Olivine Pools
Carved into the rugged black lava coastline of West Maui, the Olivine Pools are a series of natural rock pools formed where the Pacific has slowly eroded the shoreline into a dramatic, textured landscape. The contrast between the dark volcanic rock, the vivid green and rust mineral tones in the stone, and the churning turquoise water gives you a lot to work with compositionally. Shoot wide to capture the full sweep of the coastline and the layered pools leading toward the ocean, or go tight on the rock textures and wave wash for abstract detail shots. A polarizing filter helps cut glare and deepen the water color. Morning light is ideal, giving warm raking light that emphasizes the texture of the lava. The road to get here is narrow and rough, so arrive in a vehicle suited for it, and stay well back from the water's edge when waves are active. (Kahakuloa, Maui, Hawaii, United States)
