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michaelanderson — The Happy Isles of Oceania
Published: 2009-06-18 11:45:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 9031; Favourites: 596; Downloads: 0
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One of my favorite authors, Paul Theroux spent a year kayaking and camping around the islands of the South Pacific. One of his favorite memories of the trip was a night on Maina motu. Inspired by his experience, we went there and camped on the beach under a full moon. This was sunset that evening. I fell asleep staring out at the southern cross and a billion other stars and listened to the warm breeze rustle the palms and the low rhythmic thunder of the surf crashing on the reef. We survived on a bottle of rum with candlelight and ate a few local bananas. It was one of the most magical nights in all of my travels.Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands, South Pacific.
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Comments: 64
you have been featured here
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if you enjoy look at the other features too
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My years in the South Pacific were the greatest of my life. Thank you for this beautiful shot.
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Hello! You've been featured in my latest news article! You can find it here:
[link]
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Sounds (and looks) beautiful. Love the colours.
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.... "a year kayaking and camping around the islands of the South Pacific"
HOW do people GET these jobs!!!
(Fantastic picture 
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incredible image as always, your work has become very inspiring to me, now all i have to do is go out and shoot some landscapes!
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this image is sharp, rich in color, and the angle is awesome. May I ask what kind of lens you used here? and how do you achieve great colors in your images? it's just so fantastic!
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This was taken with a Canon 16-35mm zoom at 22mm. The color is just luck with a spectacular sunset. There were two great sunsets in 18 days and I happened to have my best foregrounds on those two nights. I'm also convinced that sunsets are spectacular in the South Pacific because the air is so clean and the tropical air creates amazing cloud formations that lead to spectacular lighting at sunset. Hope that helps!
-Mike
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thanks that helped alot =]
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wonderful patterns on the sand Mike.
A simple composition but it works great.
Are you using a 5D MKII? how do you found the weather sealing? it is any good?
Cheers from Argentina.
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Thanks! So far so good with the weather sealing, but I've been going to great lengths to avoid 'testing it'. I've trashed a few cameras with water and I'm really paranoid now. It is always inside a kayaker dry bag and I always carry a rain cover for it. I put a dessicant inside the dry bag to absorb water from the camera strap if I happen to shoot in the rain and put it back wet into the bag. Hope that helps!
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Thanks Mike, im searching for landscapers experiences beacause the only reason i need to upgrade my old 5D is a real sealed body to shot at patagonia in winter, and i dont have the money to afford a 1DS MKIII.
Sorry my bad english.
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One of my favourite authors too - and this looks almost like a detail from the cover of my copy of The Happy Isles
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That must have been an amazing night, i'm very jealous!! Looks like paradise!
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thats amazing.. really is magical, great photo, just awesome
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Stunning! I Love the light which reflects in the sand dunes
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Love the lines in the sand, what a beautiful picture.
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ah man, how great is this! the light, comp, texture of the sand - its all there....
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Another beauty. Very unusual colors, well captured.
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Gotta say, id love too be in this place of which you speak
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spectacular shot..I love the foreground, the way the receding water left the sand.
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Yes and yes. Looks like needs a bit more web sharpening but the exposure and comp is wonderful. Will have to look up that author. I read "On The Road" right before I moved off the east coast, which was a good send off.
aF
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BUT I do love a banana, I guess you can call me a monkeys uncle with that one
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Sounds like you guys had an amazing time. I wish I could kayak to an isolated island and camp there for a few nights where no one can find me... -laugh- Too bad I'm stuck in the middle of civilization. Beautiful photo.
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sorry man but I just don't like rum, I am a vodka drinker
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You're only allowed to travel to cold Siberia then...
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I really like the texture on the sand. And the composition is excellent.
However I think you should lower the contrast on the background trees in order for some details to be shown.
Great work
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Sounds like an amazing time! Beautiful photo I love the way the lighting is hitting the sand.
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thank you very much for sharing this picture and thank you also for telling about it!
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This is really wonderful! Is there a large version of it?
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Ah Michael..you really travel a lot
I adore this one...
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