Randy’s PhotoBlog

We are getting back into the normal swing of things here in the Makawao gallery. There has been just so much activity for several months in a row that it was hard to catch our breaths.

I eagerly await my two books of Japan Hula Ceremonies — I used BLURB print-on-demand publishers. This is a great way to test-market books, or produce very short-run editions. The software there is getting better all the time. After I press the final send button, I can have the high-quality book in my hands in 5 days. Amazing.

Anyway, I am still reeling from my brief Japan experience and look forward to digging deeper into the hula world over on that side of the Big Pond. I have a lot to learn yet, but I can see how the Hawai’iana Industry has found a significant audience over there.

I did sneak out of the concert hall rehearsals a few times to shoot a few images around Tokyo. Here they are…

Yikes!

I made a new book! Again!

I spend a very fun, hard week in Japan photographing 40 hula dances throughout their Uniki graduation ceremony. It was quite an honor. I shot 3500 inages and just put 310 into a book for the girls to own. You can find a sneak-preview of the book by clicking the link below…

I have no idea why the little Icon will not stay in the green box. Click on it anyway. More about Japan soon. I have to post a few more photos, but not until I finish book number two from this event.

I traveled there with the incredibly talented Lim Family of Kohala, Hawaii. What an honor it was.

Ka ‘Uniki ‘Ana…

Kumu Hula Leialoha …

By Randy Jay Braun P…

I have no idea why the little Icon will not stay in the green box. Click on it anyway. More about Japan soon.

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There has been a whirlwind of activity and travel.

I feel like my photography is very much alive right now. You know that feeling? I had a year, or more, when I couldn’t even think about WHAT to photograph, and for the past many months, I can’t even think about slowing down. I am just hoping my cameras hold up through this period. I am cranking out photos non-stop. Most of which I will not release for a while, simply because I can’t find the time do edit and process them. It is just crazy.

This week I was entirely honored to shoot with the well-known landscape photographer and author Elizabeth Carmel, know for her images of the Sierras. I drove her and Olaf Carmel out to Keanae Village, on the Hana Highway for an afternoon of shooting.

Elizabeth does not travel lightly. As I whipped out my low-end Canon, she whipped out her Hasselblad, and mounted it on a tripod which could hold a small house. The weather was junky, and our best location was the painted Eucalyptus tree. After a brief discussion with Olaf about how we Hawaii residents love brilliant colors, I whipped this image together just to make my point.

I proceeded down to Wailea the next day, and the volcanic vog (from the Big Island) was so thick that the county actually issued a health warning for us to stay indoors. I tried to use the thick air to my advantage to shoot an orange-ball-sunset, but is was more of a grey-ball-sunset, and the light went fast.

I am packing for Japan! There, i will photograph 2 hula schools have their Uniki, or graduation ceremonies. I am very interested to see hula on Japan. The interest there is strong still after more than a decade of popularity. I have never gone to the East, and feel pretty excited. I travel as a guest of Kumu Hula Leialoha Amina. I am so thankful for the opportunity.

Person Elizabeth Carmel

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I put together a 36 page photo-book for my Hanai Halau. The book, which I produced using BLURB software, documents the girl’s trip to the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo this year. I ordered a hard-cover for the Kumus. I have already started my whale book, as of this morning, and can’t wait to share those images.

Check out this site!

Halau Na Lei K…

Na Kumu Napua Greig…

By 2008 Merrie Monar…

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I am feeling a bit sad this morning.

Hawaii has lost the life of the great Auntie Nona Beamer. Nona was a teacher, a musician, a historian, and Hanai Auntie to so many young Hawaiians.

When Auntie Genoa Keawe passed a couple of months ago, the first thought that came to mind was, the torch of her leadership has been passed to others, like Raiatea Helm.

Same feeling with Auntie Nona; there will be others who will have to step into her powerful maternal roll, and carry on the aloha spirit for which she was known. Napua Greig? Haunani Pascua? Ualani Smith? Perhaps.

Last summer I met Auntie Nona and spoke with her for the first time. The first thing she told me was that she has enjoyed my photography for many years. There was no greater compliment, considering the source.

We are all sad today.

I ventured down to see Pele Herself.

She was steamy and hot. It was my first time to see a bit of orange molten lava. I have wanted to for years. The best views were at night, as the hillside was flowing with liquid Earth. But I had to be at the stadium to shoot hula at night. I must return. The power in Her is awesome.

Another Merrie Monarch Hula Festival has just wrapped up. The competition was fierce; unbelievably powerful this year. 5000 screaming hula fanatics stayed until 1am on the final night to see who carried away the overall trophy. And as usual, 4000 of the fans disagreed with the judging. This is normal, and almost expected.

Congratulations to Kunewa Mook and his Kamuela Halau (who also stayed in my hotel hallway).

This was my fifth straight year to photograph the 4 day event. Being a photographer there is completely exhausting. Physically and emotionally draining. There is a recovery period for 2-3 days following for everybody I know there.

I traveled with Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka — my adopted Halau. But I also was asked to shoot for 2 other Maui Halau and for the Maui News. From Morning, until very, very late, there is bustling activity in the hotels and streets, and at the Kanakaole Stadium, and even in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Hilo is the perfect host. The people there graciously put up with us throughout the week as we help stimulate their perpetually stagnant economy. I myself spend about $50 on the finest Spicy Ahi Poke and Ocean Salad known to man at the Suisan Fish Market.

It is a spectacle to become a part of, if you ever have the chance. I can’t wait till next year!

I just used my Black and White Tri-X 400 film grain from DXO Film-Pack Software. I like it a ton better than adding “noise”, or “dust and scratches” to an image via photoshop filters. The image was a smooth color digital in the beginning. The mood completely changes in a roughed-up B&W.  (I can almost smell the darkroom chemicals…)

This dancer is a real trooper  (former Police officer, actually). She  hiked several sweaty miles of  mosquito-infested trails  to get to the right  shooting locations last month in Kipahulu.

I have been shooting like a madman.

Hula, sunsets, night scenes, snowscapes, panoramas — there is barely time to recharge my batteries. I am oozing with ideas and itching to finally get them out of my brain and onto fine-art paper.

A trip to Lake Tahoe has come and gone, and, even though I was there to ski and relax, I ended up hiking through knee-deep snow during several sunsets to create more images. It was a blast, I have to admit. I was able to breifly stop by the Elizabeth and Olaf Carmel Gallery in Truckee, Ca. They are under construction to double or triple the size of their retail space. It is well worth the effort to stop by and enjoy the images of the Sierras.

I head to photograph the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival (Hula Olympics!) in Hilo for most of this coming week. I always see so many of my hula ‘ohana there. I love Hilo town.

Then in a couple of weeks I will head to Japan for 2 hula “uniki”, graduation ceremonies. I will be the “guest photographer”, and hope to learn much more about the Japanese hula culture during this trip.

In other news… Sadly we have just lost Aloha Airlines to bankruptsy. Tomorrow will be their last day in the air after many decades. Several close friends will lose jobs, and in Hawaii, we are all family, so this one really hurts.

Still, “Lucky we live Hawai’i!”

…Back from the great rain forest of Kipahulu! It was nice to camp there again; other than the bewildering heat in the tent. I shot 18 gigs of RAW files. I was up before the dawn, and awake late shooting in the dark. I am eager to start offering private photo tours to clients whom may wish to join me for such adventures! My new website (when the hell will I get to working on that, anyway???) will offer private and small group seminars for a fee. I hope to include kayak tours, jungle/waterfall shoots, hula kahiko shoots, etc….

Please note: The Packing and Shipping office will be closed for the next 2 weeks, as the busy staff takes a mental health ski trip. We’ll be open again for FedEx shipping on March 27.

A hui hou.