Peter Liu Photography - alii kula lavender

HDR Study – Ali‘i Kula Lavender

July 11, 2011 By Peter Liu 2 Comments

I’ve developed a new habit. I’ve started shooting for HDR just for the heck of it whenever I can, even when I’m after conventional photographs. I mean, why not? It’s just pixels. I am now collecting work for a new HDR portfolio. Here are some from the weekend. I was at the Sustainable Aloha Summer Fest at Ali‘i Kula Lavender, dedicated to Ali‘i Chang, founder, farmer, and visionary who passed on April 13, 2011.

All of the shots are done in HDR. The only difference is in the rendering—realistic vs. artistic. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, realistic rendering.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, artistic rendering.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, realistic rendering.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, artistic rendering.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, realistic rendering.

Ali‘i Kula Lavender, HDR, 8 exposures, artistic rendering.

Filed Under: Hawaii, Landscape, Maui, Nature, Photograph Tagged With: alii kula lavender, artistic hdr, HDR, realistic hdr, surrealistic hdr

Old Water Tank

January 11, 2009 By Peter Liu Leave a Comment

Old Water Tank, Kula, Maui, Hawai’i,
originally uploaded by peterliuphoto.

This is an old water tank on Waipoli Road in Kula that I’ve been wanting to get a shot of forever. I passed it on the way to and from shooting assignments at Ali’i Kula Lavender, but never actually stopped to shoot it until yesterday. What took me so long??

HDR in Photomatix, 5 exposures at 2 stops each, then into Photoshop to finish with blend modes, lab color, curves and masks.

Aloha…

Filed Under: Photograph, Photoshop Tagged With: alii kula lavender, hawaii, HDR, kula, maui

Hot Off The Presses!

January 10, 2009 By Peter Liu Leave a Comment

I just got back from upcountry, where I attended the launch of a new book written by the owners of Ali’i Kula Lavender, in which my work was published along with two other photographers. I did a ton of photography for the lavender farm’s advertising, print media and website last year.

Getting published isn’t a bad way to start the weekend.

If you’re ever in Maui, make sure you put the farm in your itinerary. It’ll lift your spirits.

Check out their retail products too. (Shameless plug, since most of the product photos are mine.) Some of the culinary products are amazing.

Aloha…

Filed Under: Published Tagged With: alii kula lavender, book, hawaii, kula, maui

A Weekend Shoot

September 1, 2008 By Peter Liu Leave a Comment

About three years ago, I was asked to do a shoot with Maria Mazurova by her mom, Svetlana. Maria was 17 at the time and trying to kick start her modeling career.

Three years and a bachelor’s degree later, she and her family are vacationing on Kauai right now, and she decided to take a side trip to Maui with her sister to visit with me and do some shooting to enhance both our portfolios.

We had a blast and burned through over 1400 frames at a few of our south Maui beaches as well as upcountry at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, where I’ve done a lot of work in the past. Maria has matured into a wonderful lady and a gorgeous model.

Hope you’re all enjoying your time on the islands, Maria! Mahalo nui for visiting!

Aloha…