We photographers all spend a certain amount of time looking over the lenses we don’t own, sort of in an “ask your doctor if this lens is right for you” way. 😉 Yesterday’s surfing took me down the rabbit hole of the recently introduced Tamron 18-300mm zoom lens. I’ve been thinking of renting a copy of this lens to evaluate its suitability as a do-everything lens for travel and wanted to check out some reviews. I was amused by a couple of the comments that seemed especially contradictory:
“Not as sharp as my Fuji lenses, but perfect for travel photos.” So…travel photos don’t need to be sharp?
“If you’re an amateur/occasional photographer maybe it won’t make much difference but if you shoot on a frequent basis, I highly recommend looking at other options.” I don’t take a lot of photos so I won’t know if the lens is good or not?
“A great Kit lens, but image quality and focus are lacking. The edges and corners are soft at most focal lengths, and it focuses poorly at the longer focal lengths, 200mm to 300mm. I was never able to get an image in focus of birds on a rock. The focus seems to be behind the subject. I even shot at 1/1000 of a second to make sure there was no camera movement. It’s a great kit and travel lens if image quality and critical focus at the higher mm lengths aren’t important to you.” Hmmmm. No.
Mural on a building in the North Davidson (NoDa) area of Charlotte
This is the first of what I plan to be a series of posts under the category “Tourist In My Own Town!
Kathy & I paid a visit to the area of Charlotte near the intersection of North Davidson Street and East 36th Street, known to locals as “NoDa” as in North Davidson. Clever, huh? We went primarily to visit a wine bar and retail wine shop recently opened by a friend of ours, but decided to make an afternoon of it. It was a nice day, a little warm for spring with highs in the mid-80s, but the humidity was low and there was a nice breeze.
Mural on a building in the North Davidson (NoDa) area of CharlotteMural on a building in the North Davidson (NoDa) area of Charlotte
NoDa is packed with bars and restaurants, with a few retail stores and tattoo parlors mixed in for good measure. Kathy & I avoided the tattoo parlors! During the day it is pretty quiet, but I understand that things get cranking in the evening. We did our thing early and got out before the masses arrived!
The North Davidson (NoDa) area of CharlottePublic art in the form of bicycle storage at the 36th Street transit station. The North Davidson (NoDa) area of Charlotte.
We walked around a bit and I took some pictures. Then with time to kill we hopped on the light rail, took it out to UNC Charlotte, wandered around there then got back in time for our destination to open at 4:00. We filled up on wine and snacks, bought a few bottles for souvenirs, and headed home in time to enjoy the sunset from our porch.
Shadows cast by the Mikyoung Kim’s Nexus Project – public art installation at the UNC Charlotte Main Station for the Lynx Blue Line
Big and little. Allure of the Seas and Marella Discovery docked at the Port Zante cruise terminal in Basseterre, Saint Kitts
One of the things that always amazes me about cruise ships is their size! The loop in our neighborhood that I walk around some mornings takes 5 laps to make a mile. The walking/jogging track on Allure of the Seas takes only 2.5 laps to make a mile!
Marella Discovery is what cruise ships used to look like. She was placed in service in March 1996 as Splendour of the Seas. With a capacity of 1,830 passengers, she was considered state of the art at that time.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, by comparison, holds 5,402 passengers. When she was introduced in 2010 she was the largest cruise ship in the world. That title now belongs to Wonder of the Seas at 5,734. That’s a lot of peoples! 😉
I just posted a gallery of photos from this cruise and our recent swing through Florida at my Adobe Portfolio site.
Walking track on the promenade deck of Allure of the Seas
Early morning in Cental Park aboard Allure of the Seas
Yes, I’m still here. And thanks to those who wrote separately to ask if everything was OK. All’s well!
Kathy & I had a little “Caribbean Business” to attend to for a few weeks. We visited friends in central Florida, met up with a long-time friend of Kathy’s and her husband on a cruise for 6 days, stayed on the same ship for another 8 days, then visited with different friends in Florida on the way home. Got back, started attacking a long-neglected to-do list and here we are!
Early morning in Cental Park aboard Allure of the SeasEarly morning in Central Park aboard Allure of the Seas
Remarkably, we have no confirmed travel plans for the remainder of the year. But we are working hard to remedy that situation! Lots of possibilities in the works, to be sure.
View from the sun deck aboard Allure of the Seas
One of the things I love about cruising is the interesting variety of things to photograph. The ships themselves have plenty of subject matter, and in sailing to different destinations, there are always new things to see. I grabbed a quick handful of a few photos in order to end the drought, as it were.
Light fixtures in Dazzles night club aboard Allure of the SeasStairway reflections in the Royal Promenade aboard Allure of the SeasColor changing ceiling in the Royal Promenade aboard Allure of the Seas
I’ll have some more photos and stories to share as I get things done over the next week or two, so stay tuned! 🙂
Shadows aboard Allure of the SeasAboard Allure of the SeasRailing shadows aboard Allure of the Seas
Tree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, Maui
There are a number of professions I have always been thankful to not have experienced. Anything requiring a safety harness or hard hat would fall into that category. Climbing trees with a machete hanging from my belt would double my resolve!
Tree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, Maui
One day at our hotel we received notice that a crew would be trimming the palm trees the next day. As it turned out, they started working right outside our room as we were enjoying our morning coffee. It was interesting to watch, but I wasn’t about to consider a return to the work force.
Tree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, MauiTree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, MauiTree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, MauiTree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, MauiTree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, MauiTree trimmers trimming the palm trees at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, Maui
Big waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii
One of the fascinating things about digital photography is that it is possible to take way too many photographs, edit them down to a reasonable number and still have multiples of the number of photographs we would have had in the film days. That holds true for our traveling, and especially true for our trip to Maui.
Early morning light on the beach near the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea, Maui
According to my Lightroom catalog I took 4,654 photos with my Fuji camera, 160 with my Olympus point & shoot – exclusively out of the airplane window, plus about 78 with my phone. I typically use the phone only for food, wine, airplane window shots, etc. But they back up into Lightroom and get stored there. I have mostly gotten away from other storage methods like Gooble.
Out of those nearly 4,900 photos I processed 749 “picks.” Why such a difference? Because out of those 4,900 photos, many of them were “burst shots” of action, like crashing waves, elusive whales, or dancers at a luau. I generally chose the “best” one out of each burst, and while some of the others might be photo-worthy, there isn’t a lot of point in saving multiple photos with slightly different splashes, poses or expressions.
Early morning light on the beach near the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea, Maui
Out of those 749 processed photos, I have posted a gallery of about half of them – on my Adobe Portfolio page. And those 330 or so photos are still the equivalent of 10 rolls of 36-exposure film, probably about the amount I would have carried back in the Dark Ages!
Early morning light on the beach near the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea, Maui
So if you are really desperate for entertainment, feel free to check out my gallery. The page also contains links to photos from our other travels from the last several years!
Early morning light on the beach near the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea, Maui
Pineapples Galore! Maui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, Hawaii
At first glance, Hawaiian words, especially names, can be difficult to grasp. I’m still no expert, but it’s actually pretty easy when you pay attention. All of the letters are pronounced, and the vowels are pronounced only one way. The hardest part was parsing out a name like “Alanui Ke’ali’i” (ala-NEW-e kay-ah-LI-i) or “Upper Hamakuapoko Road” (hama-kua-PO-ko) in the 5 seconds between when you could read it on the road sign and when you passed it!
Maui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, Hawaii
When we first started planning our trip, we knew that there were several places we wanted to visit around a place called Hali’imaile. We jokingly referred to it as “Holy Moly,” but not wanting to sound like ignorant tourists we decided to make an effort to learn how to pronounce the words property. Of course most of these Hawaiian words also have significant meaning, but we weren’t prepared to figure that out. When it mattered, a driver or guide would tell us the meaning!
So what is in Hali’imaile? First, it is the home of Maui Gold Pineapple Company. They are very proud of their home-grown pineapple in Maui, to the extent that they generally don’t sell beyond the island. Their fruit is sold all over the island, and wherever someone served pineapple, it was likely Maui Gold. But their picking method requires that the fruit be sold and used within 5 days for optimum freshness. Beyond that it gets turned into juice and used at the distillery that is conveniently right across the street! Ever had pineapple vodka? It’s pretty good!
We did a tour of the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm with a guide named Mo, who has lived in Maui for about 20 years, moving from California. A lot of people in Hawaii are from elsewhere, and now we know why! Mo talked with a confidence that sounded like he could be one of the owners, but I suspect that he is just a knowledgeable and enthusiastic employee. He did a nice tour, showing us pineapples in various stages of growth, how to make new plants from old pineapples, and slicing a fresh picked pineapple for us to taste. Yummy! After the tour, we were all offered pre-boxed pineapples that were carry-on friendly. We declined since we weren’t leaving for over a week. And we got plenty of already-cut pineapple in other places!
Pineapples Galore! Maui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiMaui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiMaui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiMo, our tour guide, slicing a fresh pineapple for tasting. Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiPineapples Galore! Maui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, Hawaii, Hawaii
After the pineapple farm tour we visited the Hali’imaile Distilling Company. Their main product is vodka made from pineapple juice. Because vodka is generally odorless with a neutral flavor, it can be hard to distinguish tastes, but the Pau Vodka had just a hint of pineapple sweetness. Even the Bourbon Girl liked it! They also make a flavored rum using local ingredients including Kona coffee, a whiskey that is made from blending Kentucky Bourbon with some local hooch, and a gin made with Hawaiian botanicals. We didn’t bring home any of their souvenirs, although we did make a point of seeking out cocktails made from their spirits!
Maui Pineapple Tour at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile Distilling Company near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile Distilling Company near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile Distilling Company near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile Distilling Company near Hali’imaile, Hawaii
Also in Hali’imaile is the Hali’imaile General Store. No longer an actual store, it is the name of a restaurant owned by James Beard Award recipient and celebrity chef Bev Gannon. We had lunch there and the poke’ was excellent! 😉
Hali’imaile General Store restaurant near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile General Store restaurant near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile General Store restaurant near Hali’imaile, HawaiiHali’imaile General Store restaurant near Hali’imaile, Hawaii
So how do you say Hali’imaile? Sound it out: holly-e-ma-EE-lay. Now you know Hawaiian! 🙂
Former Wells Fargo Bank at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, HawaiiFormer gas station at the Maui Gold Pineapple Farm near Hali’imaile, Hawaii
We had 5 specific things we wanted to do in Maui, besides lounge by the pool and have Tiki drinks. 😉 We wanted to go to a Luau, see sunset on Haleakala, go on a whale watch, drive (ride!) the Road to Hana, and see the big waves on the North Coast. Anything else we did would be a bonus. We did a lot!
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii
Luaus are very popular with tourists to Hawaii, and there are many to choose from. Our travel agent recommended the Myths of Maui Luau, which from what I could gather is a smaller event, but still very good. We heard lots of comments from folks on our other tours, and of course everyone chose the one they chose for some reason, and generally thought theirs was the best. But I’m pretty sure they are all good!
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii
All luaus will have food, and although the authenticity of the food may vary a bit, it is all pretty good. The pork that was served at our dinner was pit cooked, as they do in Hawaii. The fish, though, was not local. It was some kind of Asian fish that is common to the island, but it was not caught off the shores of any Hawaiian island. Oh, well.
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii. Yes, it’s a little noisy – ISO 12800!
The performers were excellent. There were only a dozen or so, and with costume and prop changes that managed to tell a number of the stories that make up the history and culture of Maui. The narrator explained what they were doing and why, and that made it very interesting.
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii
We had sprung for ‘VIP’ seating, which gave us a table that was literally ‘front and center.’ It was a perfect spot to photograph the performers, although there were times when I could have used a wider lens – they were that close!
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii
We really enjoyed the show. I took lots of pictures, especially at the end with the fire performance. It was quite impressive – we could feel the heat coming off the torches – I can only imagine how hot they would have been to hold. I have no idea how one would learn to do that, but am certain that it involves lots of practice, and more than a few burned limbs!
Myths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, HawaiiMyths of Maui Luau in Lahaina, Hawaii
Big waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii
We’re home again and doing all of our usual “just got home stuff.” I’ll be working on photos over the coming weeks but have a small collection that I worked on but hadn’t posted yet.
Big waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii
This series is from time we spent at Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii. The waves there are often huge, and as large as they were on the day we visited, there are times when we can’t stand where we were standing. As it was, our sunglasses and my camera were covered in fine salt spray by the time we got back to the car.
Big waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii
I don’t know for sure, but would estimate some of the waves at 20-30 feet high! And if you look closely on some of the photos you will see windsurfers and parasailers on the water.
Big waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, HawaiiBig waves along the north coast of Maui from the Ho’okipa Lookout near Paia, Hawaii
Solitary tree along the Wailea Beach Path. Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
I’ve had a couple of portrait sessions with this tree, located just north of our resort along the shore. It’s got a nice shape, and situated on a little peninsula makes it a nice subject.
