Maui Photography Blog

Vacations are there perfect time to have a family portrait created.

Life gets busy with kids. Activities, sports, music lessons, homework, school, and friends demand a lot time. Being the parent is no easier with demanding jobs that require lots of time. So there is not a lot of quality time spent together. When on vacation everyone has time together. Families actually do things together and…

A vignette is an effective element of composition

When creating portraits of people or marine life, a vignette is powerful element of composition. The technique uses a foreground element that is not in focus to draw the viewers eye toward the subject. The Ornate Ghost Pipe fish is the subject, and the blurry section of the Crinoid draws the eye towards the fish…

Red Forest – Image of The Week

This portrait was created in Feb of 2022, not long after Fiji re-opened its borders. An 8 mm lens was used in order to create this unique perspective. Purchase this portrait on Metal this week and receive a free upgrade to next bigger size. Contact me for details douglashoffman007@gmial.com. If interested in a underwater photography…

Sink Hole – Image of the Week

This weeks image title speaks for itself. This lava flow had incredible cracks and crevices that filled up with water with every ebb and flow of the tide. Purchase this portrait at any size and get an upgrade to the next larger size at no cost. This offer is valid for one week from date…

Family Portraits capture a moment in time

Family Portraits capture a moment in time and history. As decades pass, portraits grow in value and become priceless family heirlooms. Sixteen years ago I photographed Valerie and Teds Wedding. Last week I photographed their three kids, and to make it even a more more memorable event, I photographed three generations and a 50Th anniversary…

Lines of Composition 

My goal as a photographer is to create portraits that evoke emotion. As part of my creative process, I use tools compositional tools to help me design the image in my minds eye. Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, as well as lines that repeat, are elements that contribute to the overall image design and composition…

Power of Intention

When creating land and seascape style portraits I go through a process in which I evaluate the scene. Lets say for example I go to the beach. Before grabbing my gear and setting up, I usually walk around. I look at the tide and determine if its low or high, and watch the waves looking…

Learning one thing can make a difference.

In many ways, it’s all the little things that add up to specialized knowledge and proficiency in a chosen field. I participated in many workshops relating to photography. Some were a day and others a week long. By the time each one was over I learned a few things that have helped me throughout my…

Lens Choice Controls Perspective

The reef by itself is beautiful. Using a 8 mm lens that shows the reef as a circle is unique. People rarely see an image with this perspective so it ads interest. The same reef shown below is with a 15 mm lens. Notice the different feel and look. If you want to learn how…

Motion Creates Emotion

Using a slow shutter speed enables the photographer to create smooth silky patterns and flows of water. The motion in the water creates emotion as the viewer takes in the portrait. I used a three stop graduated filter to create this portrait. The filter lowered the quantity of light in the background and enabled me…