Instagrammers you should know: Explore Hawaii with Champ Cameron

On the last day of his Orbitz Instagram Takeover, Champ Cameron shares some tips and hot spots for your next Hawaii trip. Follow @champcameron on instagram to see more of his adventures, and be sure to scroll down below to find out how you can win a trip to Hawaii.

Champ, who’s originally from Key West, Florida, moved to Hawaii looking for new adventures. One of those adventures turned out to be photography. “When I first got to Hawaii, I didn’t even own a camera. I always had an appreciation of natural beauty, but never considered myself a photographer,” he says. “It was only after seeing the beauty of Hawaii that I decided to start capturing it, and I dedicated myself to learning everything about photography.”

Champ’s instagram bio reads, “I’m not a good photographer, I just live in Hawaii.” He elaborates: “I feel like it’s hard to take a bad picture in Hawaii because it’s so beautiful, but at the same time I have worked very hard to get to this point. This experience has made me realize that, with determination and passion, you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Prime locations for photos
“One of my all time favorites is definitely the Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai. Take a boat tour and you will get amazing shots from the water. Wai’anapanapa State Park on the Island of Maui is also one of my favorite places, it’s home to the beautiful Black Sand Beach.”

Snorkel with sea turtles on Laniakea Beach
“There were a lot of turtles out, and I was keeping my distance photographing them. You always want to respect animals when you’re in their environment. This particular turtle came right up to my face and took this breath allowing me to get such a close up shot. Then a bunch of his friends swam over and, at one point, I was completely surrounded by turtles. It was a great moment. They are majestic creatures.”

Getting the night shot
“I would say a sturdy tripod is a must. Set your shutter to a 20-30 second exposure, open up the aperture to let the most amount of light in, and set the ISO to at least 2000.”

Exploring essentials
“A sturdy backpack, a pair of good hiking shoes, a snorkel, mask and fins. “

Follow Orbitz on Instagram for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii!

Tagged: Hawaii, Photo essay