On the morning I photographed Island Dreaming in Hawaii, I spent hours scouting locations, planning angles, and waiting. I shot over and over, trying to capture the perfect image. I never expected to photograph a rainbow. It wasn’t part of my plan. Yet with nature’s unpredictable elements—weather, lighting, and tides—coastal photography often rewards patience in unexpected ways.
This day was no exception. I woke up late, almost staying in bed. Instead, I rushed out, drove north, and arrived at a new location along the Hawaiian coast. I found a small outcrop of rocks where waves crashed perfectly. As the sky lightened, I quickly set up, racing against the tide.
I captured a series of frames as the soft pinks of the sunrise bathed the scene. Water flowed across the rocks, silky and delicate. But as I admired the moment, the tide receded, and I knew it wouldn’t last. Then a rainbow appeared—nature’s way of saying, but wait… there’s more.
I shifted focus to include the rainbow. As the tide pulled further away, I waited for the right surge of water. Then, like a grand finale, the perfect rogue wave arrived. I was ready and clicked the shutter. The next 0.8 seconds felt like an eternity.
I watched as the wave crashed over the rocks and softly settled onto the sand. The rainbow vanished, the tide continued to pull back, and the moment was gone. It was a reminder that the most meaningful photographs often appear only when preparation meets timing.
A rainbow has long been a symbol of good things to come. If that’s true, I’m glad I didn’t miss this one in Hawaii. The rainbow and waves came together in a single, fleeting moment—one that captures the quiet magic of the Hawaiian coast.
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