Lawai Kauai Hawaii
One of the most popular features of my photographic workshops, presentations, and lectures are the open question-and-answer sessions. Usually the questions are technical in nature. However, during a recent presentation to a mainland photo association, the host posed a question about the significance of having a working knowledge of a photo subject.
Of course it is possible to create, and have published, a photograph purely on composition without an intimate knowledge of a subject. But, the more details the photographer can supply with the photograph the more likely an image is to be published.
Red Plumeria
Before moving to Kauai, I had very little experience with tropical flowers – especially Plumeria. My lack of knowledge of this colorful flower led to a potentially embarrassing situation before one of my early island photography workshops.
My presumptuous plan was to entice participants with a mid-winter photo workshop featuring tropical flowers. Lost in my enthusiasm and lack of local knowledge was the fact that these specific tropical plants are typically dormant for about four months, beginning in November. That means bare branches – no green leaves and no colorful flowers.
Fortunately, hibiscus and other plants were blooming and available as suitable subjects for that particular photo study. And I humbly learned to pay closer attention to the seasonal changes on The Garden Island.
A Nikon D40x camera equipped with an AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm G DX lens was used for this photograph. The focal length was 55mm with an aperture of f/8, shutter speed of 1/800th second, and film speed 400 ISO. Lighting was diffuse sunlight.
“Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.” – Will Rogers [1879–1935]
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