What is he Thinking?

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I was out walking the beach, as was my usually activity, before dawn in Honolulu, when I spotted him sitting by himself.  I walked up and made a couple of images, then stood there and watched him for a couple of minutes.  He never moved.  Whatever he was thinking or if he was meditating, he was in deep.  I didn't want to break his concentration, so I strolled along.  I never saw him again, although I passed that way often.  He looked at peace with himself and the world.

I used to go out to Hawaii for work a few times a year and one of my favorite activities was walking with my camera before sunrise.  Since the time difference between the U.S. east coast and Hawaii is either 5 hours or 6 hours (they don't practice Daylight Savings Time) I kept my east coast schedule for the week or so I was there.  That meant I would go to bed about 8 p.m. (2 a.m. EST) and then arise about 4 a.m.  McDonald's at Waikiki opened at 5:30 a.m. and I would stroll down to get my morning jolt of coffee.  Sometimes I would go across the street, sit on a bench, sip my coffee and watch the day begin.  But sometimes I would walk with my camera and one lens.  I either walked through the parks near the beaches or I would walk along the beach.  It was always quiet, un-crowded and felt very contemplative in feeling--totally different from what it would be in a few hours when the tourists awoke and got out of their hotel rooms.  Always, I thought it the best time of the day.

If you have never been out making images before or at dawn, I can highly recommend it.  The light is magnificent, the air is usually still, the sounds of nature abound, while the sounds of the city are relatively absent and the mood is peaceful.  The light is very blue before dawn, then if the sun rises on a clear morning, warmth baths you with even more beautiful light. 

Take one camera and one lens.  That is all you need.  Walk quietly while keenly looking around and I bet you can find something interesting to photograph.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook


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