Masters

(Click on a thumbnail image to open a larger image in a new window.)
 

Michael Paravano

Michael Paravano was born in 1978 in Ventura, Ca.  By day, he is a computer programmer but his passion is presenting a vision of Hawaii as an unpopulated and unspoiled paradise. He has a special affinity for the honu and strives to show a unique moment of emotion in each photo.

DISEMBARKATION, SKAGWAY, ALASKA

Steven Garon

Ever since my Peace Corps days in Nepal, I have enjoyed documenting my travels through photography. Thirty years later, I still make most of my negatives during overseas trips, medical missions, and local camping weekends.  I love to photograph different worlds with a 4x5 inch view camera   –   my negatives become cherished souvenirs. For me, a large format approach to photography formalizes and strengthens images.  In my darkroom here in Hilo, I print large silver gelatin photographs using traditional black and white chemistry.  All aspects of the printing process are controlled in an effort to craft a final print with clarity, luminosity, and content.  I seek timeless portraits, contemplative landscapes, and expressive moments.  Several photographs have received awards and some have been acquired by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.  I look forward to new challenges in large format photography, wherever the journey may take me.
 

THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE LIVES

Tom Whitney

Tom Whitney is a documentary photographer and writer who lives with his sweetheart Betsy on Hawai‘i island. For the past decade he has been documenting Hawaiian cultural activities at Pu‘ukohola Heiau, Mauna Kea and Kilauea.  Whitney was the curator of the “Mauna Kea – the Temple” exhibition at the Lyman Museum in 2002 and the Bishop Museum in 2003 that depicted contemporary traditional Hawaiian spiritual practices on Mauna Kea.  

The photograph “The Hawaiian Culture Lives!” shows a Hawaiian cultural warrior leading the way for a hula halau that was preparing to make offerings to the goddess Pele at the edge of the Kilauea crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the early morning preceding a hula performance.  The border uses a photograph of the trunk of the ohia tree one of the first trees to take root after a lava flow.
 

PA'U 'O WAIMEA

Yvonne Yarber Carter

My love of photography began at 8 years old with a Brownie box camera and never quit. High school photos were of family, gatherings and the beauty that surrounded my life in Nanakuli and the Waianae Coast. Oral History, video and photo documentary work took me to Alaska for 18 years where I primarily worked in black & white with a Leica that I thought I'd never give up. Returning home in 1995, soon brought me into the digital age and giving up the smell of fixer and the wonderful old Leica turned out to be much easier than I'd ever have believed. Photography is the constant and a way of life, but this new millennium, I am passionate about my digital SLR, Photoshop and Epson's archival printers as a way to express the wonders of this island and global home with staggering possibilities.

 

Enthusiast

ETERNAL

Caitlin Deranja

Caitlin Deranja has lived on the Big Island of Hawaii for 16 of her 19 years.  Photographing since the age of 14, her skills in photography were discovered accidently when her brother Philip asked their parents if they had seen any of the photographs that Caitlin had been taking around their home.  Her photos were shown to photographer Steve Garon and it was with his encouragement that she entered her first competition during the Sixth Annual Hawai'i Photo Expo.  The result of this initial entry were two photographs accepted with a 1st place in the Student division and the People's Choice Award.  She returned the following year and again took 1st place in her division.  Since then she has continued to receive recognition for her photography in other juried shows.  Her approach to photography is heavily influenced by her keen interest in graphic design and an ability to find what she's looking for in wide range of subject matter.

 

ARTEMIS

Ken Goodrich

My passion for photography was ignited many years ago when I began documenting the vanishing culture of the Otomi Indians of Tlacotlapilco Mexico. This spark was quickly kindled and expanded to include explorations of fine art photography. In my quest for self-expression, I embraced special effects films and processes, image compositing, and macro photography.  

For much of my photographic career, I have focused on visual design for multi-image events (projected imagery with music).  My journey continues today using the tools of digital photography and editing. 

SURPRIZE

Roberta Brashear-Kaulfers

Roberta Brashear-Kaulfers is an avid photographer, environmental activist and an Instructor of Biological Sciences at Hawaii Community College. She lives in the Puna Rainforest with her husband Randy, 2 dogs and 2 cats. She has traveled, hiked, and photographed extensively during her summer vacations. “It’s hard to choose my favorite place, but the Everest Base camp trek, Mongolia, Machu Pichu- Peru, and Sichuan Province China top the list.”

Roberta spent several years as a traveling educator in Micronesia and this gave her the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful and exotic places on our Planet!  Nature has so many intricacies and there are so many opportunities to experience these wonders. It may be through a camera lens, or just a visual moment: take a deep breath and capture the image in your own mind. Life is too short, so take the time to enjoy this incredible planet. Amazingly, sometimes the “best shot” is in your own backyard! .
 

My interest in photography began with my first plastic, point and shoot camera as a kid on the farm.  Interest turned to like, as I documented the lives of my two kids through school, sports, and vacations, using increasingly sophisticated equipment.  Like turned to love with Digital Photography, and the capability to experiment with trial and error.  I am currently using a Canon EOS 20 D, with a 70-200 mm, 1:2.8 L IS lens.  I particularly enjoy the challenge, and intensity of photographing the sport of Paintball.  Capturing an image that reflects the intensity of a “moment” in the game provides incredible satisfaction.

GOT WET

James Nolan

A resident of Pahoa for nearly 6 years, I have enjoyed and captured countless moments of the morning and its light along the Puna Coastline.  "The early morning light is the best...the colors are so amazing at those times."  Self taught in every aspect of photography, I really just like being outside and collecting the magical moments which surround me.  More than a hobby for me, photography is a passion and a life style which not only defines who I am and where I've been, but guides me to where I'm going.
 

(see above)

Student

Hi, my name is Harley Diven and I am 15 years old. I am a sophomore at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science in Pahoa. I've been taking pictures since I was 2 years old. I would steal the camera out of my mom's hands and take pictures of my stuffed animals and pretty buildings. In early 2006, I finally got a camera for my birthday. I love taking photographs of anything and everything around me, although my very favorite subjects to photograph are people. Next year, I will be participating in the Running Start program at my school, where I will be able to take some photography classes at the Hawaii Community College. I plan on attending law school to become an entertainment lawyer, but my real passion is photography - I know I'll be doing that forever!
 

Harley Diven
 

(see above)

 

HONORABLE MENTION

WAILOA REFLECTION

Ann Tanimoto

Ann Tanimoto is a student at the University of Hawaii, Hilo, in the College of Agriculture.  She loves plants and wildlife.  Ann is also a violinist with the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchid Isle Youth Orchestra.

People's Choice Award

JOY

Aaron Castillo

For some time, I recorded my experiences and reflections in writing.  This proved successful only to a certain degree.  Using photography as a medium to express the same and the ease in which it can be shared with others, made this choice much more rewarding.  My interest in photography was sparked by having to take shots for a local high school yearbook in 2004.  However, it wasn’t until mid 2007 when I finally decided to invest in some equipment and give photography a “serious” shot.  Many have helped me foster this interest of mine, technically and opportunistically.  Ray Fukumizu, Stanley Kutsunai, Norman Negre, and Brian Tanimoto have gone to great lengths to answer every question I had and will have, as well as pass on their expert advice. Family and friends also gave me the opportunity to shoot and get my photos out in the community.