Hours of Birding Finally Paid Off With This

Join me on a wild ride across Hawaiʻi’s Big Island as I chase rare birds and epic seascapes. I wrestle with the tension between wildlife and landscape photography. We start at Puʻu Ōʻō, where the calls of ‘akiapōlā‘au and ‘i‘iwi tease us from the treetops. Hours of neck‑breaking birding pay off when a Hawaiian hawk (ʻio) graces us with an incredible perch and fly‑by moment. Later, we head to Kailua‑Kona’s fishponds for more birding and reflect on the patience it takes to find great wildlife shots. Finally, dramatic skies draw us back to the coast, where the famous Big Island drains deliver an unforgettable seascape at sunset. Along the way I share how I balance my passion for wildlife and landscape photography, the importance of letting the weather guide your creative decisions, and why expectations can make or break a shoot. If you enjoy Hawaiʻi’s native birds, epic ocean scenes or thoughtful photography talk, this vlog is for you! Pick up my 2026 Bird Photography Calendars: https://www.spencerleephotography.com... Chapters 00:00 Introduction at Puʻu Ōʻō 02:39: Hawaiian Hawk Surprise 06:34: Failed Pueo Hunt 09:04: Kona Fishpond Birding 13:01: Scouting the Drains 19:06: Epic Sunset at the Drains 📸 Main Photo & Video Gear (Some links may be affiliate links, which help support the channel at no extra cost to you.) Backpack: ThinkTank Backlight Sprint: https://amzn.to/48fQoKN Shimoda (“Lee10” for 10% off): https://shimodadesigns.com/action-x/ Cameras: Sony a1ii: https://bhpho.to/487Ql2p Sony ZVE1: https://bhpho.to/4rvrtL4 Meta Oakley HSTN: https://bhpho.to/47ZmpXu iPhone 17 Pro Max: https://amzn.to/4o3TYfV Lenses: Sony 300mm GM: https://bhpho.to/3KaBcpc Sigma 20-200: https://bhpho.to/4a8IV1u Sony 16mm: https://bhpho.to/3LTtLDo Teleconverters: 2x: https://bhpho.to/3KdT56p 1.4x: https://bhpho.to/4rdRJJw Tripods: FLM: https://bhpho.to/3XdcmrD Ballhead: https://bhpho.to/48es5vA PD Travel Tripod: https://bhpho.to/44tjhAT