As a native of Southern California, I grew up loving the beach. Every day after school, I would eagerly run across the street and over the sand dunes with hopes that a big swell was coming through. I had always dreamed that some day I would be able to live on my own secluded tropical beach with the kind of surf that I had seen in the magazines.
It wasn’t until the summer of 1999 that I made my first trip out to Hawaii and fell in love not only with the surf, but also with the diverse landscape and natural beauty of the islands. I made several return trips with my camera during the next six years before chasing the dream in 2006 when my wife and I packed up and moved to the Big Island. I have been photographing the islands in the Hawaiian chain continuously ever since.
I love the medium of photography. It’s been said that photography is the easiest artistic medium in which to become competent but the most difficult to establish a personally identifiable style. A painter or sculptor makes their vision into something tangible. A photographer can only capture what is tangible and somehow make it their vision. Giving an intangible soul to a photograph is what separates Ansel Adams from the vacation snap shooter. This is my ultimate aspiration.
My passion is to present a vision of Hawaii as an unpopulated and unspoiled paradise. I strive to capture a unique moment of emotion in each photo to share the Hawaii my dreams.
Aloha,
Michael
Hiking the Waipio Valley
News update 2009-11-27: I have several photos on display at the new Sloan Gallery on Ali'i drive in Kailua-Kona (map). The new location overlooks the water up the street from the Royal Kona Resort and next to the Outback Steakhouse. Please stop by to see the visual difference that the infused metal printing process makes.
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News update 2009-10-1: Kohala Coast Fine Art Galleries located in the King's Shops of the Waikoloa Beach resort area (map) is now displaying my photography. They have many prints on display including a large (24"x72") panoramic printed on metal.
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News update 2009-6-26: Honu Fire has been awarded the People's Choice Award at the annual Hawaii Photo Expo photo contest for 2009.
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News update 2008-6-6: Evening Soak has been awarded 1st place in the Master's division at the annual Hawaii Photo Expo photo contest for 2008.
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News update 2007-11-1: Sleepy Solitude (B&W) has won the Grand Prize and the Artists' Choice award at the annual Kahilu Theatre black and white photo contest for 2007. Turtle Paradise (B&W) was also awarded People's Choice.
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Crossing the creek, deep in the Waipio Valley
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