Michelle and Toa

Michelle is the sweetest sixteen year old I know. She volunteers at Kauai Humane Society and has been helping me photograph the dogs available for adoption. Michelle loves the dogs, that's just what she does and it's really important to my work but crucial for the dogs. By giving her affection freely, she helps the dogs enjoy the moment and I'm able to capture the smile that Michele draws. It might sound easy, playing with dogs for a couple of hours, but it's not. Every time Michele exits the shelter, she leaves a little piece of her heart behind. She knows some of these dogs won't find homes, and although she accepts the reality of their situation, she finds strength to continue the work despite the heartbreak. I've been an animal lover all my life, and it has taken me a long time to summon the courage to get this close to animals in need. I just can't help recognize her kindness and gentleness when interacting with the animals and her spirit and strength of heart for participating. Michelle you're awesome!!

Michele is hanging out with Toa. Toa is a male chihuahua terrier mix, about a year old. He is gorgeous and i'm amazed he has been available for almost two weeks. He has beautiful coloring, black and white face with a champagne coat. His fur is super soft too.

Meet Casper

What a smile!

Casper is almost 6 months old and getting to be a big boy.  He is another Airedale mix available for adoption on Kauai. There are lots of Airedales at Kauai Humane Society now, I guess they are in style. These dogs are really smart and have a lot of energy. Originally bred for hunting, it's important to socialize this type of dog early on with other dogs, cats and small animals or else their hunting instincts kick in and they can be prone to chase or be aggressive towards other animals. Playful puppies can get into trouble if not stimulated with games, obedience training and exercise, but at about 2 years old these dogs develop into dignified, self assured courageous adults. Like most working dogs, the Airedale is very versatile and can learn and be trained to do almost anything. Grooming is necessary, weekly brushing and seasonal trimming is needed, but this dog sheds much LESS than other dogs so if you are in the market for a semi-hypoallergenic dog, the Airedale is a good choice. Great with families too!

Casper has so much heart!

Energetic and rambunctious, Casper is very much a puppy and needs training but is responsive to handlers and takes direction well. Casper has already developed a super loving nature. My friend Yaysika bonds with Casper immediately. He is young but we agree he has an old soul, he connects so easily with people.

Yaysika was really sad to say goodbye to Casper. She is a huge dog lover. She spends time at KHS with her daughter Michele who volunteers regularly. Casper was a dog she would have adopted, she knows dogs and immediately recognized his potential for being a great one. Like many people on the island, Yaysika is not permitted to have dogs by her landlord. Yaysika understands the commitment to an animal and no doubt her dog would be exceptionally trained and cared for, and it makes me sad for both Casper and Yaysika that this is the case. I wish that more landlords would give responsible renters the chance to own a dog. I know I am lucky that my landlord permits my dogs.

Dogs available for Adoption on Kauai

These dogs are available for adoption at Kauai Humane Society.  I am still photographing dogs at KHS, and the dogs themselves give me hope. They know something isn't right, but are enthusiastic any way and seem to be making the best of their situation. 


Kushka has gained some weight and she is growing up! She was relocated into the large dog area but can't be more than 30lbs, she'll probably always be a petite Airedale. Despite her long stay at KHS, she is coming along, still timid with other dogs but very friendly with people. She wants so badly to play with the other dogs (and horses,) and incredibly submissive. It is obvious that she was never socialized before she arrived, but I have no doubt that she'd be good with other animals. She loves to play and will amuse herself with toys. The signs of neglect have diminished and her coat has grown in healthy with tones of apricot, beige and white. She is still a puppy at heart.


Pepper is still available too, another Airedale mix, also on the smaller size, maybe 40 lbs or so. She has beautiful colors, a little bit of everything, like a calico cat. Pepper is 2 years old and it's hard to imagine someone giving her up, she is so sweet and loving. She obviously learned this before she arrived, and I can't help wonder who taught her to love and then didn't love her anymore. I try not to judge and I don't research the intake notes on these dogs, but not because I don't want to know. Pepper is in dog training class too, basic commands are new to her, but her enthusiasm and willingness to please make her an excellent student. One photograph shows her learning to shake for the first time, a special moment when she understood she had followed a command correctly. 


Airedales seem to be "in" right now, Opal is all black with expressive deep brown eyes. She is a little bigger, maybe 55 lbs or so but on the lean side. Well, most of the dogs are lean... Opal is a little fearful of some dogs, but once she gets to know another social dog she relaxes. I didn't know much about this breed, and found a link on Airedale's:  http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/airedale.htm All 3 of them have a gentle kind nature.


Small dogs seem to get adopted quicker. As a small dog owner I understand why. They require less exercise, less food and they leave less mess but love just as much. Birdie, Beebee and Cynthia have been available for a couple weeks. Birdie has been seen on the blog before, she is hanging in there, at 10 years old she still has energy and enthusiasm. Every time I look at her she reminds me of Blanche from the Golden Girls.  Cynthia is a shorthair rat terrier and has a lot of energy. It was a little challenging to get her to sit for her photograph. But then all these dogs are a little challenging in that area, without owners to handle them or give direction I just wait for them to be themselves and try to capture those moments. Beebee is a little ragamuffin lapdog, so cute.


Kimo and Otis are both happy active black&white boy dogs that just want to have fun. Kimo is especially good with direction and knows how to calm himself when appropriate. I was very impressed with seeing him go from full on play to politely sitting down when a family of 5 wanted to check him out. A couple small children started petting him from different directions and he was tolerant and gentle, I was disappointed when they left without him ;(. Otis loves water, he'd swim in his waterbowl if it was big enough and would surely fit in with a waterman's routine. His eyes are light brown with a little hazel, unique.


It was a pleasure to spend the time with these beings. I don't think about them not finding homes because it doesn't seem possible that their perfect someone isn't out there. Sometimes dogs come into our lives when we least expect it or think we can handle it. Today I'll be making posters with their pictures to display in the community, and I hope their someone sees them before it's to late.

In Search of a Rainbow

I arrived here on Kauai 2 months ago. I'm really happy to be here! When I first spent some time here I was fresh out of school,  landscape and travel photography was my focus. I was still working with film then, mostly slide film, and I think I have a few images scanned digitally from that era. Look for them, I'll post later this week.


Within a few years I was burned out on landscapes and had turned to portraiture. My interest in my surroundings didn't lag, I was fascinated with how environment affects people. Studio photography never interested me, true it is much easy to work in a controlled environment, but to make dynamic images in the studio I felt like I was just recreating scenes that existed outside. There is something that real life adds to images, being outside of the studio brings about a photographic experience that is truly unique. Light has everything to do with it. The hues and tones that ambient light add to an image convey the feeling or mood of the time captured. I can't always depend on ambient light to give me what I need, and I count on my 580EX's for that, but the light in the environment is always an important component in the image. Kauai is the perfect setting to bring out the best in people. The beauty of the island and the ocean surrounding it are superior to any studio I could build. I've always felt there was beauty everywhere in this world, but in some places I've been I've had to look very hard and perhaps be creative in identifying it. Kauai offers no challenge in this, no searching. This island inspires my eye to seek out landscapes again, and recently I asked myself if Kauai is more the subject of my photography and the individuals are just part of the picture. I'm not one to have my camera with me at all times. Many years ago I started to feel like I was working as soon as I held her (yes my camera is a she...) and that the effort and concentration kept me from being a participant. Instead of enjoying something I was documenting it... She started to interfere with my activities. So I put her away unless I was working. The other day I brought her along on a drive, I was seeking a rainbow to photograph that day from my website. I didn't find a rainbow but we drove past a waterfall and stopped. I decided what the heck, I'd photograph it from the scenic overlook. Not the most spectacular photograph of a waterfall, not the best light but still so much better than any studio! A lazy shot: the time of day was all wrong, I took one photo and didn't work my subject or hang around for the rainbow, but I live here now and I'll find the perfect rainbow to photograph eventually. I think I'll bring Her along more often when I don't have work scheduled from now on.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Smith Married on Kaua'i

Aloha! Welcome to the Kauai Bliss Photography blog. Please also visit website www.kauaiblissphoto.com to book Portrait Sessions, Weddings and more! Mahalo!!

Ryan and Rachele were adorable! The wedding took place at Ha'ena Beach on January 5, I loved working with this couple, happily ever after! First wedding of 2011 was a success.


Love&Lifestyle Photographer Heather Ransley lives on Kauai and owns Kauai Bliss Photography, based in Koloa Hawaii, on the south shore of Kauai. Kauai photographer Heather Ransley specializes in Kauai portrait and family photography, Kauai wedding photography, Kauai Fine Art Photography and lifestyle photography. Please visit kauaiblissphoto.com to see more Kauai photography, Aloha!