Of course, the Pattiz brother’s behind “More Than Just Parks“ was there as well, but their content was a welcome difference from what I had been seeing. While they did focus on the fiery lava, the team wasn’t limited to just photographing it and they traveled throughout the park, showing us that Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is much more than just lava.

Having been in awe of this National Park for quite a while, I wanted to get more information from Jim about his experience of creating the latest film for “More Than Just Parks.”

It was a nice change of pace to see you explore the entire National Park, showing us there is so much more to this park than just the lava flow. Was it hard forcing yourself to branch off into different locations knowing that awesome lava flow was still going hard?

Yes it was definitely difficult pulling ourselves away from that incredible lava flow. Although to be completely honest we were forced out of there each time by clouds of hazardous gas spewing from the lava as it hit the ocean.

Have you ever worked in an environment where the park’s conditions change so rapidly and can even be dangerous?

No it’s safe to say we have never worked in such rapidly changing and dangerous conditions. It’s important to watch the winds and follow the recommendations and requirements of the park. Lava is a serious thing, and it’s awesome to see, but it can also be very dangerous.

If the lava stopped flowing, would you recommend visiting the park for everything else that it has to offer?

Great question! Yes without a doubt I would recommend it regardless of the lava flow. There’s so much to see. The Thurston Lava Tube is really cool and set back in a rainforest where you can find rare birds and a respite from the harsh volcanic landscape. There’s also an area along the coast with over 23,000 petroglyphs that are incredibly fascinating to look at and explore.

Ok, we are sold. Volcanos, rain forests and tropical weather? You won’t have to twist our arms.

To see more, follow More Than Just Parks on Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and their website.

The post There is More to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Than Lava appeared first on Resource Travel.

Shainblum was intrigued by the shapes and forms on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and he sought to showcase them through the relationship between light and shadow. While just reading that description may be hard to visualize, once you see the film, you can see exactly what Shainblum had in mind.

On his blog, Shainblum tells us about the shooting locations in the film and provides behind the scenes photos to go hand in hand with the stills from the film.

Kalalau Valley

I spent multiple days scouting and exploring the trails looking for interesting compositions and hoping for some interesting lighting. The constant clouds rolling over made for some really interesting light play on these three waterfalls in the right image. It was one of the more difficult shots to set up and on either side of the tripod was a sheer drop down into the valley.

Further down the trail were some amazing views of the green spires. I was really lucky to catch the sun blazing on the peaks during sunset. I had tried shooting this scene three times. But each time I tried the clouds ended up dappling the light too much during sunset. What I really wanted was a constant fade of vivid light into darkness. I was lucky to catch a really nice, unobscured sunset on the last day of my trip.

Hanalei

The light rays were something out of a fairy tale. I managed to catch two timelapses at this spot, before the light rays faded and the whole scene was covered in shadow.

Princeville

The lush foliage and beautiful lighting made for a really nice scene. I had to run this shot twice due to technical issues. But it ended up being a good thing as the light got better for the 2nd run.

Pu’u O Kila Lookout

Waimea Canyon

Lumahai Beach

After watching the film and seeing the photos, it’s easy to see why Shainblum has such love for the island of Kauai.

The experience was amazing and getting to know this beautiful island was an absolute pleasure.

Michael Shainblum worked with Andrew Studer on this trip, and he thanks him for the endless help he provided.

See more from Shainblum on his website, Facebook, 500px, and Instagram.

The post Michael Shainblum Captures The Natural, Photogenic Beauty of Kauai appeared first on Resource Travel.

But a new video by Lava Ocean Tours, INC, captured by guest Russell Fry, reminds every trespasser that it’s – in Frusco’s words – “just not worth it” to pass the ropes. At any time, Mother Nature can decide to let a freshly made lava bench collapse into the sea. That’s not something any human being wants to be a part of.

If you can watch it from a safe distance, however, it’s pretty spectacular. If we would have been on the same boat as Russell Fry and his boat companions, we would probably also be shouting out “oh sh*t!” and “oh my God!” A different perspective is visible on pictures from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. See that tripod? There’s no way the photographer was allowed that close to danger. So let that be a lesson. Always be weary of increasing instability! And listen to the park rangers – they’re there for a reason.

The post Video Shows Why it is Important to Keep Your Distance When Lava-Watching appeared first on Resource Travel.

The short window of time was definitely the biggest challenge. It rained some 9 inches on our first night and there were calls for rain every hour on the second day. Our backup plan to head to the summit of Mauna Kea also fell through because of 20 fresh inches of snow. So we had to find a way to pivot and make the best use of our time. We always stayed out shooting as long as possible, knowing that just sitting around and waiting for the best conditions wasn’t going to be an option.

 

As for the exciting part, actually being able to witness the active lava flow was just incredible. I definitely feel very fortunate to have been able to do so. We hiked out to the ocean entry viewing area on the second and third night, and it was impossible to take your eyes off of it while you were there.

 

Did the project require a lot of preparation?

I had a pretty good idea of the shots I wanted to get before we left, but the weather became the ultimate decider of when and where we would shoot. So, for all the planning that was done before the trip started, I’d say at least half of it changed while we were on location.

Nevertheless, the end result exceeded Fusco’s expectations, even though there were times when the duo questioned if they would be able to get any of the shots they came for at all. It wasn’t until the last night that they saw any significant amount of stars,

There was definitely a bit of stress involved. But to have it all work out in the end was very satisfying.

Do you think a time-lapse is the most ideal way to capture this phenomenon?

Our primary goal was to capture the ocean entry under the stars and to show it in motion. While live video is slowly becoming more and more capable of shooting video at night, I think for the time being this was the best way to do it. There are parts of the time-lapse that seem frantic, but I think it does a good job of portraying the almost violent reaction from the lava entering the ocean and creating that dangerous plume.

Fusco tells Resource Travel that the park service had a roped off area to look at the lava from a safe distance, and that he was committed to respect it. Therefore, despite being near one of mother nature’s most merciless features, he doesn’t think it was a risky or dangerous trip. He admits it would have been great to get a closer view, but “it’s just not worth it.”

We saw a ranger on the first night having to tell people to come back to the other side of the rope every 30 seconds. On the second night, a huge crowd of people decided to head well past the rope to get a better view. It would’ve been easy to follow the crowd, but we stayed put. By going out there, you’re not only endangering yourself, but you also have complete disregard for the park, its rules, and the hardworking people that enforce them.

A second potentially dangerous element of all this  was the plume created by the entry, made of sulfuric acid and glass particles. Around midnight on our last night, when we were the only people left in the viewing area, we suddenly noticed a change in the wind. We paid attention to further changes, but quickly noticed how it was definitely shifting toward us. So we quickly grabbed our gear and headed to a safer location.

Better safe than sorry, of course. When we asked Fusco for some more advice for aspiring image makers who feel inspired to capture similar footage, he says he can only stress persistency. He and his partner were both completely exhausted after their trip, but they would have probably missed some of their best shots if they had wrapped up earlier.

Head over to the Macphun blog to see the full trip write-up and a behind the scenes video. You can also find Jack Fusco on Instagram and Facebook. And for all you techies out there, the duo used their Sony A7RII and Nikon D800E bodies with these lenses: Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens, Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens, Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG HSM Art Lens and a Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM. Aside from that, there was a Feisol CT-3442 tripod and a Rhino EVO time-lapse rig. For editing, Fusco used Macphun Luminar, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere.

The post Watch Lava Meet the Ocean Under The Hawaiian Night Sky appeared first on Resource Travel.

For artist Nelson Ruger, photographs are only the beginning of the process.

After an illustrious career as a Lighting and Scenic Designer in the theatre world (he designed on Broadway when he was just twenty-five years old), Ruger shifted his focus from the grand scale of the theater proscenium to paper and canvas.  Utilizing techniques he learned from painter Kim Weiland, he began to create fantastical images of far-off places with his paintbrush.  While his medium ranges from watercolor to acrylic, and his subjects vary from winter woods to majestic surf scenes, he consistently looks to photographs to inspire and inform each piece.

An image by Peter Holme III (left) and the painting it inspired — “Stormridge Reef” (right)

He explains,

I tend to use photography as a baseline, sometimes using it to help me with composition and other times to give me a lean toward light and color.  I start by strictly adhering to a photo as best I can while still staying fast and loose with shape, and as my work progresses, I spend less and less time with the photo and just return to it for atmosphere and flavor.

From an inspiration image to finished painting, Ruger captures the atmosphere of a place and filters out the clutter.

Some of Ruger’s earliest work was inspired by Hawaiian scenes found in a Time Life Book given to him as a child by his Grandfather.  Through those photographs, he explored visions of a wild Hawaii before the time of industry or tourism.  One photo-spread, in particular, influenced an early painting, “Pop’s Tropics”, with its reds and golds found only in Hawaii.  Over the years, he painted many types of landscapes, but would continually return to sun-washed images of surf and sky.  It became a goal for the artist to visit the place that had already inspired him so much.  

“Pop’s Tropics” – an early experimental painting influenced by images of Hawaii

It wasn’t until about five years ago when I set food on Oahu that I realized that all the surf art I’d been creating with titanic waves, towering palms, and stunning mountains were really just uninformed visions of Hawaii.  Since then, I try to make it back as often as I can just to infuse my soul with the spirit of aloha.  It’s amazing how upon a return from Hawaii my work is more vibrant and has more movement than when I left.

 

“Tahiti’s Mythical Wave” by Tim Mckenna (left) and the painting it inspired, “Surfer Blue” (right)

In crafting his iconic and detailed images of waves and water, Nelson Ruger looks to three photographers in particular for inspiration: Clark Little, Morgan Maassen, and Tim Mckenna.  Little’s work appeals to him for the way it captures the movement of water, he appreciates Maassen’s photographs for their overall visual aesthetic, and he values Mckenna’s images for the way they incorporate the human element.  Through the study and integration of those vital aspects, Ruger has become a master at bringing a fantastical realism of gesture and detail to every painting.

“Big Blue”, one of Ruger’s most prolific pieces, is modeled on the infamous Tahitian wave, Teahupoo

While conceptualizing a piece, Ruger utilizes an ‘artistic morgue’ — a habit of visual research from his theatre days — collecting images that contain subjects, forms, colors, and moods that he will infuse into the finished piece.  Sometimes he’ll assemble his favorite elements from multiple photographs into a Photoshop Collage as the final step before painting. Other times, just by compiling a morgue he’ll have enough inspiration to paint without referencing the photographs again. Despite extensive preparation and research, painting is a messy, hands-on, organic process for Ruger.  

You have to have enormous trust in the process and in yourself that you will find the vision you want as you create.  I tend to build pieces in large stages, and try to keep things within a strong framework.  I make a huge mess.  I like it when my work feels like it breaks lines and has a systematic obliteration of frame in favor of exploding color and light.

A photograph Ruger enjoys (left) becomes the basis of a Photoshop Collage (right)

“Tropical Landscape 15” is the final product of morgue research and a Photoshop Collage

For Ruger, the goal of his art is to inspire others to explore the incredible landscapes available to them. In that same spirit, El Yucateco commissioned a few of his original works for their “Go Native” Campaign.  Aimed at inspiring customers to go outside and enjoy the natural world, it was a philosophical goal well aligned to his own.  Ruger happily broadcasts his desire to live a life from which he doesn’t need a vacation, and hopes others can follow his lead.  From regularly visiting the beach near his home in the Los Angeles area to his camping trips in Yosemite, Ruger appreciates every opportunity to go outdoors and experience.  The artist cites travel as a primary source of artistic inspiration, telling Resource Travel,

Travel keeps my heart and soul alive.  I have a strong tendency to get locked up in my studio and forget to leave.  I find that when I travel and see things outside of my studio I always come back with 200% the energy, enthusiasm, and drive that I had before.  It also inspires me to change up my work now and then.  

I love how the sky, water, atmosphere – the vibe is different everywhere in the world, and I bring back those elements into my work, infusing them and creating a new visual aesthetic and themes for me.  

The more I travel, the more I see of the world, the better my work gets.

The final painting for the El Yucateco “Go Native” Campaign

Images from Ruger’s Camping Morgue helped define the original work he created for El Yucateco’s Go Native Campaign

And the better his work gets, the more he gets noticed.  Last December, Brooklyn, NY’s The Barclays Center approached Ruger out of the blue with an unusual request.  Could he create a custom surfboard for legendary vagabond and self-proclaimed pirate Jimmy Buffett in time for Buffett’s New Year’s Eve concert in NYC?  With an opportunity to create for the Island Escapist himself, a man who seemingly embodies all of Ruger’s own adventurous wanderlust convictions, the answer was obvious. Ruger was over the moon with excitement but had less than two weeks to accomplish the project; he wanted it to be perfect. He assembled his morgue of inspiration images — a couple of tiki heads, palm trees with fronds blowing in the wind, and the faithful reds, oranges, and yellows of Hawaii that have always been his favorites. He quickly set to work designing the one-of-a-kind piece.  After finalizing the design concept with the client, he projected his sketches on the blank surfboard (a trick from back in his Scenic Design days) to help scale the design to the size and contours of the surfboard.  Over the next few days, he pulled a couple of all-nighters (another trick of from his theatre days) and poured all of his energy and creativity into producing a custom masterpiece.  

Jimmy Buffett’s custom surfboard from concept to completion

Jimmy Buffett poses with his Nelson Ruger original surfboard and the Event Team from The Barclays Center

For Nelson Ruger, working so hard for something he loves is a dream come true.  After years of helping Theatre Directors achieve their artistic visions on stage, he’s choosing to work as an independent artist and make his own dreams the priority.  He admits,

That means long, hard hours.  It means constant acts of creation and fighting a 24-hour-a-day battle with self-doubt and having to come out on top every time.  It also means living a dream.  

So worth it.  

 

Finally, it means he has the freedom to travel in pursuit of his next artistic inspiration, as he would say, ‘to keep his heart and soul alive’.  When asked where in the world he would travel next, Nelson Ruger, an artist forever changed by the colors of a Pacific Sunset introduced by his Grandfather, knew the answer right away.  

Fiji.  Because Fiji.  The more natural the landscape and the less industry and commercialization the better.  I look forward to losing myself in another amazing, warm culture and bringing that warmth and vibrance into my work.

We look forward to it too.

“Duck Diver Green”

“To See Behind Walls”

Photographic inspiration and process shots of “To See Behind Walls”

“The Range”

“Sea Dragon #2”

For more information about Nelson Ruger’s artwork, or to follow his adventures, find him on Facebook and Instagram, or check out his Website.

The post Photography to Canvas: An Artist’s Vision in Paint appeared first on Resource Travel.

“With the guidance, support, and prayer of the elders, and following cultural protocol, I paddled within feet of hot lava rivers pouring into the ocean. It was humbling and breathtaking. The rawness, the heat, the crackling & hissing sounds, the reality check that we live on a planet that is alive.”

Alison was very aware of the fact that Pele, the goddess of the Volcano, is a highly respected and often feared force in Hawaii, and that very specific traditions must be followed to avoid “certain death.” After the adventure, she therefore found it fascinating and heart warming to see Hawaiians watch the footage and point out that Pele was “really excited to meet us! They said if you look closely in the footage when I’m closest to the flow you will see what looks like a face in the lava with two glowing eyes and hot molten hair.”

“Many people think that we have control over the earth and I assure you we are pretty small in the greater scheme of things. What I learned through this experience is that life is short, fragile, and not worth stressing about. Everything is always in a constant state of flux – especially our molten core. Nothing is permanent, nothing is owned, nothing is for certain.”

Alison encourages everyone to challenge their selves and to fearlessly go forward toward your dreams. However, she also warns not to repeat her stunt. “The water is boiling, the fumes are lethal and the ocean conditions are beyond treacherous.”

If you would like to see more from Alison’s magical day, you can watch her “Volcano Surf” playlist on YouTube. All footage was captured by “the fearless” Perrin James Franta.

We are but a tiny, wild planet in a huge universe and as humans we have been put on this earth to pour lava onto everyone and erupt our greatness onto the world so that it flows into the lives of others and forms solid families, friends, religions, politicians, and hardens into peaceful long lasting structures for our futures generations to build on.

The post Adventurer Alison Teal Paddles Within Feet of Scalding Hot Lava Rivers appeared first on Resource Travel.

When photographer Matt Porteous founded his latest venture, Ocean Culture Life, his aim was simple. To help educate about the importance of preserving the world’s oceans by capturing the truth, beauty and simplicity of people and places connected to the waters.

The United Kingdom-based photographer has always had a strong connection with the ocean. So much so, that he calls the Channel Island of Jersey his home. There, he hooked up with free-diving superman and filmmaker Luke Hosty, who recently made this incredible film highlighting his adventure in South Africa.  Together, they document the Ocean Culture Life in the waves from the Maldives to Hawaii and everywhere in between.

The team at Resource Travel is excited to announce that we have partnered with Ocean Culture Life to bring you deep into the blue waves to see the world that most of us don’t often experience. The world that exists deep below the surface. And we are even more excited to announce that our first project starts today, as we travel to the paradise that is known as Tahiti with our friends at G-Technology for two weeks of diving, snorkeling, and whatever else we can think of doing in paradise.

Follow along with our journey on the Resource Travel Instagram (where we will be posting Stories too!) as well as our Facebook. The Ocean Culture Life Instagram will also be alive and kicking, but who are we kidding. Even without Tahiti content coming up, their IG is chalk full of awesome.

What better way to introduce our readers to Matt and Luke than by sharing a recent photo series of an early morning freedive on The Big Island Hawaii with a pod of spinner dolphins and a couple of dogs? Check out the incredible photos and film and get ready for some really cool projects that we will have over the next 12 months!

The post Exploring The Tropical Waters of Hawaii With Dogs and Dolphins appeared first on Resource Travel.

The chain’s oldest island is often referred to as the “Garden Isle”, and for good reason. The island is awash in vibrant greens, which are visible deep in the dramatic valleys and high on the rocky cliffs. The rugged terrain makes some locations almost impossible to visit, which makes a fly over mandatory in order to view the true beauty of the island.

The film follows the team as they experience all that Kauai has to offer, from horseback riding, trail biking, golfing, and of course, swimming under one of the island’s countless waterfalls.

It is evident that Kauai is a stunning location for photographers, adventure seekers, and vacationing families. It is also evident that this tropical paradise just shot up to the top of our Resource Travel bucket list.

See more of Matador Network’s films on their YouTube Channel and website. 

Follow Matador Network on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

The post Film Shows The Vibrant and Rugged Beauty of Kauai From Above appeared first on Resource Travel.

Little has been capturing the might of the Oahu North Shore since 2007. His wife wanted a picture of the ocean to hang on the bedroom wall so Little picked up a camera and dove into a  perspective on photography that he would make world famous. From his base at the Clark Little Gallery in his hometown of Haleiwa, Little spends time running his business, but when the ocean calls, he is never far.

Clark’s work has been featured in exhibits in Japan, Canada, Brazil, Spain and throughout the U.S. From his living room walls to the halls of the Smithsonian, Clarks photos are everywhere, displaying his unique angles and raw passion.

On top of being featured in high regard amongst the likes of National Geographic, New York Times, TIME, and Surfer’s Journal, Little has also published three of his own books containing hundreds of beautiful images. Thumbing through one of his books will leave you with a twinkle in your eyes and a fuzzy feeling in your heart, inspired, and drooling in awe. Clark Little is a legend in ocean photography folk lure, and we look forward to continuing to join Little on this hair-raising ride.

SHOREBREAK: The Clark Little Story will be holding premiere screenings with Clark Little in attendance from the 17th to the 28th of June at various locations around the U.S. details here.

Follow Clark Little on his website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The post Clark Little Goes Inside Barrels in This Adrenaline-Filled Trailer appeared first on Resource Travel.

Obviously, Hawaii is a very popular destination for tourists and surfers, thanks to its lush environment, tropical climate, beautiful beaches and, of course, waves. But its oceanic surroundings and active volcanoes, especially on the Big Island, also make is a dream for scientists – biologists and volcanologists in particular.

And, of course, it is nothing short of a photographer’s dream as well. So when I had the opportunity to spend a week exploring the Big Island of Hawaii with my friends Colby Brown, Varina and Jay Patel and a group of other photographers, I didn’t think twice before jumping on a plane. And I can say these seven days in Hawaii were well worth spending more than 30 hours in planes and airports from the heart of Europe to Kona and back home, as well as the 12 hours jet lag. And I would do it again tomorrow.

There aren’t a lot of white sand beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii. The island is built from five volcanoes that erupted one after another over the millennia. For this reason, the shore is mostly stones; this is the reason why you won’t see as many surfers as on the other islands of the archipelago there. Because of the volcanic ground, you’ll be able to see beautiful blowholes: sea caves that grow towards the land and expose themselves towards the surface into vertical shafts, from where water can blast when a wave comes in. When the wave goes back though, the water is sucked back in the blowhole and leaves an open hole in the shore’s surface.

The Big Island is famous for its luxurious wilderness, especially on the east side of the island. The hike to Akaka Falls, through a lush rainforest filled with bamboo groves and wild orchids, will give you a good overview of what the vegetation looks like. Akaka Falls is a 422-foot tall waterfall located about 11 miles north of Hilo. Its name comes from the Hawaiian language and means “split”. The water of the Kolekole Stream indeed plunges into a deep gorge surrounded by vertical cliffs.

Banyan trees are another good example of the Big Island’s vibrant vegetation. A banyan tree is a fig that starts life when its seeds germinate in a crack or a crevice of another tree. They have characteristic aerial prop roots that can spread out laterally and grow into thick woody trunks that cover a wide area. Old banyans can be huge and look like a whole forest with every trunk indirectly connected to the main trunk.

The green sea turtle is one of Hawaii’s fauna icons. This gentle vegetarian turtle, weighing up to 350 pounds and measuring up to four feet, can be found throughout the whole archipelago. One interesting behavior of the Hawaiian green sea turtle is its fondness for basking in the tropical. It is a protected animal; listed as threatened since its population has dramatically decreased over the past few decades.

Geckos will often spring out when you least expect it. You will find these friendly, big-eyed, green lizards pretty much everywhere! There are more than 1,500 different species of geckos worldwide. They are unique among lizards in their vocalizations; their name comes from the sound the animals make.

Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. It is the world’s tallest mountain from base to summit, but most of it is under water. When measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 33,000 feet tall, but it actually stands 13,802 feet above sea level. It is a dormant volcano that last erupted about 4,500 years ago. The summit is one the most important land-based astronomy sited in the world, thanks to extremely favorable observing conditions.

Since Hawaii is basically a huge volcano, one just has to take a look down at the ground to see volcanic rock. Most volcanic rocks are very dark, but they can look very different, depending on the lava’s composition and type of flow on the ground. This type of lava is called pāhoehoe and typically advances as a series of small lobes and leaves a ropy surface when solidified.

Another famous waterfall on the Big island of Hawaii is Rainbow Falls. It is located in Hilo, on the east coast, and is 80 feet tall. The water flows over a natural lava cave which is, in the Hawaiian mythology, the home to Hina, an ancient very attractive goddess who flew to the moon because she was tired of being pursued by men.

Volcanoes National Park is definitely one of the highlights of the Big Island. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The park offers stunning volcanic landscapes and is a scientist’s heaven. There are places in the park where the underground is so hot that water keeps evaporating, which creates ethereal scenes like this one.

Kilauea, in Volcanoes National Park, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It is between 300,000 and 600,000 years old. Its name, in the Hawaiian language, means “spewing”, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. Its current eruption dates back to 1983 and is one of the longest-duration eruptions in the world. In Hawaiian mythology, its crater, called Halema‘uma‘u, is the body and home of Pele, goddess of fire, lightning, wind and… volcanoes.

I learned a lot from my time on the Big Island of Hawaii. But probably the most valuable lesson I learned was that 7 days was not nearly long enough to discover all of incredible scenes that the island has to offer. I will be back, but this time, with a flecible ticket back to Belgium.

See more from Sébastien Beun on his website, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Start planning your trip to the Big Island on the Go Hawaii website. 

The post 10 Photographs That Will Inspire You to Travel to the Big Island of Hawaii Right Now appeared first on Resource Travel.