photo.phile: sarah lee

underwater

i first happened across the dreamy underwater scapes from sarah lee of kona while browsing flickr, and upon checking in to inquire about featuring her photos on h|h, was even more intrigued upon discovering that such an impressive portfolio was snapped in between study sessions, film school projects, and water polo practice.

while the occasional photo may be the recipient of a magical post-processing trick, the vast majority of sarah's pictures are composed within the viewfinder. my most favorite shots are those allowing mother nature and serendipity to meet - whether it be a jumble of waves, an impromptu rain storm, or streaks of light dancing beneath the ocean's surface - and, with a click, capturing life happily uninterrupted.

one look and you will be reminded just why you are lucky you live hawaii!

set my spirit free

cloud nine

dune

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
back in 2003 when i was in 8th grade, i dabbled in video editing, website, and graphic design, and probably because i've always loved capturing and creating things, i became really addicted to it. the first time i put my hands on a dslr when I was 13, i became enthralled with its possibilities, and once i was able to have a dslr of my own a few months later (thanks to my parents who helped me get one!), it all kind of took off from there.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
brooke dombroski has been one of my favourite lifestyle photographers for the past few years. i am absolutely in love with her visual aesthetic and the moments she captures with the insanely beautiful people she photographs.

morgan maassen is another one of my favourite ocean/surf/lifestyle photographers. he is crazy good at what he does, and his photographs have been a source of visual inspiration for me for the past few years as well.

a good site for general visual inspiration: ffffound

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
my favourite photo sessions have always been the ones where i'm just working in the background, capturing natural moments as they happen. just recently, i did a "mom and me" photosession with a friend and her 3-year old son during golden hour at the beach. i absolutely love photographing spontaneous moments and interactions between people, rather than the standard "posed" or fake-candids everyone's so used to doing.

i had so much fun following them around as they played together on the beach and in the water during golden hour. they were so natural and focused on each other, it was as if i wasn't even there - and that's what i love about doing what i do: capturing and accentuating the beauty of life.

any simple tricks to share on how to capture an underwater photograph?
the closer you stay to the surface with your camera, the better. not only does your subject/model's skin look brighter and less pale, but you'll also hopefully catch some trippy surface reflections in the frame.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
my low-res cell phone camera! i use a canon 7d with about 4 different lenses, (10-22 wide angle, 50 prime, zoom, lensbaby), so it's a bit difficult to carry my gear around everywhere i go. i like to keep a balance between my personal life and my photography, and don't want to be "one of those girls" who wears her attention-grabbing dslr like a gaudy necklace and takes pictures of anything and everything, so i refrain from carrying it around everyday . . . but i definitely do need to start taking it with me more than i do currently.

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
keep it simple (seriously!). don't try too hard. go with the flow. you are your worst critic.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
impromptu picnic? i would run down to ali'i drive and grab an acai bowl down at basik acai across from huggos, or grab an avocado jenna roll at hayashi's (if the wait isn't too long)!

pre-planned picnic? i would make some fresh squeezed lilikoi lemonade, fresh guacamole with blue corn chips, and drop by lava java for any kind of sandwich/wrap with their amazing macadamia nut pesto in it. oh, and for dessert: chocolate-covered arare from kona mountain coffee.

mahalo sarah!

you can order up prints and more on sarah's website and she can also be booked for portraits and other photo sessions. definitely click through the gallery . . . especially if you yearn to dip underneath the sea from the comfort of home.

p.s. you can find sarah on flickr and peek her latest photos over on her blog.

photo.phile: firebird photography

happy monday! i am so excited to introduce you to firebird photography today! my first glimpse of makiki photographer cheyne gallarde's work was via an editorial of 1979's collection for innov8 last year. in an instant, it took me back to flipping through family photo albums filled with faded technicolor pictures of my mom, aunties and grandmother perfectly turned out and posing in front of a brownie camera.

facebook friends who happened to catch the 1940's video of waikiki posted last month know that vintage hawaii will always make me swoon, and cheyne captures the era with the most charming compositions that are absolutely cinematic in its loveliness. one look and you will want slip into something retro, put on your face and smile for the camera.

don't you love it? although, with apologies to the cute milkman, the little design geek in me could not help but become besotted with the charming turquoise bungalow and its delightful scallop awning.

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
i've always been a shutterbug, but i didn't start taking photography seriously until i took a hiatus from filmmaking. during the hiatus, i realized a lot of my theatre friends didn't have current headshots, so i offered to shoot it for them. it was then i enjoyed photographing people and capturing their personality.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
i don't really follow photographers so much since most of my inspiration comes from fashion. although i will say that niche photographers like aaron ruell and creative commercial photographers like david lachapelle definitely inspire me.

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
tough call, but i'd have to say shooting my friends in on the spot improv. i've shot all their pr photos for the last two years (and recently went on a mainland tour with them) so when we work together, it's like a family reunion. their shows are also niche and creative, so i enjoy the challenge of it all. plus it helps that they're all great people that always manage to lift my spirits!

any simple tricks to share on how to capture a vintage looking photograph?
it's all done outside of the camera. hair, clothing and location are what make the perfect vintage photo. pay attention to those details and you're 75% of the way there. this is why i include styling with all my portrait packages since i study and specialize in retro fashion. in addition, i work with a talented hair & makeup artist, mish of beauty by mish, who specializes in vintage glam & pin-up hairstyles.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
the best camera really is the one you have with you, so i'd have to say my iphone! from vintage portraits using the hipstamatic app to panoramic shots using pano, everyday moments are captured on my mobile phone. for all my photoshoots, i shoot with my very basic canon rebel xti. you don't need bells & whistles when you've got imagination & creativity!

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
if you use a napkin to cover your camera flash, you'll diffuse the light. it takes some practice, but the result will be evenly-lit photos as opposed to the harsh on-camera flash.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
vitamin water, protein bars, spam musubi and cookies!

mahalo cheyne!

as i hinted earlier, oahu lovelies will have a chance to get a little flirty and embrace your inner dita von teese during next weekend's pin-up queen workshop. pair it with a burlesque lesson from the ladies of cherry blossom cabaret or, if the idea makes you blush, simply book a pin-up photo session with cheyne.

• when: sun, jun 27th - 10a to 5p
• where: mercury bar, 1154 fort street mall, suite 10, chinatown
• price tag: $200/$215 (includes burly-q basics)
• fyi: $25 non-refundable deposit to reserve a spot

p.s. enjoy first peeks of cheyne's most recent developments over on the firebird blog.

photo.phile: wag and snap photography

hawaii pet lovers now have an adorable photo service catering to their four-legged friends. wag and snap officially launched its website last week (designed by h|h friend kat uno) with a gallery filled with playful modern pet portraits taken on-location by manoa photographer steve czerniak.

get ready to ooh and aah at sweet images of pets frolicking outdoors, being pampered by their parents, or playing hide and seek from the camera.

darwin

moki

honey

kiwi

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
everyday life inspires me. you just have to be more aware of your surroundings to see the interesting details.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
love these photographers: matt stuart, cow belly pet photography, serenah, shine pet photos, scruffy dog photography. there so many others that i'm inspired by.

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
my boys on kailua beach.

any simple tricks to share on how to capture a charming pet photograph?
get down on their level. and please turn off that flash. creepy green eyes does not make a cute photo.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
my leica d-lux 4. oh, and my iphone.

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
be patient. the best shots come when not forced. oh, and never stop shooting.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
fresh mango, papaya and mauna loa honey roasted macadamia nuts.

mahalo steve!

toying with the portrait possibilities for your favorite paws? wag and snap is currently offering an introductory package on bookings made through august. 

p.s. click over to the w+s blog for behind-the-scene stories from recent commissions.

photo.phile: tammy wahl photography

hello hello! starting today, a new weekly feature will be brightening your mondays with a curated gallery featuring the work of my favorite local photographers. it seems like i find myself in a constant swoon over all the gorgeous imagery filling the interweb with charming interiors, fabulous street style, delightful weddings, dreamy travelogues, and 'ono cuisine.

these little glimpses of lovely living have tempted me to experiment with my camera to improve my rather pedestrian photography skills. much to my delight, the islands are filled with so much talent that i was inspired to share a peek from my growing collection of the brilliant photography being developed in hawaii.

for the debut of photo.phile, i am happy to introduce you to tammy wahl who, alas, will be moving on from kaneohe soon. idyllic scenes and small moments documenting her family's stay in hawaii fill her portfolio along with portraits of the handful of lucky families who found themselves in front of tammy's camera when her services were for hire. it's simply impossible not to smile and wish your family photos were just as playful and full of joy.

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
i’ve always had an interest in photography, but i never really thought i had the ability to take it seriously. finally, when we moved to hawaii, i decided to buy my first dSLR and commit to learning! really though, it was wanting to take great pictures of my children on a regular basis, especially in our beautiful surroundings, that finally pushed me to do it.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
i have loved hanging out on a photography board called ilovephotography.com that has been an incredible source of inspiration and learning for me. i’ve also discovered some of my favorite photographers from that board.

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
it’s really hard to pick a favorite, but my most recent favorite is one of my son at the beach, using a fisheye lens that i titled on the edge of the earth. i love that it turned out exactly as i had planned, with the bright colors, and the pure joy on his face. i often get great pictures of my daughter so it’s especially rewarding to me when i get something special of him as well.

any simple tricks to share on how to capture a happy keiki photograph?
make the experience fun for them! plan an outing and then just capture them doing their thing. let them have fun and just get in there with your camera. take pictures of them while they are “in action” and you’ll end up with images that are more real and special.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
i actually keep a little point and shoot in my purse for everyday shooting. it’s nothing special and those aren’t the images you will see on my blog, but that allows me to just capture regular life. when i want to take the special pictures, it’s my canon 5d mark II that i adore!

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
the best advice i was given was to learn the light. it’s so much easier to take an amazing picture if the light is right. and also to practice, practice, practice. you can read all you want, but until you get out there and do it, you’ll never really get it. i found that to be so true for me.

mahalo tammy!

i hope today's peek inspires all the mamas and papas out there to take your keiki and camera on a playdate!

p.s. hapa | hale hearts modern photography of all kinds be it fanciful, dreamy, lomography, through the viewfinder, cheeky portraits, b&w, etc. snapped by photo geeks of all stripes. if your photography rocks the right aesthetic, click here to submit your website or recommend a favorite for consideration.

dreams of paradise

dawn patrol

the most dreamy photographs have been popping up all over my favorite design blogs so i am quite happy to share the very first lovely snapshots captured around the island by jan from hazelnut cottage. iconic beach shots of hawaii tend to highlight the perfect wave, bikini babes, or turtles lounging in the sand which leaves something lacking for those of us who hold a more romanticized view of the world.

lucky for us, jan's photography transports viewers to enjoy the small moments in life with her lens focusing on slippers left on shore, fisherman waiting for the daily catch, and wistful memories of long lost swing rides. a sweet blush of nostalgia accompanies each photo which reminds me of how life slows down and becomes just a bit more subdued when the sun skips behind the clouds.

more peeks below . . .

pier

i had to go

innocence

currently, the photography offerings are limited to a handful of images with plans to grow it shot by gorgeous shot. the petite price tag ($25) also makes it an affordable way to pretty up your space.

click over to hazelnut cottage's etsy shop to find one you love. and, be sure to scoop it up in the next week since jan is offering the h|h 'ohana complimentary shipping on all photo orders!

• secret code: hapahale (enter in notes to seller)
• expires: thu, oct 15th
• fyi: shipping will be refunded via paypal