Photographing since 1974, Cathy has performed her own darkroom responsibilities, including printing, developing, artistic editing and composition. Working exclusively in the medium of black and white, her efforts have achieved technical elegance demonstrating a true quality un-touched by the onset of the digital age. From 2001 on, Cathy has illustrated her mastery in Sepia thereby enhancing the historical quality of the finished product. Each ultimate piece is a true work of art, sometimes taking 30 hours to complete.
These prints are unique, hand-prepared and timeless. Her photographs of forgotten scenes and now historical memories depict life on the Earth's most spectacular, aesthetic and sacred terrain. All photographs produced in her inventory are hand-processed in a darkroom, hand-spotted and sepia-toned by individual effort. Her images are produced in the traditional concept and not digitally captured or enhanced. Completed photos are burned, dodged and printed on fiber based paper, (now approaching extinction), that demonstrates, (since 1977), years of devotion to her craft. Any Cathy Shine photograph will be an appreciated piece of art and an addition to one's legacy collection.
Cathy Shine images have been captured with a Nikon FE, (Tri-x-36), ASA 400, Mamiya C-330, (Tri-x-120), ASA 200-400, or Leica M4, (Tri-x-36), ASA 400.
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24Our first trip to the Society Islands treated us to an unreal experience in what seemed to be a fantacy world. Bora-Bora was a simple, clean, inviting, comfortable Islet anchored in a French-influenced archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The people we met in this atoll were warm, giving and contented. What a beautiful and easy place to exist. No.024
25The Ocean-side path between Hapuna Beach and Kauna'oa Bay serpentines on the shore past beautiful homes, lush flora and views of Maui in the distance. The path connects the Mauna Kea Hotel with the Hapuna Prince Hotel. Sunsets appear here year-round. No. 025
26The white Hybiscus, is indigenous to Hilo and the Islands of Hawai'i. The color reminds one of the traditional wedding gowns. Pure, innocent, gentile simplicity. Hilo is located in a tropical rainforest in the south east portion of the Island The scent of flora is everywhere. Notice how the delicate, fragile petals are captured in this piece. No. 026
27On the morning that 'lwa assaulted Kaua'i, Hinakuluiau, the Hawaiian goddess of rain, refused to sleep. We exited the Island and returned home on the 10am flight. Upon arrival, we discovered that Kaua'i experienced a devastating hurricane. Two months later, we visited the scene to photograph many images. This area housed a small building before the storm. No. 027
28The fern is indigenous to Hawai'i, used in Ho'i'o salad and grows at sea level and up to 10000 feet. The versatile plant was once used by Hawaiians to embalm their deceased for the after life. This plant grows up to 25 feet and the uncoiled juvenile stems are boiled and consumed at Hawaiian dinner tables. No. 028
29The early-morning sun on Kauai's eastern shoreline illuminated this venerable tree at the ocean's edge. I waited thirty minutes for the muted light to perform its magic. Kaua'i is the Northern-most inhabited and the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain of 1600 islands. Eastern Kaua'i is dominated by high cliffs, crashing down to the sea. Mount Waiale'ale, the wettest spot on Earth, is a few miles from this shoreline. No. 029
7A Flamingo exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo seemed like a fantasy. The light and reflections it produced was distorted by my super-wide-angle lens that gives this scene a Hollywood mystique. Because the angle was so wide, the photo captured 3 times the targeted scene. After I developed this print, I retired that lens and never used it again. No. 007
30Hawaiian people consider this area sacred to their very important traditions. Here the indigenous people are invited to harvest ferns for various events. I was with a Hawaiian daughter and granddaughter, Kaiao, who selected these ferns for the funeral of their father-grandfather. The air was warm, misty and mysterious. Kalopa is the sight that provides organic materials for decorative wear. No. 030
31Visiting the Loire' valley, a cradle of French wine, and home to the Vienne River and the village of Chinon, we discovered that this area was a refuge for Charles VII of France and often visited by Joan of Arc. On a late fall afternoon, in the subdued light of the day, I snapped this photo of the two row boats. Later, we sat on the shore and sipped the local wine. No. 031
32What seems to be an infinite Papaya forest, the early-morning light piqued my interest. The amazing muted reflective quality gives rise to an interesting composition. Papaya was introduced to Hawai'i and not indigenous. If one views this photograph in an inverted stage, it gives the illusion of a reflection on a pond. No. 032
33Traveling all over the South Pacific allows one to view extremely unusual tropical flora. Hawai'i is an adoptive home to multitudes of unusual Heliconia. Up to 200 species of this plant exist around the world. There exists no Hawaiian name since the plant is not a part of ancient Hawai'i. The English name is "Lobster Claw". No. 033
34We travel often in the winter. No tourists, easy restaurant reservations and privacy. Winter's morning light attracted me to this lonesome tree. A soft, quiet, angelic orange is the prominent hue. This strong, stately, woody perennial stands alone among the cold and the snow. Winter, in the North, is stunning. No. 034
161On a late Fall afternoon, and the setting sun filtered by rain clouds, the Isle' San Louis' seemed euphoric. A shower came and went. We were walking to our temporary home, (Hotel' San Louis') from the Pere' Lachaise cemetary. The walk was lengthy. As we strolled onto the Isle', this tree, a long-time resident of the bank, had lost its foliage. The scene reminded me of the Fall. No. 161
162Marin County, our home during our childhood, was a well-kept secret since the 1930's. The influx of new arrivals in the 1960's and 70's exploded to 250 times the former population. Mt. Tamalpais, (Sleeping Lady) was a sacred sculpture for the resident Miwok Indians. On the mountain, one can, now, be entertained with a multitude of lakes, ponds, flora and fauna. No. 162
35Captan Fletcher Christian's most favorite culinary staple. Harvesting this fruit, peeling off the skin, will show a white, fleshy consistancy that not only looks, but tastes like bread. The fruit is heated or fried and served with butter. A wonderful creation in the plant world. My husband and I first sampled this delicious fruit on Huahine, the Society Islands, in 1992. No. 035
36The Banyon tree is seen all over Hawai'i. I don't believe it is endemic to the Islands. These trees are characterized by their aerial prop roots which grow into thick woody fingers. Old trees can spread out laterally using these prop roots to cover a wide area. My interest was piqued in the shape of the roots. This old friend lives well near the Honolulu Zoo in the shadows of Diamond Head. No. 036
37Some very good family friends, Michele and Shenandoah, gifted me this orchid. It arrived shortly after my diagnosis of breast cancer.This orchid species is very common in Hawai'i and I was pleased to have a piece of Hawai'i and my friends in my home. I was recuperating from my surgery, loved the look of it and loved the dim light. As of this writing, the orchid is still alive. No. 037
38At our home in Hawai'i, we live in a world of flowers, trees and bushes and birds. These little flowers are produced by a small tree called a Rose Flowered Jatropha, a native of the West Indies. It is a perennial and grows to twenty feet.. A simple photo of a simple pleasure. No. 038
164Near my home in Mill Valley and after a heavy Northern California deluge, I awakened one morning to the sound of a waterfall in the canyon. The morning was crisp, the light gentle and I crawled above the road and placed my camera underneath the rapid flow. Look at the foliage filtered by the water. The canyons in Mill Valley, after the rains, are special. No. 164
66So many of my photographs are simple. With black&white, one must have a command over light, shapes, sizes and lines. This scene is of a tiny road, framed by a coconut tree, a mountains and tropical brush. A peacefull environment. No. 066
39The Silversword ('Ahinahina) is endemic to Hawai'i and located only on Mauna Kea and Haleakala on Maui. This endangered species grows on dry volcanic soil at the 12000 foot level, lives for up to 40 years, elegantly flowers, then dies. It posseses no protective mechanism against grazing mammals. The touch by animals and humans will terminate the plant's life. The silver strands produced by this flower shines in the moonlight. No. 039
40Exiting Waimea to the North, one passes Mud Lane on Highway 19. The play on light through the trees illustrated this quiet, serene setting as what it really is. The detailed trees whisper in the wind. The road perimeters pastures whose silence is broken by the sound of docile cows. No. 040
41The botanical garden has many, many unusual samples of flora that only appear in the tropics. This form of a ginger plant caught my eye. The shape, size and beauty of this growth is a pleasure to view. No. 041
42Coconut trees are often the product of a rogue coconut that has traveled thousands of miles to an anchorage on a distant island. This tree provides grows from a patch of shoreline coral. This park is clean, serene, and not often visited. The tree reminds me of strength. No. 042
43We visited Kaua'i, consecutively with our children, for 13 years. The oldest inhabited island in the Hawaiian chain is also the loveliest. This lonely tree was warmed by the eastern sun and the light was spectacular. In the distance, one can see, (faintly), a boat on the right side horizon. No. 043
44Hilo is most Hawaiian of all the isles and the birthplace of Kamehameha, the future king and the man who united the islands. This photo illustrates just what Hilo is about. The textures, reflections and shapes is old Hawai'i. ln the foreground, one can see a banana tree and its partial reflection on the Wailua River. No. 044
45We were visiting Kaua'i and surprised my parents who were ensconced at Po'ipu Beach. They traveled with us to the Taro fields in Hanalei, and at the twilight before the day's end, with my father close to my side, I captured this elegant photograph that embraces all that is photography. The light, the scene, the mood. That day, with my dad, is an indelible etching in the back of my mind. No.045
46We first arrived in Kailua-Kona after Hurricanes 'Iva and lniki devastated Kaua'i. Too many storms inspired us to focus our visits to a more gentile island. Near the Hulihe'e Palace, in the down town village of Kona, lie a family of three coconut trees on the shore of the Kailua Bay. The setting sun offered a background of beautiful light. The small boat, on the horizon, is framed by two of the family's members. No. 046
47I'm not sure why l captured this image.. l liked the light, the figure and the boat framed by the trees. The area north of Waikiki, away from the tourists, is remarkable. Late summer, late August, is the time to visit Honolulu. Only 500 yards from the tourist mecca is light years away from the confusion. 'Oahu is elegant when one commutes away from Kalakaua Avenue. No. 047
48On our cross-country sojourn from Perth to Sydney, we stopped at Uluru. The morning after our arrival, without a guide, my husband and l decided to trek across the red colored earth. l snapped this photo because of the desolation and the light. 7000 miles from home, in the inconceivable heat, photographing the beauty of the land that used to be the bottom of an ocean. That road in the image? lt leads to nowhere! No. 048
49We traveled around the perimeter of Vierwaldstattersee. My husband suggested to photograph this scene. With the winter fast arriving, the early snow dusted the earth. A interesting road is always a great photographic target. l use a tri-pod in these circumstances, and that implement allows me to shut the lens and capture detail. Scenery, low light and a small len's opening require the use of a Tri-pod. No. 049
50A stunning example of Flora, this plumeria tree displays beauty, not only with the flower, but also the leaves. Keokaha is a lush area in Hilo, and located in a rainforest, providing the plants daily water. Look at the detail of this photo. One sees this tree and experiences its fragrance all over Hawai'i. No. 050
176What can be more beautiful than an Island, with a lagoon, coconut trees, shade and the time to enjoy it. The light, the information and the setting invited the documentation of this scene. Doubtless, the sprouting coconut in the foreground has grown to a mature 15 foot tree. Bora-Bora is very close to heaven. No. 176
51This Calla Lily grows in the springtime in Mill Valley. During February to April, our yard produces many wild flowers, and this is prominent. The beauty is in the detail. No. 051
52The Calla lily is a beautiful sample of simple beauty. The lines are gorgeous. Georgia O'Keefe, the famous artist, often painted flowers. No. 052
53Visiting Lana'i in the mid-80's was an adventure. Pineapple was the machine that drove the the Island's economy. Currently, tourism has replaced the pineapple fields. The light on the cloud made this photo. Simple beauty. It reminds one of an erupting volcano. No. 053
54Living in Mill Valley is similar to living in Europe. On any day, a simple walk to the down town village and the sounds of different languages, reminds me of Germany and Switzerland. The reflection and the serenity of the bench drew my eye to the image. No. 054
55Blithedale Park is a 5 minute walk from the front door of our home. This biking trail, popular year 'round, is quiet and peaceful. The trail is pretty and the light was soft. A Fall rain arrived later that afternoon. No. 055
177The original "Queen's Bath" was located in Kalapana. It was formed after a lava tube collapsed and filled with fresh water supplied by natural springs. In ancient times only the Ali'i (Hawaiian Royalty) were permitted entry into the sacred waters. In the 1983 to1987 Kilauea eruption, the original site was destroyed by a lava flow. Our chance encounter, before the flare-up, allowed us to document this pond. Today, few of these photos exist. No. 177
56The light on the leaves, the shaded road and the gentleness of the late Spring reminded me of my dad. At the time of this photo, he, a Cal-Berkeley Forestry graduate, was ill. The California Conifers were my dad's favorites. No. 056
57Some California Redwood Trees, sprouted over 2000 years ago, still exist. No stronger life on this earth. The detail and the strength of this giant is the reason why I captured the image. No. 057
58The hike from The Volcano House to the Kilauea caldera is a 7 mile round trip. On the Halema'uma'u trail is a large boulder, possibly 15 feet in height. A remnant of Pele's anger, this "rock" was catapulted 1000 years ago from its volcanic source to this location. The strength of this monolith and the muted light inspired me to capture this scene. No. 058
59We walked through this most beautiful tiny village and I peaked over the 4 foot high wooden fence. Hidden behind the wall was this enclosed patio that spoke of serenity. The flowers, the bricks, the simple table and chairs tell a story about this family without meeting them. No. 059
207A storm coming off Lake Tahoe pasted its snow on the trees in this forest. I hiked into this area, in 2 feet of snow to capture this photo. A very beautiful scene. No. 207
60A lonely road that leads to the grape vines, and used by centuries of family farmers who produce wine. This path could be 500 years old. A piece of French history.I took this image in the morning light. Always a good time for photography. No. 060
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