Capturing this image was such a fulfilling experience. We started later than preferred and the sun was up, but not so high that the lighting was harsh, there was still opportunity for some great photography. This was such a unique beach, not really a place to play and swim, but a place to just sit on the soft sand and take in the beauty. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
As both a photographer and a lover of art, there is nothing more pleasing to the eye than a beautiful beach scene. Sand, water and palm trees all combined with the perfect lighting are a recipe for a great piece of art. Having said that, It has been so difficult to find a setting that actually portrays that masterpiece image I have in my mind. I have traveled to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, California, Florida in search of that perfect photograph and I will tell you, that my odds of winning the lottery may be better.
I guess you could say that these odds have fueled my passion for a continuous search. So many things challenge the search, such as bad lighting, wind, too many people in the way, and the list goes on. Even after years of planning, practice and patience I still have to rely on mother nature’s cooperation. As time goes on however, I have realized that there is not just one perfect image but several, and they are just waiting for me to capture them. That morning in Maui was just one of those times.
The early morning light was gone. The air was still crisp, but the sun was working its way upward.
I had heard rumors of this magical place called Secret Cove Beach. It took some driving to get there and even once we arrived, it was still a mystery. We drove down a tiny road barely big enough for two cars to pass. According to the map, we had arrived but all we could see was this tall brick wall. At one end of the wall was a narrow gate just big enough for one person to walk through at a time. The entrance was guarded by a large tree and some big rocks which we had to shimmy down to get to the sand.
As soon as my feet hit the sand, I looked up and the words that escaped my mouth said it all…
“Welcome to Paradise”. It was just like one of those scenes from the movies, so beautiful that I wondered how it was real. Every few seconds the waves would crash against the rocks and then the clear salty water would work its way up the narrow channel and spread itself along the beach.
My camera absorbed several compositions of Secret Cove Beach but the one you see was the story I wanted to tell. This image is actually what I call a narrow panorama. Most of the story could have been told with a single image capture in landscape (horizontal layout) mode. But I chose to shoot several portrait mode shots (vertical layout) in a sweeping panorama (and then later stitched them together in my computer) so that I could capture both the beach at my knees and the tops of the palm trees. Consequently, that means that this image has all the pixels required for a print that will fill your wall.
If you crave those dreamy beach settings, you will love this image on your wall. The sizing mockups should help you decide which size will look best in your home. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
All Images taken by the author © Randy G. Barney Photography
