T3 Imagery

Desolate Shelter

It doesn’t get any more accommodating than this, folks!  This, and a 2-story outhouse (yes, really) are all that greet you when you make the brutal 4-mile hike to Ka’aha.  It isn’t much – it’s a three sided lean-to with dirt floors that is home to all manner of beasties that want to get out of the direct sun.   All the same, it’s a very welcome break from that same sun that tends to make the black volcanic rock pretty warm.

The view from that three-sided lean-to is spectacular!  When you look south out of the shelter, there is nothing between you and Antarctica.

That two-story outhouse?  It seems it’s pretty tough to make an hole into volcanic rock – so they had to build a tank sitting on the rock.  The second story was to ensure that you were on top of that tank.  It also made a pretty good midday shelter – complete with throne.

Vital Stats: Canon 5D Mark II w/Canon 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm  ISO 100, f/10, 1/40 sec.

Ka’aha Waves

Here is a beautiful dawn image from Ka’aha in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.  This was taken during my recent photo trip to Hawaii with Jon Cornforth.

Jon suggested this area since it’s pretty and it’s pretty tough to get to.  It was only a 4-mile hike, but in the four miles there is a 2400 foot elevation change between the trailhead and the campsite.  1800 feet of that elevation change takes place in the first mile.  As you would guess, that’s pretty much straight down a cliff.  The big wall in the background of this photo?  Yep, that’s the big wall we hiked down and had to hike back up.

This photo was taken right at dawn the second day of our backpacking trip.  It was just above our campsite on the plateau where the first rays of dawn light would hit these rocks.  I took this picture because I love the rainbow wave texture in the volcanic rocks and I think it contrasts well with the lichen (or mineral) splotches on the foreground rocks.

If you can find this rock again at Ka’aha – look for my bubble level.  I lost it when I took this shot!

Vital Stats: Canon 5D Mark II w/Canon 17-40 f/4L  ISO 400, f/22, .8 sec.

The Ka’aha Coastline

For the past couple of days, Jon Cornforth and I have been backpacking to an area called Ka’aha in Volcanos National Park.  It is a spot that isn’t often photographed because it’s very difficult to get to.  The 5.5 miles to get to this spot is some of the most unforgiving terrain Hawaii has to offer.  The first mile is down a 2000 foot cliff with a precarious switchback trail winding down to a plateau.  The plateau is about 3 miles of sunbaked lava and thorny grass that constantly needles your feet and legs.  Then, it’s a short steep drop to the campsite.  Once you reach the campsite, you still have 1.5 miles to scramble over broken up lava to get to where this picture was taken.

Once you get here – it’s gorgeous.  It’s very remote and pristine – and you’ve got it all to yourself.  There are tidepools teeming with fish to swim in, ancient ruins, and scenic vistas.  Best yet – lots and lots of things to photograph.

This shot was taken just before sundown on Friday as the sun was peeking in and out of the clouds behind us.  Within minutes, the sun would go behind the clouds never to return that day ending any chance of an epic shot.

We walked out of this location this morning the same way we walked in – in 85 degree heat and no shade.  It was still worth it!

Vital Stats: Canon 5D Mark II w/Canon 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm  ISO 200, f/22.0, .4 sec.