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Fine Art Images of Hawaii by Thomas Upton

Big Island Landscape Photography

About This Page

Galleries on this page focus on specific topics or locations in greater depth than on the Hawaii Image Portfolio page. Subjects include places on this island where I have photographed in detail, other Hawaii islands, or Pacific Islands beyond Hawaii. I will change these galleries from time to time, so check back.

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Looking like a giant moth with a tail, the underside of the ray passes by near the surface as it starts to head down towards the bottom. It's harmless tail and short black dorsal fin are visible.

Four of the eight radio telescopes that make up the Smithsonian Submillimeter Array

A classic view of the Ka'a'Alahina Ridge in the Na Pali Coast Staet Wilderness. This view is your reward for following the Kokee Road all the way through the Waimea Canyon park to the Kalalau lookout.

Giant wave crashes into a lava pool towering overhead at Laupahoehoe Point on the Big Island of Hawaii

Motus are the tiny islands that sit just inside the coral atolls that surround many of the major islands in French Polynesia. These islands are inside the Taha'a island atoll and Bora Bora is in the distance

The view to Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat) from the beach at Kualoa Point. Mokapu and Pukaulua Points are in the distance

The Canada-France-Hawaii telescope on the left and one of the two Gemini telescopes (the other is in Chile)

There is so much water movement here, that it is interesting to experiment with different exposure lengths to capture the power in different ways. This image looks a bit like a painting, showing the waves surging over the lava stacks.

Looking from a pier near the airport in Papeete towards Moorea

A Manta swims right-side up near the bottom of it's loop before starting back to the surface. Lots of other fish like to feed on the plankton that the Mantas have stirred up.

Coastal cliffs near Poipu, seen from the edge of the Maha'ulepu trail

A view of Waikiki from the top of Diamond Head early in the morning as a rain squall is about to hit

Pu'us on the barren flanks of the Mauna Kea summit

This lookout is named for the island view in the distance, but it is appealing because of the amazing, sea-eroded lava formations that exist along this stretch of the road.

The Manta swims towards me upside down, shifting it's cephalic lobes around. It's large eye on the left was watching me as it approached

A long exposure of the surf well offshore softens the wave action. The cloudy sky and muted colors give it a mystic feel

When you fly into Lihue from the south, you cannot miss Ha'upu, the 2300 foot peak that rises from the coast. Known as the Kauai guardian, it stands out among other heights along the ridge. Here is a view from the inland side. I'd like to find a close approach or trail to explore it.

The Island of Tahiti, seen across the incredible turquoise water surrounding Moorea, is only about 10 miles away

The NASA Infrared Telescope, operated by the University of Hawaii, and originally built to support the Voyager mission

Looking like a somewhat greener version of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, this canyon is an amazing and unexpected sight on the lush island of Kauai

The Grottos of Teanateatea on Tahiti's southwest coast are a set of caves on the coastline filled with crystal clear water. This very friendly local man was there to greet us

A panorama of Hanauma Bay and Koko Head behind it, as seen from the ridge road above the bay

Mantas use their giant "arms" called cephalic lobes to help direct plankton into their mouths as they swim. The "hole" at lower right is a nostril. The dark specs are plankton and other tiny creatures

Long exposure with smooth blue and white waves enveloping jagged black lava stacks at Laupahoehoe Beach Park

Special Subject Galleries

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