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Easter Island, with its
unique cultural heritage, is one of the most special places to visit in the
whole world. Of course, every person planning to explore the island wants to
take spectacular photos showing the island's rich archaeological sites and
awe-inspiring landscapes. To see more things and take their pictures, it is
highly recommended that you stay on the island for as long as possible,
affording the opportunity to visit each site twice at different times of the day
to highlight the most characteristic details under appropriate illumination.
Please consult
Five Terrific
Days on Easter Island as a good program for exploring the
island. To make a nice Rapa Nui photo album, consider taking not less than five
rolls of film for every view that attracts your attention. Because of the impressive landscapes and
the wide variety of archaeological sites including petroglyphs, statues,
topknots, ceremonial platforms, house foundations, garden enclosures,
earth ovens, caves, canoe ramps, etc. even a hundred photos can give
only a glimpse of the wonderful world of Rapa Nui.
Moai Hinariru, with his eternal companion,
visited at different times of the day.
It is very important to have some background knowledge
about the history and the culture of Easter Island prior to visiting
this place. It will provide answers to the most commonly asked questions
and greatly increase the number of things to see and places to visit.
From the numerous books published on the subject, the following
are indispensable for reading before going and during your stay on
island, significantly facilitating your exploration activities:
Uncommon Guide to Easter Island by
Georgia Lee, International Resources, 1989
The Rock Art of Easter Island by Georgia Lee, The
Institute of Archaeology, UCLA, 1992
The Complete Guide to Easter Island by Shawn McLaughlin,
Easter Island Foundation, 2004
Please keep in mind that each archaeological site
looks different at different times of the day under
direct sunlight, moon shine, or diffused light from a cloudy sky. This
page provides brief information about the best time for taking photos
of the most famous archaeological sites for sunny weather (helping to
avoid a disappointment due to poor lighting).
Ahu Riata, like other restored monuments in the vicinity
of Hangaroa, is better photographed in the morning.
Close to Hangaroa, try to arrange your visit to the
Tahai Complex, Ahu Hanga Kio'e, Ahu
Tautira, and Ahu Riata (at Hanga Piko) for early
morning, when the statues are beautifully lit from the front. A few
hours later the eyes of the moai at Ahu Ko Te Riku become hidden in the
shadow of the moai's pukao and thus becomes unsuitable for a well-balanced photo. In
the evening, the light is favorable to photograph the restored tupa and boat
house foundation at the Tahai Complex as well as the seawall at Ahu Tahai with
its fine masonry, featuring vertical slabs set over horizontal
footing. Don't miss a sunset at Tahai or Tautira, when the black
silhouettes of the statues are outlined against the fantastic flaming
clouds on the horizon.
Islets are beautifully lit during the first half of the day;
morning photos from
the islets naturally get hard backlight.
If you want to photograph the entrance of the Ana
Kai Tangata cave without strong back light, be sure to visit the
cave in the afternoon; the same applies if you are
planning to take a picture of it from the boat on your way to Motu
Nui. The islets themselves are perfectly illuminated in the
morning, but the walls of Rano Kau are in deep shade.
Closer to the evening, you can enjoy the amazing view of layered Rano
Kau cliffs. A panoramic photo from Rano Kau should be taken about midday or later; in the morning the
east side of the island is barely discernible in back light haze.
Orongo houses get more appropriate light closer to the
evening,
but some petroglyphs of the site
are better lit at noon.
Orongo houses are perfectly lit when the sun is in
the west. Try to notice hare paenga slabs incorporated into the walls
of the houses and include them into the composition for
example, there is one by the second doorway from the right of Taura
Renga (Number 9 in the CONAF guide leaflet), the former house of the moai Hoa
Haka Nana Ia (now in the British Museum). When the sun is closer to the zenith, it is a good time to
take a photo of many petroglyphs adorning vertical rock surfaces of
Mata Ngarau. A special photo of the two famous birdmen carved at
the southwest part of the sacred precinct is possible closer to sunset,
when the outlines of the figures are glowing red. Don't miss a
stunning view of Mata Ngarau from Complex A in the morning, when the
precipitous west crater wall is brightly lit and the small Orongo houses
stand out clearly against the background of the boundless blue ocean.
Early morning illumination is perfect for Vinapu
seawall.
Interesting photo of small moai behind
Ahu Akahanga
can be taken after the rain.
Astronomically-oriented Ahu Huri A Urenga should
be visited during the morning hours to catch the sun illuminating the
statue; in the evening you can try to capture its dark silhouette
against the clouds. The seawall of Ahu Vinapu is lit during
morning hours. The famous inlaid stone is one of numerous architectural features.
The breach in the wall was made during the Thomson expedition. The
entrance to the shelter below the fallen moai on the front side of
the structure has more appropriate lighting in the second half of the
day; the same is true for the red scoria statue at Vinapu II. Ahu
Vaihu, along the south coast, looks magnificent at any time of the
day, but the long shadows of early morning and late evening give it more
spectacular view. Petroglyphs adorning red scoria facia of Ahu
Akahanga are better photographed during midday hours; if
the day is rainy, don't miss the small statue lying face up behind
the ahu, with its water-filled eyes.
The best illumination for Ahu Tongariki is close
to the evening, several hours prior to sunset.
A wonderful photo of Ahu Tongariki can
be taken in the early morning, when the outlines of the statues are
surrounded by glowing morning fog. In the first half of the day the
sun illuminates the seawall of the structure; to take a photo
of the statues from the front, please return here after midday.
In the evening, moai benefit much from side light. Consider spending
more time here, noticing the elaborate earlobe designs of the statues with
round depressions for obsidian disks, beautifully carved thin fingers,
and hami (loincloths), easily observable here. Don't miss the small exhibition of
statue fragments behind the ahu, face-lit during the latter half of the
day. When the weather is rainy, awe-inspiring stormy photos can be
taken from Tongariki, showing steel surf beating against Motu
Marotiri, towering Poike, and the majestic outlines of Rano Raraku lost
in thick fog. Tongariki turtle petroglyphs and designs at Papa
Tataku Poki are beautiful in early morning and late evening,
but also look special in rainy weather, when the designs are
water-filled. (Note: Never add water or touch the petroglyphs in any way with
any object!)
Piro Piro cluster under different illumination
conditions.
Rano Raraku, the quarry, looks very
distinct at each period of the day. Try to be here at the sunrise
to picture the statues right behind Ahu Orohie, with patches of the sun's first light on their cheeks. Tukuturi, the kneeling
moai, is better
photographed in the morning or about midday. Three statues,
inclined by different angles the west from the image with
the boat petroglyph; moai with the tattooed neck and Make-Make petroglyph
over the left shoulder; and the nearby image Hiara with a deep scar in the
left cheek, are best photographed in the morning. The backs of inner
crater statues, including the one with boat petroglyphs, are also best
photographed at this time. At midday, standing moai at the quarry are
illuminated from above, featuring those classic Easter Island
shadows” beneath the eyebrows, nose, and chin. It is a good time to
make a contrast photo of El Gigante and the statue with the carved disk
in its right earlobe, reclined towards the crater rim just westward from boat petroglyph
moai. A few hours afterwards, the faces of statues inside the crater become beautifully lit; it is the very time to visit
the inner
quarries, ascending just before reaching the group of five
half-buried standing images towards two large statues lying in
parallel, both with their heads pointing towards the crater rim; note that
the rightmost one has a beard. The quarries feature two images
resting on a partially removed keel, one perched over the cliff to the
left, and a stout giant to the right, with grass growing on his
chest. A quiet view opens from here towards the crater lake, with dark
contours of these silent stone beholders. In the evening, the shadows grow
longer and the statues get golden highlights and blue shades.
Plan to spend sunset at the quarry, paying attention to the
skies to southwest: if there are dense clouds, they could block the
sun, and arriving at the volcano you may find it in shadow, despite
the fact that it may have been sunny in Hangaroa. When the horizon is clear, sunset at Rano
Raraku is an unforgettable experience. The most special thing is to
catch the last rays of the sun on the majestic faces of moai Piro
Piro and Hinariru, coloring them into fantastic shades of gold,
orange, red, and purple one of most beautiful views for your
Easter Island photo album.
Ana o Keke petroglyphs, photographed in natural
light and with flash.
Poike peninsula is better
visited during the first half of the day, when the rest of the island is
well-illuminated by the sun and nice panoramic photos are possible.
The huge face carved around a natural rainwater catchment at Maunga Vai
a Heva also looks good during midday hours, and coming down to
Ana o Keke, you will be rewarded by a stunning view of Poike cliffs along the
north coast of the island, with an easily
discernible patch of Ovahe beach in the distance and the deep blue ocean.
The best illumination for Ana o Keke petroglyphs is original side
light from the entrance; be sure to have high-speed film or a
small tripod to cope with low light conditions. Flash can be
used for general in-cave photos, but it does not work well with these petroglyphs.
Petroglyphs on horizontal surfaces look
interesting
when water-filled.
(Note: Never add water
or touch the
petroglyphs in any way with any object!)
Famous rock art designs at Papa Vaka are
better visited in early morning or late evening to catch the
slanted sunlight; when it is raining, petroglyphs carved in flat
horizontal surfaces collect the water and look distinct against the
background of the surrounding stone. Ahu Ra'ai spirit
petroglyph is best viewed in morning and midday hours.
Further to the west, Ahu Te Pito Kura (with moai Paro)
should be visited in the first half of the day; proper
illumination enables you to capture the row of cupules running along the
left hand side of the statue, which is shaded in the evening hours. At that time
you will have a chance to take a better photo of the seaward wall
with masterfully-dressed stone slabs and moai fragment incorporated in
the structure.
To photograph Ahu Nau Nau moai, visit the site
during a sunny morning. Come back at noon to
get the best light for seawall designs.
The wonderful site of Anakena (with Ahu
Nau Nau and Ahu Ature Huki) is best
visited several times. In the morning the rising sun illuminates the
faces of the statues, which hide in thick shadows from their pukao as the
sun reaches the zenith. But this is the best time to photograph designs
at the backs of the statues and petroglyphs adorning the seawall
two flying birds, a lizard man, and re-used head of a moai with deeply
carved eye sockets. Two antropomorphic figures holding each other by
the hand are best photographed in the slanted light of the late afternoon sun, when
the other mentioned petroglyphs are partially or completely shadowed.
Around sunset (please keep in mind that Ahu Nau Nau is surrounded
by hills, making the sun disappear beneath the local horizon earlier
than in Hangaroa) you can catch incredible illumination of the
leftmost moai (the one with with a cone-shaped topknot), and also take a picture of
the dark silhouette of Ahu Ature Huki in the background of the glowing Hau
Epa hill. Sunny evenings turn the sands of Anakena into an incredible
honey color; lazy peaceful waves lick the shore, carrying
dazzling sparkles of the sun on their backs. Don't miss a calm
evening at Anakena! It is one of the most spectacular places to see
on this charming island.
Well-lit west coast sites.
Seven statues at Ahu Akivi face west
and they are therefore better to be visited after midday; closer
to the evening they get more frontal light, gradually removing
shadows from their faces. Side photos at this time are wonderful, as
well as dark outlines of the statues against the bright golden
clouds. Ahu Tepeu's seawall is illuminated between midday
into the late afternoon. When taking a photo of the seawall, pay attention
to numerous hare paenga slabs embedded into structure. The broken moai
head facing the seawall is better lit prior to the midday hours, as
well as the stones and fragments of statues covering the front side
of the ahu.
Weather tricks: local showers in the sunshine and
spectacular rainbows painted across the azure sky.
Please keep in mind that changes in local weather can be fast and unpredictable
the rain clouds appear and
dissolve, sometimes resulting in narrow bands of showers some only a
hundred meters wide. You can even have the sun shining inside of Rano
Raraku while the exterior of the quarry is shaded by clouds. One of the
magnificent consequences of fast, locally varying weather are numerous
rainbows that appear following cloudbursts and allowing for truly amazing
photos.
Vivid colors of sunrises and sunsets
add a special touch for every site and landscape.
Easter Island is one of the most interesting and
beautiful places on our planet. It offers a vast variety of unique,
wonderful, and fascinating views an unforgettable experience
for every photographer visiting this enchanted land.
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