Hike Snaps /  by Sean Michel

Hiking is one of those activities that has faded in and out of my life since I was a little boy. I can distinctly remember being very young (no more than 5 yrs. old) and looking forward to running through the woods at the South Mountain Reservation (Millburn, NJ in case you're wondering) with my sisters when we went on family walks. Those experiences were probably the peak of my excitement in life when it came to hiking -- until somewhat recently.

For me, the motivation to get outside and explore is borne of a hunger for stunning and otherwise unavailable visuals. Whatever peoples motivations are -- I applaud them. From a photographers' perspective -- it's always worth it. Below is a very small selection of the visual payoffs I've experienced in the last year.

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

On a Boat deep in Indonesia /  by Sean Michel

I've spent a lot of time traveling, specifically throughout Indonesia. I love what travel brings to my life -- a deep sense of perspective is what I'm most grateful for. The chance to disconnect and be present with what's going on directly in front of me and nothing else. That is a heavy dose of what life was like before the cell phones, social media and constant connectivity. It's a scary and liberating experience at the same time.

My second favorite part about traveling? Definitely the opportunity to photograph exotic locales and a simpler way of life. Indonesia and the many travels I've taken throughout the archipelago always represent (to me) the wanderlust felt by all surfers. Finding the perfect wave, the perfect setup, with nobody around. The people, places and experiences that are a byproduct of that search are pure candy for the eyes. Grateful to be able to capture it!

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

Family Photography | Marriott Ka'anapali, Maui /  by Sean Michel

I always love visiting Maui -- I'll jump at the opportunity if it presents itself, even more so if it is work related. The fact I have family in Kihei makes this all easier to pull the trigger and hop on the 30-minute plane ride over to Kahului.

Seeing my two nephews for a bit is always an experience -- not to sound cliché, but they grow up so fast. Too fast! After seeing the family for a couple of days, I moved on to stay upcountry with a friend in Haiku. The polar opposite of Kihei, Haiku is characterized by its green, lush and wet landscape. While up in Haiku (North), I made my way over to the Ka'anapali area (West) for a shoot at sunset with a family of 15(?) all on vacation for a family reunion.

Beautiful people, energetic kids, smiling faces and a beautiful setting. What's not to love? Maui No Ka Oi.

http://www.lumierevisualshawaii.com/

 

Yoga Loft Hawaii | Teacher Training /  by Sean Michel

This Video should have been done months ago -- but constantly putting it on the back burner, getting impossibly busy for long stretches of time, and downright laziness at times stretched this project out.

Finally being able to look back at footage that I shot months ago is refreshing in an interesting way, in that so much time has elapsed since the shoot day, that I can approach the post production without (almost) any preconceived notions about how the video "needs" to be. I kind of let the footage tell its own story. It's a nice change of pace.

Please check out Yoga Loft Hawaii if you ever get the urge to take a Yoga class. These people are my good friends, but I can say with absolute certainty and biased aside that Lisa (studio director) is as compassionate and helpful a human being as I've encountered. While I am by no means a yoga expert, I'd imagine that translates to being an effective yoga teacher/instructor.

Enjoy

http://www.yogalofthawaii.com/