PORTFOLIO

Ricky Oshima

The lava flow dwarfs spectators.

The gifts of
Mother Nature

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A weekend trek to the Big Island in March provided "Portfolio" veteran Ricky Oshima and some fellow photography students with rich opportunities to hone their skills.

The four-day trip was intended for shooting the lava flow, and Oshima did capture stunning displays of fiery drama. But in his travels through the Kohala coast, Hawi town and up the Mauna Kea summit, he also caught the beauty of lush pasture lands, the nostalgia of an old plantation town and the magic of a full moon against bright blue sky.

It was on the roadside in Hawi town, an old plantation village, that Ricky Oshima was struck by the contrast of old and new. The pink building is an abandoned store, the blue one is new.

"Mother Nature is so great. On the Big Island, there's so much variety, it's impressive," Oshima says. "We had to walk three to four miles at a time -- it was hard -- but it was worth it."

An observatory atop the Mauna Kea summit reflects the bright sun while a full moon also glows.

A whirling stream displays the lush environment of Kohala.

Open grasslands that's home to a solitary donkey display the lush environment of Kohala.

A hot lava flow creates magestic designs against the pitch black night.

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Artists and photographers are invited to submit portfolios of their work. Send photocopied samples to Portfolio, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; or e-mail jpeg images to features@starbulletin.com

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