Photographing Maui

Douglas Peebles has been photographing Hawaii and the South Pacific for over 25 years. His distinctive images appear regularly in magazines and other publications. Peebles has also authored 25 photo books on Hawaii, including From the Skies of Paradise, a series of five aerial photo books of the islands. He works out of a studio in Kaneohe, Oahu.

"This book was immediately attractive because it approached travel with an obvious objective: taking pictures in a particular place. It designates its audience in the very title. The book focuses on being at the right place at the right time, which is an uncommon element in travel books. This is especially important for a place like Maui, because, as Peebles points out, the weather is unpredictable. He starts out with “How I Photograph Maui,” which provides a basic overview of what to look for when setting up a shoot. Then he plunges into technical information about which cameras, lenses and settings are appropriate for the area and what to watch for on the island in terms of weather, theft, locals, nature and wildlife. After this, the book is divided into locations: The Hana Coast, Central Maui, Haleakala and Upcountry, etc. Each of the sections has a description of the area including sleeps, eats, activities and events as well as good overlooks and hikes. He drops in information about when to be where for best pictures, suggestions for equipment, exposure time and setup. The book is easy to read and not too overwhelming. The pictures are beautiful. My only suggestion would be to include a little bit more of the historical context of the places."