Red Rock Canyon
If you're visiting Las Vegas and you need a quick outdoor escape from the casinos, Red Rock Canyon is the place to go. This National Conservation Area is just 25 miles from the Vegas strip. It features a 13-mile scenic drive and about two dozen hiking trails.
My latest trip to the canyon offered an interesting opportunity. It was a bright and sunny day, but distant mountain ranges were hazy due to California's wildfires. This created a beautiful layered effect in many of my photographs.
Fundraiser for Aloha Harvest
July 22, 2020 —The COVID-19 crisis has deeply affected the world at large. And here in Hawaii, life in this COVID environment has become almost too difficult to bear for many. Due to the government shutdown, our state now has a 22% unemployment rate — the second highest in the nation. Aloha Harvest is one of the many amazing nonprofits who have answered the call to aid and have stepped up to support Hawaii's needy and hungry families.
I created an Indiegogo fundraiser to support Aloha Harvest. I’m selling a limited edition of 100 prints, featuring twelve of my favorite Hawaii landscape photographs. 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to Aloha Harvest. The images will be printed as large format 17 X 22” fine-art prints. The total number of prints will be limited to 100. Individual prints are priced at $75, with a set of two for $140.
ALOHA HARVEST - Now in its 21st year, Aloha Harvest is the largest food rescue and redistribution organization in Hawaii. A 501c3 nonprofit, Aloha Harvest picks up excess food from more than 250 donors and delivers it to more than 175 agencies that feed the hungry per year. All of their services are provided free of charge to both donors and recipients. Food donors include grocery stores, wholesale distributors, and restaurants. Food recipients include social service agencies, nonprofits, rehabilitation shelters, and food pantries. COVID-19 has intensified food insecurity in our state, making their work especially critical. So far in 2020, they've rescued and redistributed more 1.6 million pounds of food that would have been wasted. For more information or to donate directly to Aloha Harvest, visit alohaharvest.org.
I hope you’ll join me in this effort to help fight food insecurity here in Hawaii.
Download the press release and high-res images.
September 12, 2020 — The project is now complete! Thank you all who supported the Aloha Harvest Fundraiser. We finished the campaign with a total of $4,325 in donations. All prints have been shipped. Mahalo for making this a success!
The Holy Land
Last November we went with a group from New Hope Oahu to visit the Holy Land. We started in Tel Aviv, Israel and traveled to Jordan and Palestine. It was an amazing journey seeing so many historical and biblical sites. This is a trip I’ll never forget!
The Four Seasons Lanai and Lanai Air
Lanai Air is a luxury air service connecting Oahu to the island of Lanai. The toughest challenge for our two day production was blocking off shots while being at an active airport. We had to move our set a few times to let other planes park. Overall though, it was a very successful shoot with photography assets being used by The Four Seasons Lanai and Lanai Air.
L'Horizon Resort
L’Horizon Resort & Spa, Palm Springs CA.
L’Horizon Resort & Spa was designed in 1952 by renowned architect William F. Cody as a private family retreat for legendary hotel owner Jack Wrather and his wife, Hollywood actress Bonita “Bunny” Granville. Wrather was one of the most important California figures of the 1950’s, producing both “The Lone Ranger” and “Lassie”, and building the Disneyland hotel.
The property has 20 private bungalows, all with a pool view. Guests included Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Presidents Reagan and Nixon, as well as countless other luminaries.
L’Horizon was voted #1 Resort in the USA and #2 Resort in the Word in the Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.
Children of the Badjao Tribe
Children of the Badjao tribe in the village of Barra. Quezon province, Philippines.
These photographs were taken during a dental mission trip to Talaan, Philippines. I was blessed to be part of a group of dentists and hygienists from New Hope Oahu and 3G Hosanna Ministries. While there, we visited Barra.
The Badjao, like many of the Philippines’ indigenous peoples are a neglected tribe. Scattered throughout the country, this group of Badjao lives in Barra. They’re commonly referred to as “sea gypsies” because they live and fish in coastal areas. The Badjao live in extreme poverty, beyond the reach of state assistance due to their nomadic lifestyle. Many of them send their children to the cities to beg for alms.
To get to Barra, we took a 20 minute boat ride from Talaan. When we arrived, I was told to jump from the boat to the beach and not to touch the water. Until recently, the village didn't have any toilets or a way to dispose their trash. Locals would use the shoreline as a bathroom and dump their waste on the beach. Hence the instructions, do not touch the water.
Despite the abject poverty, we were greeted by dozens of smiling children. 3G HMI makes regular visits to Barra to bring food, supplies, and to host church services. On this visit, missionaries brought trash bags and helped the villagers clean up rubbish around their huts. After the bags were full, they fed the children pancit and lumpia.
Visiting Barra was life changing. I’d never seen disease and poverty at this level. The sights, sounds, and smells were overwhelming. I chose to focus my lens on the faces of the children. Despite their conditions, I saw their happiness for the simple things they had– a friend to play with, or a stick to be used as a toy. I think as Americans we’ve become unappreciative with our possessions and our desire for more than we need. I personally want to be more content with what I have, and focus more on what I can do for others.
