Sunset in Polynesia. No light show is quite as dramatic as the sunrises and sunsets in the Pacific Ocean. We were always ready to capture the drama.

Cook’s Bay, Mo’orea, French Polynesia. The bay is named honor of honor English explorer Captain James Cook, who arrived on the island in  the late 18th century. Mo’orea is one of the most picturesque islands in Polynesia and a favorite of filmmakers. Scenes from the 1950s Rodgers & Hammerstein movie South Pacific were filmed here—and from at least two versions of Mutiny on the Bounty.

A young Polynesian woman plays the ukulele, an iconic instrument in the South Pacific.

Polynesian dancer.

One of Mary Herbert’s Polynesian friends.

The Bay of Virgins, on the island of Fatu Hiva, was originally named the Bay of Penises because of its many phallic rock spires. Nineteenth-century missionaries changed the name, for obvious reasons.

Ua Pou is a  beautiful island— extremely isolated and rarely visited. It’s distinguished by tall basalt spires that overlook the waterfront of the island’s main village, Hakahau. The spires have earned Ua Pou the nickname “Cathedral Island.”

This sunset silhouettes an unnamed motu (a small island) and Bora Bora in the background.

A Polynesian welcome. The children on the island of Ua Pou greeted us with a medley of songs and lively dancing.

Panorama of the bay on the island of Taha’a.

A sensual Polynesian dancer. The tattoo  across her abdomen was one of the most elaborate we’ve seen.

Energetic Tahitian male dancer. Men’s dances are typically accompanied by drums and chanting.

An isolated beach on Fakarava, an island in the Tuamotu Archipelago. This hideaway is a  favorite among locals, who go there to swim, snorkel and picnic.