Koi and Royal Hawaiian – Honolulu, Hawaii

Perhaps from the hotel position on Waikiki Beach. The Sheraton seems to catch magnificent trade wind breezes in the late afternoon. It’s a calming respite from the daytime heat. I was positioned on a rocking chair and taking in the breezes when I noticed this idyllic framing.

The tropical vegetation, the pink old-world hotel, and the zen-inspired koi pond work together to reinforce calmness. It’s a bit deceptive. The reality is the patio around me was bustling with tourists flowing through the Sheraton.

I made this with the Fuji X-E3, the smaller and nimbler camera that I always kept with me. So taken with the scene, I attempted to make a high-quality version with the Fuji GFX 50R the next day. It was not as easy as I thought. The shallower depth of field and the inferior image stabilization made it challenging. The koi also didn’t cooperate.

I have a free monthly newsletter that’s perfect for busy people. Signup for the Newsletter to get the best of my posts, old and new, plus additional content not available anywhere else.