We almost missed this sunset due to snow and clouds rolling in and creating a complete blanket of gray skies. However, we decided to wait, standing in the cold wind and snow flurries, just in case. After a couple hours of waiting, we were treated to one of the more vivid sunsets I have seen in quite some time. The sky exploded with a fiery glow as the winds calmed and the snow stopped.

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom.

Taken at sunrise on the Eastern side of Oahu on Sandy Beach.

Adobe Lightroom 5, Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Taken on the Ka'anapali coast of Maui, Hawaii. Molokai and Lanai can be seen on the horizon.

The crowds of people were avoided by climbing out onto a lava outcropping, which doubled as a unique foreground.

Nikon D700, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.

Photo Settings: 16mm, f/16, 2.5 seconds, ISO 200.

This was taken at a botanical garden in Kauai. It took a fair amount of patience, but the lighting and positioning finally worked out.

Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS4.

A fire in Waimea Canyon provided a very vivid sunset. The rays are what first captured my attention, which later turned towards the pastel shades reflected on the water.

Nikon D700, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.

Photo Settings: 16mm, f/22, 1/13 second, ISO 200.

Taken at Ke'e beach on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. This is the beach where the road dead-ends on the north shore and you can only continue by foot for the next eleven and a half miles.

Nikon D700, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.

Photo Settings: 17mm, f/11, 1/4 second, ISO 200.

From my most recent trip to the islands... This was taken on the southern end of Kauai at sunset from a small trail overlooking this secluded, rocky beach.

GND filter, tripod, Adobe Lightroom 4.

Sea foam accumulation at my local wetlands taken just before twilight. This was the first test shot with my newly acquired D700. Taken on a tripod with a 3-stop GND filter.

Nikon D700, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR, Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS4, Nik Software Color Efex Pro.

(Approximately) Laguna Beach, California. The sunset was rather insipid, so I pointed my camera down instead! Taken around dusk with a polarizer to allow visibility through the water into the tide pools.

Nikon D300, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR, Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS4.

Camping in the Mojave Desert, California. A faint glow can be seen from a distant town.

Nikon D300, Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED, Adobe Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS4.