11-25-12 New Lava Ocean Entry & Nikon D800 DSLR

Aloha,

Well, the lava flow did finally reach the ocean. It’s maybe half a mile west of the old Waikupanaha ocean entry. It’s an easy walk of less than one hour.

Nothing ultra spectacular and in a difficult place for great close up viewing. Still great to see. The coastline is very sloped and can be dangerous. Viewing from further back to the east could be best. You can see this in my new photos. I spent most of my time on the western downwind side. Lots of lens cleaning but, I figured when others started arriving at sunrise none would venture over to that area. It worked out well. The flow was still shallow and plenty hot crossing but, nothing I haven’t done many times before. I also wanted the sunrise sky but, sunrise wasn’t very spectacular. It was nice though.

I didn’t shoot too many images even though I was out there from about 12 am Sunday through sunrise. Shot some nice video that I am starting to edit. The flow is still sluggish like they have been over the past year now. Not sure if this has enough volume to keep going. Get to it while you can. If your unsure of hiking to it yourself, I do on occasion take small tours but, we are out for long periods of time. Information can be found on my “Services” page. If a shorter excursion better suits you, I have references of private parties who live down there. This is an easy hike but, it’s still not for everyone.

For all of you Nikon D800 owners or Nikon/camera people in general, there’s a good chance this is the first time a lava flow ocean entry has been captured with a D800.

What I can tell you is it performs beautifully just as I had expected. I shot several night shots at up to 3200 ISO and they are very clean with only minimal noise reduction applied in Nikon’s Capture NX2. I shot between iso 100 and 3200 with most being in the 500-1000 range. Where the D800 really shines is exposure. I won’t get into exactly what I have the camera settings at. This isn’t a tutorial. I’m just letting you all know the camera is very capable in low light and very harsh contrast conditions. Many were concerned with the 36mp sensor and noise. What I find is it also depends on the lens used an under what lighting conditions.

Much of the night video was shot at very high iso’s up to 5000 and again it did great. No issues with battery life. I do carry 2 and only needed to switch over after sunrise.

When the short video sequences are finished and loaded I will update this post. Unfortunately all through sunrise a helicopter hovered low and right near the flow. So, that’s all one can hear. It wasn’t the usual tours as they arrive at 7:45 am daily. It also wasn’t a production company that I could see in my close up images. Just four people with point and shoot cameras from what I could see. Figured I might as well get photos and video of them as they were doing the same of me and the lava. Maybe Paul Allen’s people? His mega yacht has been in Kona for several days now. It does house two helicopters. Yes, its huge! I was hoping for at least one dinner invite while it’s in town. One of my lava flow metal prints would look good in it. Or it was just a local privately owned tour.

I have added a new lava flow video page on my website. For now a couple of crude time-lapse ones and a short video. All from recent lava hikes. Nothing fancy. I’m not trying to be some famous Hollywood producer.

This leads me to my “Don’t try to do what I do” rant.

Don’t try to be a famous film producer doing what I do unless you have lots of expendable funds and nothing better to do. Oh wait, I just said I’m not trying to be one…This is the type of warning you get from me when the lava flow is easy to get too. Do watch the HVNP lava safety video I posted on my website. Pay close attention to what they say about new land. Also know as benches or deltas.

Links to points of interest from this post.

11-25-12 Lava Ocean Entry Nikon D800 I noted the iso used on a few images in the caption information for you D800 users.

Volcano video page Update – Video from this hike has been loaded to the page.

Lava viewing safety video

Enjoy…..

Hawaii lava flow entering the ocean after cascading over a 30′ sea cliff

Aloha,

Bryan Lowry lavapix.com

All content is copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited. All rights reserved.

9-05-12 New Big Island Shaped Images

Aloha,

The Big Island shaped prints gallery is now at 99 images and growing.

The metallic prints will also be available with up to 50 different background colors. A color chart will be added to a special new page in the near future. When an order is placed you can note the color of choice while checking out. For now this option will only be available online.

The metal island prints are stunning and only available through my website or retail locations. Be sure and visit Krazy About Kona to see one in person.

More coming to retail locations in the coming weeks.

Finally getting settled in to my new place so, now I can get back out shooting new images and catch up on some recent work.

Aloha,

Bryan Lowry
lavapix.com

All content is copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Photo update and lots of news

Aloha everyone,

Its been a while since my last update. The holidays are just a busy time as we all know. I have a few subjects I’d like to cover in this newsletter.

The first and most important is anouncing my teaming up with Hawaii Easter Seals to donate 20% of my website sales profits and my art fair profits to the local charity. The donation will be 10% of my wholesale revenue profits at retail locations. If any of the retail locations match this amount I’ll make a follow up announcment. None are expected to by me as this is my own agenda and they each have their own ways of giving.

Those of you who have never met me or just aren’t aware of my past, you may be wondering why Easter Seals and why so much? I my self am a product of Easter Seals. I was born with some severe birth defects and Easter Seals in Michigan stepped in to provide life changing operations and many years of physical therapy to allow me to live a normal life. Club feet was just one of the issues along with my hands. My mother was told I’d never walk when I was first born. Numerous operations and 12 years of wearing braces and a life time of determination has allowed me to do something as physically demanding as my lava flow hikes. I’m sure most of you have seen the movie “Forest Gump”. Remember in the beginning when he was running from those kids and his big steel and leather braces broke apart, I wore the same braces only just below the knee and they would really do that when I’d play sports like baseball and football. I laugh every time I see that part! Then there were the many surgeries on my hands that made me become ambidextrous. Easter Seals covered it all. They do great work for children of all ages. I’m giving to Hawaii because this has been my home for most of my adult life and I make my living from what it has to offer. Also, were but a speck in the ocean compared to USA mainland cities and they need every penny they can get. Its the least I can do. Some may be wondering wow you must be doing very well to afford this! I did have my best year last year for sales and hope for this year to be even better but, you don’t get wealthy being an adventure/landscape photographer. Its being able to do something you love that is the payoff. So, my point is the donation will only mean something if you make a purchase. I realize many have given to the Haiti fund to help with their tragedy. I did too. This isn’t meant to compete in any way. This was planned long ago. Unfortunately theres no way of having the donation be automatic at checkout with my Paypal account. I’m open to ideas from those that have experience at this sort of thing.

So, if you’ve been on the fence about making a purchase, hopefully this gives you the needed nudge to make it. Not only do you get one of my stunning images, your also helping out at the same time. Corporations, my prints make great gifts and can decorate your business beautifully.

My next announcement is about finally being able to offer prints on metal. The process isn’t all that new, its just finally more affordable. The process is explained on my website and the pricing has been added to the Fine Art section. Prices are in line with Gi’clee’s on canvas but, the metal is much more archival and in my opinion they are absolutely stunning!

I’d like to announce my working with a great local publication. Ke Ola magazine. The current issue of Big Island Traveler was my last. I decided I needed to expand my options locally. I have a small image in Ke Ola’s calendar section of the current issue. There wasn’t enough time before it went to the printer to do more. I look forward to a long working relationship with them.

1-01-02-10 Lava Full Moon My most recent lava adventure was New Years Eve into the 2nd of January. The full moon a blue moon was extremely bright and allowed me to capture some nice images of the dying ocean entry. It has since stopped and everyone is waiting to see what might be next. The weather was perfect with light to no winds and no rain. The area where my previous hikes took me where the white shelterpod used to be is now buried under nearly 20′ of lava. Theres no trace of its existence. The once 10′ high pillars of the abandoned structure near the ocean are almost completely gone.

I’m often asked if I give private tours of my adventures on the island or if I ever do photography clinics. Tours would require permits and too many legal issues. Beware, there are many illegal tours being given by people who shouldn’t be at the flows themselves due to their inexperience let alone taking others out there. I’ve also been asked about shadowing me on adventures. No photo clinics. I’m open to these type of hikes for those that have inquired. It wouldn’t be cheap as my time is valuable and and they would be more spontaneous. Email if interested. Lava would only be if its in an open area.  Only the physically fit need to inquire. My hikes aren’t easy 🙂

Finally I have now launched my Facebook fan page. Mostly its an easy source for people to ask questions and discuss my images and activity. Facebook to me is the easiest forum for this. I’ll post when I can. Those of you that follow me on twitter know I don’t tweet very often. The facebook page should be much easier for me. Not having one of the new smart phones I’ll be slow at times to respond to comments but, I’ll get to them when I can. There won’t be a bunch of photos posted. More links to both my blog and website. By the way, my blog can be accessed through my website along with my calendar.

Thanks for your time and may we all have a great 2010!

Aloha,
Bryan Lowry
lavapix.com

All text and images are copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited.

11-17-09 New Photos and Publishing News

Aloha Everyone,

This is a rather large update. Several new lava photo galleries added from numerous hikes that were previous to the white shelterpod being destroyed by the lava flows.

Also some publishing news that I keep forgetting to mention.

I’ll start with the publishing news since it actually went public back on Sept. 1st. I’m sure most of you have heard of Christian Dior out of Paris, France. They contacted me earlier in 2009 about the need for some lava flow images that would be needed for a composite use for the upcoming worldwide Fahrenheit AD campaign. It was for their updated mens cologne. Parts or most of several of my images were inserted into their images shot when they were here on the Big Island. All active lava to complete what wasn’t available to them at that time of their big shoot. While the base image isn’t mine it’s still an interesting licensing deal as the images are or will be on billboards, packaging, point of purchase displays etc… all over the world.

Any advertisers or companies reading this, I know the lava flows as well or better than anyone and I can deliver excellent results or at the very least be an exceptional consultant/guide for your production or photography crew. This goes for all parts of the Big Island of Hawaii. I have more experience out on the active lava flows than any other professional photographer shooting today. Quality references available by request.

I also have one of my lava flow photos on the current cover of the Big Island Traveler magazine.

Now on to my photos update.

There are a total of 7 new galleries from the new flow that broke out in Oct. 2009. It progressed from high above the pali on the eastern edge of the TEB (Thanksgiving Eve Breakout) flow down through what was left of the eastern part of the long abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. An entirely new tube system formed and the flow slowly covered most of the existing lava flows on the flats leading to the Waikupanaha ocean entry. It also progressed east into the kipuka’s near the Hawaii county public viewing area. This is the same flow that destroyed the White Shelterpod.

Each of the following galleries will give a brief description of what you will see when viewing them. Some have a large amount of images as I spent quite a bit of time out there. Also, there are several that show a series of images that show a constant progression of the activity. In time I’ll be adding many to my Fine Art gallery.

Remember to use the slide show option when viewing. It can be pause at anytime allowing closer viewing.

10-10-09 Lava

This was more of an exploration hike to within a quarter of a mile of the base of what was once the eastern part of Royal Gardens subdivision to track the advancing new flow. Along the way I stopped at the Waikupanaha ocean entry for sunrise. I met up with some hikers on the way to a very small sulfur lined skylight into the main Waikupanaha lava tube. Lava could be viewed flowing swiftly toward the ocean about 10′ below us. The new lava flow was nearing the base of Royal Gardens. I would return the next morning.

10-11-09 Lava

On this hike I spent the night into the morning at the Waikupanaha ocean entry. It was a nice sunrise. I took along my Tiki Surfer Dude for one last hike. I’ve been collecting images of this trinket for years at several locations on the island and all over the volcano. But, it was beginning to fall apart so it was time for one last wave. I ventured to the base of Royal Gardens to map the current location of the new lava flow. Once again I met up with some hikers. Tiki Surfer Dude caught his last wave.

10-22-09 Lava

A small collection of images showing a film crew in action at the active lava flows. At the time lava was near the last most western section of paved hwy 130 in Kalapana area. The flow would consume this area completely in the following days.

10-28-09

This would be the first of 5 straight days and nights out at the lava flows. Lava was nearing the white shelterpod but, it would move ever so slowly inflating along the way so, I stayed hoping to be there when it finally did consume the structure.  First I checked out the lava flow that was in the forest near the end of the road. I found an interesting cluster of tree molds. Three were right next to each other. From there I visited the ocean entry for sunrise and then to the advancing flow that was nearing the shelterpod. I shot a series of infrared lava flow images and some surface flow shots. It was a great day and sunset. From there I visited the shelterpod for most of the night watching the flow slowly advance towards me.

10-29-30-09 Lava

This was a cool rainy day. I tracked the western lobe of the new flow as it neared the area that would be termed the west Waikupanaha ocean entry. The flow was moving along a previous lava tube. It was filling in cracks along the way. I stayed into the night and found an old Hawaii Volcanoes National Park trail hiker warning sign being covered by the slow-moving flow. I made frequent stops at the shelterpod throughout the night. On the 30th I made a brief stop at the ocean entry and then made my way to the flows near the county viewing area. The lava once again was flowing along the road remnants. Chatted with some tourists and then headed into town to re-stock my supplies for two more days and nights out on the flows. Stopped at a friends and did my laundry too.

10-31-09 Lava

This was a very long and active day at the flows. I was out shooting from 1am until after sunset. The western lobe finally made its way to the ocean over an old bench to the new black sand beach. Images show the flow approaching and then entering the ocean. It drew a small crowd and the lava viewing tour boats. I would venture back to the shelterpod on occasion checking on how close the lava flows were getting to it. Before sunrise and after sunset the nearly full moon lit up the flows real nice.

11-01-09-lava-moon

Another 1am start and the moon lit up the area brightly. Photos of the shelterpod and the advancing flow on all sides and the moon and lava glow on the small bay where the west Waikupanaha ocean entry was flowing. A sunrise visit to the Waikupanaha ocean entry shortly after a very large tube breakout that had extremely large lava bubbles exploding before I could get there. It didn’t last very long. It was a reaction to a small surge in the volume of lava flowing through the tube system. At about 3am a large tube breakout occurred on the lower pali from the new eastern tube system. This flow made its way to the flats in less than half an hour as it channeled very rapidly. Lastly there was a mysterious flame that emitted from the active lava flow only 50′ above the shelterpod. There will be some new Fine art prints from this collection of images. I made my way home this day and returned on Tues. Nov. 3rd just in time for the lava destroying the shelterpod.

I have another venue for my fine art prints. Hawaii’s only 4-D theater at The Shops at Mauna Lani.

New printing options and Adventure based Photo workshops to be announced later this week or early next week.

Aloha,
Bryan Lowry
lavapix.com

All text and images are copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited.

11-03-09 Lava destroys the white shelterpod

Aloha Everyone,

I’m way behind on my updates and new photo uploading. I’m adding this update ahead of others. Yesterday at the current lava flows the last remaining structure was finally destroyed by the lava. The flow broke out about two weeks ago and I have been tracking it ever since. This flow has been slow moving but, it has methodically covered most everything in its path. Last week I was out there exploring and a small flow started threatening the cabin. So, I ended up staying out from Tues night to Sunday morning. I hiked out twice to restock my supplies. The shelterpods owner has been very gracious over the past year and a half allowing me and others to use his place for shelter. It was like my lava flow home. I spent many full moon nights on the deck watching the lava flows. A friend called me on 11-03-09 in the morning to say the flow was only 60′ away and I’d better get out there. I live 2 1/2 hours away in Holualoa. So, I got going and hoped for the best. We all wanted the cabin to survive but, if it had to go I wanted to be there. As luck would have it, a narrow lobe of lava passed by the corner missing it by 6″s before I arrived. Then rain moved in to cool it. Once I arrived in Kalapana I then ran across the lava flow to the shelterpod with my heavy pack on my back. Its only about 1 mile+. I arrived with 40 minutes to spare. Even as the lava once again began to flow under the shelterpod it resisted burning quite well. But, it was no match the the intense heat. There are over 100 images of the event showing the progression from beginning to end. It lasted about 40 minutes starting at 12:30pm. Use the slide show option. The sheet metal roof might lay there until another flow comes along and bury’s it. The couch was spared by me for comfortable viewing.

Visit the gallery here 11-03-09 shelterpod Destruction

More updates coming from my previous hikes along with some publishing news!

Aloha,
Bryan Lowry
lavapix.com

All text and images are copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited.

Fine Art Photos – New Additions

Aloha,

I’ve added several new images to my Fine Art galleries. All of them are from my June lava flow adventures. Start with this link and once the image opens just click next to view the rest in succession. This is in the Volcano gallery. The images consist of a night time lava flow entering the ocean that shows great clarity and detail, a small stream of lava entering the ocean that resembles a giant Centipede, two colorful sunrise ocean entry plume images, one with an explosion, two with lava flowing down King Ave. in the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision and one with lava flowing around and engulfing a large Ohia tree that was in full bloom.

My Square Format Gallery. One new lava flow image has been added.

All are currently available in the local Kona galleries I display in. Others will soon be available once they’ve been proofed.

Aloha,
Bryan Lowry
lavapix.com

All text and images are copyright protected ©Bryan Lowry/lavapix.com. Use without my permission is prohibited.