving the post despite not knowing nicknames.  Moose: you are the only one she didn't get so far.)