Kauaʻi Sunset Above the Waves

Where Is the Sun?

Sometimes sunset photos do not actually include the sun, such as in this photo from our 2018 Kauaʻi Trip. We had been up on these rocky cliffs at Poʻipū earlier in the day one day, and we thought they might be a nice place to enjoy the sunset later in the day. We hiked back up there in the evening to check it out, but the sun was nowhere to be seen.

We were not entirely surprised, however, because there had been lots of clouds in the area that afternoon. But we thought the light at that time of day might still be good, and we were not disappointed. As you can see, the clouds were starting to break up, and the blue sky was visible beyond them. The clouds had a slightly purple tint to them from the light of the setting sun, wherever it was. And you might even notice a rainbow up in the clouds.

Meanwhile, the waves were rolling in down below. The wind was strong enough that it was blowing mist off of the white caps of the waves. The constant motion of the water added more energy to the scene.

Even though we could not see the sun at sunset, it was still a spectacular view!

See more from our trip in the 2018 Kauaʻi area of the site.

Sunsets Are Exciting

As a youngster, I remember thinking that sunsets were not all that interesting. There really was not much to see. The sun is there and then it is gone. What is the big deal?

But age brings maturity. Sometimes. And part of that maturity is finding joy in smaller things. Such as sunsets. These days, I realize that each sunset is different from all of the others. For one thing, the sunset of the day is the only one that you can experience at that time, so that makes it special in its own way. But then the clouds are always slightly different. The sky is slightly different. Nothing is ever quite the same twice. Yes, some sunsets may be similar to others at times, but none of them are ever exactly the same.

Also, if you watch a sunset the right way, it is not something that you just glance at briefly and then move on. The better way to see a sunset is to watch the gradual changes of light and color as the sun goes down below the horizon. Sunset photos are often fantastic to see. But a single photo does not really do justice to a sunset, because the view is constantly changing. It takes some time to watch the sunset. It takes slowing down and not rushing from one place to the next. It sometimes takes a break from what you have been doing. It can cause you to pause and reflect for a few minutes, enjoying a little time of doing nothing more than watching. And maybe taking some photos with your camera and phone.

If we had just taken a quick glance at the sunset in the photo above, we would have missed the rainbow. It was not there most of the time we were watching. As we were about to leave after being up there for 15 or 20 minutes, Laura suddenly noticed the rainbow, which drew us back into the view and kept us up there several minutes longer. It would have been a shame to miss that. While it may not show up that well in the photo, it was bright and clear in person. Once again, a photo does not do justice to a sunset.

Take some time to slow down and watch something. A sunset, a sunrise, a wild animal out in nature, your family. Something worthwhile. It will not be wasted time.

Bible Verse

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. - Psalm 19:1-4

About the Photo

As you might imagine, this photo was pretty nice own its own, as many sunset photos often are. But I did adjust the colors slightly to make them more like what we actually saw. This is one of those photos that makes me want to go back there to see it all again. Which is a good thing.

Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Photoshop. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10
Lens: Rokinon 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens
Date: July 7, 2018
Location: Shipwreck Beach, Poʻipū, Hawaiʻi