Aerial panoramic photography is a specialized type of 360 photography where we capture the nadir, zenith and all around view of a place, using an elevated pole/drone/helicopter.
We usually create aerial panoramas as part of our photography services for luxury hotels and resorts.
An interactive panorama lets folks interact with a panorama using their mouse or smartphone. They can tilt their phones or use the mouse to look right, left, up and down.
I generally share my Hawaii panoramas on Facebook, where they are popular. Since Facebook only allows a small size image upload best seen on a mobile device, I upload my larger-multi resolution images on our server, and these show greater detail on desktop and HD T.V. screens.
Mokulua Beachhouse – Photographing a piece of History
Walker’s Lanikai Beach House.
Mokulua Beachhouse History – John Walker, was a Scotsman who made his way to Hawaii as a young man in the 1870’s to become a contractor of choice to Queen Liliuokalani, and erect such notable buildings as the Bishop Museum and Honolulu Hale (City Hall).
Mr. Walker’s inviting presence is felt in the structure of this, his favorite hideaway on Lanikai Beach. Built in 1934, this enchanting environment transports you back to an era of graceful living, where the worries of the world are lost in the luxury of sea n sand and restful surroundings.
Following recent renovations, the house contains just the right combination of added comforts in its updated kitchen, guest quarters and “boat house”, with elements of charm carefully preserved from a richly felt past.
One of the first homes to take advantage of Lanikai’s heavenly reef-protected waters and natural stretch of white sand beach, John Walker’s Beach House set the standard by which the surrounding community grew…a standard which has been nurtured by his family through the years for you to enjoy. Although only with us in spirit, John Walker’s love of Lanikai is preserved by one of his most revered places in the world.
Mokulua Beachhouse
Mokulua Beachhouse
The main house features 3 bedrooms, kitchen and large “great room” with spacious guest rooms. Steps away is the white soft sands of Lanikai Beach with access to the water provided from the front lawn. With a separate entry, the ‘guest cottage’ located off the entry courtyard features a queen-bedded room and a small parlor with kitchenette (sleeps up to 4).
Another private entry “boathouse” sits above the garage – complete with its own living room, kitchen, bathroom and lanai. The “boathouse” also has a loft area with double bed that may be suitable for young children (sleeps 2-4). This is the classic Lanikai Beach House – for those looking for a casual, relaxing getaway on the shores of one of the worlds’ best beaches!
Kohola Point — An Elegant Island Estate at Anini Vista, North Shore Kauai
Kohola is the Hawaiian Word for the Humpback Whales who frequent the Islands during the winter months between December & April and which are often seen from these high bluffs above Anini Beach.
Located in one of the most desirable locations on the North Shore of Kauai, with quick access to an incredible and healthy Hawaii Lifestyle, yet tucked away from the crowds at the end of a quiet and private cul-de-sac.
Perched high above the sparkling Pacific Ocean on Kauai’s North Shore, the three-acre estate capitalizes on its prime location with floor-to-ceiling windows and easy access to a sprawling patio.
Inside are four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a gourmet kitchen, and sleek living spaces with high ceilings and hardwoods. A swath of outdoor living space with an infinity pool, outdoor kitchen and bar, mature landscaping, and ocean that runs smack into the horizon rounds out the impressive credentials of this #vacationgoals villa.
Kohola Point
Lot Size (Ft) 131,595
Floor Area (Sq.Ft) 4,003
Baths 4.1
Bedrooms 4
Year Built 2001
Kohola Point is… • Exquisitely Designed & Impeccably Crafted • Perched High Above the Expansive Blue Pacific • Gated, Private & Secure • A Licensed Vacation Rental (TVR) w/ a Steady Income Stream • Immaculately Maintained
Kohola Point has… • Expansive Views of Waves, Sunsets, Rainbows, Whales… • Beautiful Hardwood Floors • A Gourmet Kitchen that is a Chef’s Delight • An Infinity Edge, InGround Pool & Spa • A Spacious and Private Master Bedroom Suite • A Gracious & Large Dining Area • State-of-the-Art Technology • Three Private Guest Bedroom Suites • High Ceilings • Ample Natural Light • A Seamless Integration of Indoor & Outdoor Living Areas • An Outdoor Kitchen & Bar Area • An Exotic, Colorful & Mature Tropical Landscape • Air Conditioning
Kohola Point has… • Expansive Views of Waves, Sunsets, Rainbows, Whales… • Beautiful Hardwood Floors • A Gourmet Kitchen that is a Chef’s Delight • An InfinityEdge, InGround Pool & Spa • A Spacious and Private Master Bedroom Suite • A Gracious & Large Dining Area • State-of-the-Art Technology • Three Private Guest Bedroom Suites • High Ceilings • Ample Natural Light • A Seamless Integration of Indoor & Outdoor Living Areas • An Outdoor Kitchen & Bar Area • An Exotic, Colorful & Mature Tropical Landscape • Air Conditioning
Punchbowl Cemetery – National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Punchbowl Cemetery – Few national cemeteries can compete with the dramatic natural setting of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Over 13,000 servicemen who were killed in action in the Pacific Theater during WWII are buried at Punchbowl. Punchbowl stands as a beacon that welcomed them back home to a fitting location where they are memorialized. Today over 62,000 soles are laid to rest at Punchbowl.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Commonly knows as Punchbowl Cemetery or Punchbowl Memorial, the bowl was formed some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago during the Honolulu period of secondary volcanic activity.
A crater resulted from the ejection of hot lava through cracks in the old coral reefs which, at the time, extended to the foot of the Koolau Mountain Range.
Dave took his panoramic pole when visited Punchbowl on Memorial Day with our 4 Year Old. These pictures were taken after the official memorial day ceremonies had ended.
Punchbowl Memorial History
Punchbowl Cemetery
During the late 1890s, a committee recommended that the Punchbowl become the site for a new cemetery to accommodate the growing population of Honolulu. The idea was rejected for fear of polluting the water supply and the emotional aversion to creating a city of the dead above a city of the living
Punchbowl Cemetery
Fifty years later, Congress authorized a small appropriation to establish a national cemetery in Honolulu with two provisions: that the location be acceptable to the War Department, and that the site would be donated rather than purchased. In 1943, the governor of Hawaii offered the Punchbowl for this purpose.
Punchbowl Cemetery
The $50,000 appropriation proved insufficient, however, and the project was deferred until after World War II. By 1947, Congress and veteran organizations placed a great deal of pressure on the military to find a permanent burial site in Hawaii for the remains of thousands of World War II servicemen on the island of Guam awaiting permanent burial.
Subsequently, the Army again began planning the Punchbowl cemetery; in February 1948 Congress approved funding and construction began.
Punchbowl Cemetery
Prior to the opening of Punchbowl Cemetery for the recently deceased, the remains of soldiers from locations around the Pacific Theater including Wake Island and Japanese POW camps were transported to Hawaii for final interment.
The first interment was made Jan. 4, 1949. The cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949, with services for five war dead: an unknown serviceman, two Marines, an Army lieutenant and one civilian noted war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Initially, the graves at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific were marked with white wooden crosses and Stars of David like the American cemeteries abroad in preparation for the dedication ceremony on the fourth anniversary of V-J Day.
Eventually, over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during World War II would be laid to rest in the Punchbowl.
Punchbowl Cemetery
Despite the Army’s extensive efforts to inform the public that the star- and cross-shaped grave markers were only temporary, an outcry arose in 1951 when permanent flat granite markers replaced them. A letter from the Quartermaster General to Senator Paul Douglas in December 1952, explained that while individual markers are inscribed according to the appropriate religious faith:
Crosses do not mark the graves of the dead of our country in other national cemeteries. No cross marks the burial of our revered Unknown Soldier. From Arlington to Golden Gate, from Puerto Rico to Hawaii, the Government’s markers in national cemeteries for all our hero dead are of the traditional designs'[s]ome are upright and some are flat. None is in the form of a religious emblem.
Punchbowl Cemetery’s Unknown Soldier Grave
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was the first such cemetery to install Bicentennial Medal of Honor headstones, the medal insignia being defined in gold leaf. On May 11, 1976, a total of 23 of these were placed on the graves of medal recipients, all but one of whom were killed in action.
The Punchbowl has become one of the area’s most popular tourist destinations. More than five million visitors come to the cemetery each year to pay their respects to the dead and to enjoy the panoramic view from the Punchbowl. One of the most breathtaking views of the Island of Oahu can be found while standing at the highest point on the crater’s rim.
Punchbowl Memorial View
In August 2001, about 70 generic unknown markers for the graves of men known to have died during the attack on Pearl Harbor were replaced with markers that included USS Arizona after it was determined they perished on this vessel.
In addition, new information that identified grave locations of 175 men whose graves were previously marked as unknown resulted in the installation of new markers in October 2002.
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Monuments and Memorials
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific contains a memorial pathway that is lined with a variety of memorials that honor America’s veterans from various organizations. As of 2008, there were 56 such memorials throughout the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific’most commemorating soldiers of 20th-century wars, including those killed at Pearl Harbor.
Molokai Area: 673.4 km² Population: 7,404 (2000) Highest elevation: 4,961 ft (1,512.1 m) Largest settlement: Kaunakakai
History of Molokai
Molokai is a Hawaiian island in the central Pacific. Molokai was long inhabited by self-sufficient taro growers and fishermen. In the 18th century the kingdom of Oahu gained control over Molokai; its rule lasted until 1785, when warriors from Maui and Hawaii islands invaded and separately ruled the island. Hawaiian chief Kamehameha I invaded in 1795 and subordinated the population as part of his effort to unify the Hawaiian Islands. Christian missionaries arrived on Molokai in the 1830s. A large ranch was established by Kamehameha V, but this destroyed much of the island’s plant life and fishing ponds.
By the 1860s a colony had been begun for victims of leprosy (Hansen disease), and this led to the forced resettlement of many of the island’s natives, particularly from the Kalaupapa Peninsula, in the 1860s and 1890s. The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 encouraged homesteading and resettlement on Molokai. Lack of water slowed development, but after 1923, with the growth of the pineapple industry, small villages grew up on the plateau.
The economy of the island suffered a setback in the 1970s and 1980s when the pineapple growers, facing stiff competition from abroad, closed down their operations. Agriculture on the island is now more diversified, with seed corn, coffee and sweet potatoes among the leading exports. Kaunakakai, the chief village, is on the south coast and has a small harbor.
Halawa Valley, valley, northeastern Molokai island, Hawaii, U.S. On the northeastern flank of Kamakou summit, it is a deep, verdant gorge 1.75 miles long and 0.5 mile wide.
Archaeological evidence dates habitation in the area from c. ad 650, which makes it one of the oldest Hawaiian settlements. The area possesses one of the most complete collections of ancient residential sites, more than a dozen heiaus (ceremonial and religious structures), and a large-scale irrigation system.
It is believed to be the longest continually occupied site in Hawaii. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it was one of the most densely populated parts of the Hawaiian Islands.
One of the few areas in eastern Molokai suited to agriculture and renowned for the taro root grown there, Halawa Valley supported hundreds of Hawaiians until disastrous tidal waves (1946 and 1957) destroyed most of the buildings and much of the vegetation. It is now occupied by a small number of fishermen and farmers, and it is largely a recreational area (hiking, surfing, fishing).
Hipuapua Falls and Moaula Falls
Hipuapua Falls drops about 500 feet. It is at the end end of the valley, is the area’s highest waterfall; also at the end of the valley is Moaula Falls – 250 feet. Legend says the pool below Moaula contains a moo, a giant lizardlike creature.
Hipuapua and Moa’ula WaterfallsHipuapua and Moa’ula Waterfalls
Leper Colony at Kalaupapa
Kalaupapa Peninsula, also called Makanalua Peninsula, peninsula on the northern shore of Molokai island, Hawaii, U.S. Occupying a 5-square-mile (13-square-km) plateau unsuited to agriculture, the peninsula is isolated from the rest of the island by 2,000-foot (600-metre) cliffs. The panorama below was taken from the clifftop Kalaupapa Lookout in Palaau State Park.
It was formed more than 200,000 years ago from the flows of lava from nearby Pu‘u‘uao. For some 900 years it was the site of an ancient Hawaiian agricultural village, whose major crops were taro and sweet potatoes. Archaeological evidence has revealed a once densely populated settlement containing many religious sites.
Kalawao village, on the peninsula’s east side, is now abandoned but was the site of the original “leper colony” established by King Kamehameha V in 1866; to effect a quarantine, native Hawaiians were relocated from the area (the remainder were removed in 1895, after the medical facilities were moved from Kalawao to the western side of the peninsula).
From 1873 to 1889, Father Damien, a Belgian missionary, administered to the physical and spiritual needs of the lepers on the peninsula; his example drew many helpers to the colony. The entire peninsula was occupied by the state leprosarium until 1969, when Hawaii’s isolation laws were abolished.
The colony is still home to many surviving victims of leprosy (Hansen disease), and access to the peninsula is restricted. Kalaupapa (meaning “Flat Plain”) was designated a national historical park in 1980. The district is called Kalawao county but has no formal government and is represented in the state legislature as part of Maui county.
We get to photograph some of the best resorts in the world. Our photography can include the hotel associated with the resort and its amenities. A question that is sometimes asked is, what makes a property a resort?
What is a Resort?
A Resort is an establishment that aims to provide most of a vacationer’s wants on-premises, beyond just lodging. This includes dining, sports, entertainment, and shopping. Recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and golfing can feature prominently.
Resort Photography Key Elements
Ko Olina Resort, Kapolei, HI
Resorts are usually created near-natural, scenic surroundings and offer guests a variety of recreational activities and facilities such as golf, spa, gym, swimming pools, tours, etc.
They are usually built on a larger land area. A beach or seaside resort is close to a waterfront and offers activities like surfing, diving, sailing, beach sports, etc.
Mountain or hillside resort is usually situated near a mountain and offers activities like trekking, mountain climbing, hiking, etc. In simple terms, a resort is a great vacation destination.
Most resorts feature a hotel at its nexus and may feature timeshares, and privately owned homes within its community.
Resorts can have amenities such as pools and hot tubs in various areas of the property.
Cleopatra Resort, Hurghada, Egypt
Resort Photography
Resort Private Pool
We get to photograph some of the best resorts in the world. Our photography can include the hotel associated with the resort and its amenities.
Resorts tend to be sprawling, so it could mean photographing pools, common areas, restaurants, and bars all over the property. We photograph the lodgings associated with the resort. This can mean a resort hotel, resort villas as well as private homes located with the resort.
We photograph the beaches, golf courses, spas, and other features associated with the resort property.
Interior design photography can some times take a back seat in a big project. As architectural photographers, we capture the big picture. We take aerial photographs that show the location, layout and overall structure of a building.
Then we focus on the facade and exteriors. We take photos from different elevations, vantage points and at different times of the day.
Then we move on to the interiors. We take photos of the lobbies, common areas, lounging areas, pools, recreational areas and more. We keep the verticals vertical. We try to showcase the life that will be had in a space.
Our photography shows the vision of the developer, the construction of the builder, the creatively of the architect.
The team that makes a place hospitable and inviting is the interior and exterior design team. They pick the furniture and furnishings. They select the lights and fixtures. They procure and install works of art. They showcase the creativity of known and unsung artists. They select products that only live in obscure catalogs.
Focusing on the Small Details
We work with many such designers, and try to take some time to photograph the little details of their work.
Product Design Photography
Product Design Photography
We especially love it when they win industry awards with our photos. Cheers to the interior and exterior designers out there!
Texas Architectural Photographer, PanaViz provides photography services to hotels, resorts, commercial and residential real estate and luxury condominiums for lease in Dallas, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth and beyond.
Our clients include architecture firms, developers, interior design firms, architectural design firms, marketing agencies, retails chains, hospitals, interior decorators, senior living communities, healthcare organizations, and schools.
NYC in 1 Day – From the Eyes of an Architectural Photographer
I had never been to NYC. I did not particularly hanker to. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the Big Apple had no appeal to me. I left the Pacific Northwest to settle on Oahu, and embraced the laid back lifestyle of Hawaii.
I become an architectural photographer, and traveling and photographing buildings in various cities become work. Never NYC though.
My daughter was invited to participate in a Broadway program over summer, and my wife insisted we go to NYC as a family.
I had every intention of not particularly liking the place. I tried to plan a work/play trip to another locale, but that did not fly with the family.
NYC – First Impressions
It was as crowded as we expected. The first day, we waited patiently for the crosswalk as New Yorker’s rushed by. A kindly resident quickly told us there were no jay walking penalties in the city, and we got the hang of rushing with the flow.
The food drew us in first. Food of all ethnicities. Authentic. We pleasantly found NYC not as expensive as we had anticipated. Living in Hawaii had inured us to a higher cost of living.
It was peak summer, and the NYC was as busy as we had imagined. The city was rather fragrant. The pong of street-side garbage awaiting collection in the summer heat, the body odor of sweltering humanity with limited personal space, the sickly sweet aroma of pot in unexpected places.
We did the usual touristy things. The Met, Guggenheim, Central Park, etc.
The Photos
I took all these on the one day I had a proper camera vs a cell phone. On that day, we visited the Empire State Building. We spent an afternoon in Central Park and then took a 90 minute Twilight Cruise on the waterways.
I used my battered and trusty Mark 3, with an all around lens. I was truly enjoying the sites, and the photography was very much as a tourist and not a pro.
I did not have a tripod, and did not swap any lenses. I am rather pleased with what my camera captured in the one day of sightseeing.
Alas, my battery pack died on the river cruise, so I was not able to get any night photos from the harbor.
Myths Busted
New Yorker’s are rude. Not so, they are just busy. They have places to go and tune tourists out.
The subway sucks. Yes. It is hot/smelly/busy in summer. And winter.
The NY cabbies are rude. True.
The food is amazing.
The Upside
We ended up enjoying our stay in NYC immensely. I enjoyed the energy, diversity, history, food, culture, noise, smells – all of it. I have been back twice in six months, albeit for work.
Live there? NEVER!
See some a luxury home from the other end of the United States here. Luxury Hawaii Home.
In 1900, Oahu Railway & Land Co. founder, Benjamin F. Dillingham, had Parlor/Observation Car No. 64 designed and built especially for himself. No. 64 was the showpiece of the OR&L’s rolling stock.
Built in Honolulu at a cost of $4,388.24, it had a double-size rear platform surrounded by ornate iron grill work and protected from the sun by fluted awnings.
Oak, mahogany and birds eye maple created an interior of luxury. The parlor car was fitted with a galley, lavatory, washstand and sideboard. It was used frequently by the OR&L for visiting dignitaries. The most notable guests were members of the Hawaiian royal family. The observation platform offered guests a chance to feel the cool trade winds, as well as giving them a better view of the landscape.
No. 64 has been restored and is available for charter.
One of Hawaiian Railway’s operational locomotives, this 300 horsepower Whitcomb diesel electric is used to pull the passenger and work trains.
Built: 1944 Weight: 45 tons B-B. Donated by the military in Hawaii.
About Hawaiian Railway Society
The Hawaiian Railway Society works to save Hawaii’s rich railroad history. This educational, non-profit organization was able to get the remaining stretch of track on Oahu (from Ewa to Nanakuli) placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Sites. Visit their website here.
Originally conceived for the Cornwell Family in Pennsylvania in 1954, the 3,700 sq. foot passive solar hemicycle home embodies Frank Lloyd Wright’s principles of organic architecture in which the structure blends harmoniously with the natural landscape.
The plans were prepared by Taliesin Associated Architects in Scottsdale, Arizona who are affiliated with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the only entity authorized to oversee the construction of Frank Lloyd Wright’s unbuilt projects. The project was built by Hans Torweihe and the interior design was completed by Gina Willman
Completed in 1995 the home was commissioned by Sanderson Sims who partnered with Taliesin Associated Architects, John Rattenbury and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to bring the un-built plan to life.
Organic Architecture
Towering Glass Doors
FLW Built-In Seating
FLW Origami Chairs
Barrel Chairs
A series of opaque skylights bring natural light into the home and warm lighting behind opaque glass illuminates the house at night.
Skylights
This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom architecturally significant residence can accommodate a family of 6 in a setting that is truly one-of-a-kind.
The bedrooms are located upstairs and “float” over the main level of the home.
Bedrooms “float” above the Main Floor
Curved Wall Bathroom
Big Island Hawaii Countryside
Features of the home include an outdoor lava-rock hot tub overlooking the ocean and breathtaking mountain views.
Lava Rock Hot Tub
Throughout the landscaped property one will find secluded seating areas, a hammock and a small soccer field.
Secluded Seating Areas
Unique to this FLW home, residents are only a short 10 minute drive to beautiful white sand beaches, world class resorts and plentiful golf courses on the Kohala Coast. Also within a short drive is the idyllic country town of Waimea.
