The Tiki Gods of Oceania, a photo from Guadalcanal, West

Photographer's Note

The scene is the area outside the airport in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. A large gazebo features massive columns carved into Tiki Gods. A group of four Melanesian natives are seen engaged in conversation, oblivious to a member of the paparazzi shooting the photo. Guadalcanal, of course, was the scene of horrific warfare during WWII. I've already posted a few pictures of the children who live in Guadalcanal.

Oceania or the Pacific is massive, the single largest entity on the surface of the planet, which also explains how the Southern Pacific is the engine for weather over so much of the planet.

The inhabitants of Oceania are classified into the Melanesians, Micronesians and the Polynesians, and are ethnically similar to each other although culturally they may be different. They are all inhabitants of an immense number of islands in the Pacific, who apparently migrated to the islands between 3000-1000 BC. (The Aborigines of Australia are ethnically and culturally different, having settled in Australia upwards of 30,000 years ago.) We should be in awe of the much greater distances the Polynesians navigated in their canoes, compared to the paltry few thousand kilometers that European navigators sailed in crossing the Atlantic beginning in the 15th century AD. Navigating by stars and ocean currents, they found those islands. Of course, we'll never know of the attempts that ended in failure.

What is also remarkable is the presence of the ancient Tiki Gods all over Oceania, north-south from Hawaii to New Zealand and east-west from Easter Islands to Papua New Guinea. There were four major Tiki Gods, along with many minor gods. European missionaries converted most of the islanders to Christianity, but there is a presence of the old Tiki Gods. Perhaps, it's good to be safe on all fronts.

THE FOUR MAJOR TIKI GODS:

KU – Ancient Tiki God of War

LONO – Ancient Tiki God of Fertility and PeaceSome Hawaiians believed that Captain James Cook was Lono returned and indeed this fact may have ultimately contributed to Capt. Cook's death on his Third voyage (1776-1779)).

KANE– Ancient Tiki God of Light and Life
In Hawaiian mythology, Kane Milohai is the father of the Tiki gods Ka-moho-ali'i, Pele (whom he exiled to Hawaii), Kapo, Namaka and Hi'iaka by Haumea. He created the sky, earth and upper heaven and gave Kumu-Honua the garden. He owned a tiny seashell that, when placed on the ocean's waves, turned into a huge sailboat. The user of the boat had merely to state his destination and the boat took him there. In agricultural and planting traditions, Kane was identified with the sun.

KANALOA – Ancient Tiki God of the Sea
Kanaloa is one of the four great gods of Hawaiian mythology, along with Kane, Ku, and Lono. He is the local form of a Polynesian deity generally connected with the sea. Roughly equivalent deities are known as Tangaroa in New Zealand, Tagaloa in Samoa, and Ta'aroa in Tahiti.

For this scene, I used my new compact camera, a Panasonic Lumix dmczs50 with an impressively sharp Zeitz lens. I don't know how much better my Nikon D200 would have done.

On a personal note, in response to my good friend Mesut's note: One of my closest friends, an Israeli physicist, likes to say, "The Ancient Greeks had it much better, with their Pantheon of gods!" We pat ourselves on the back, speaking about, "having discovered there was only one God." More blood has been spilled in the Kingdom of Heaven, than on all other battlefields.

Warm regards to my friends at Trekearth.

ikeharel, snunney, ricardomattos, Fis2, cornejo, pajaran, Graal, jhm, bukitgolfb301, alvaraalto, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, ktanska, ChrisJ, mcmtanyel, photoray ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

snunney (130967) 2016-03-19 8:04

Hello Bulent,
Interesting juxtaposition between the massive effigies and the two ladies relaxing inside the gazebo. I have never visited this part of the world; it looks quite fascinating and your note makes for interesting reading. Very good rendering of the textural detail.

ikeharel (113273) 2016-03-19 8:07

Hello Bulent,
The note is very interesting reading. Learning new things on TE every day.
Picture show marvelous wood-carved statues holding the roof as pillars, and the inclusion of local ladies and guy gave nice scale of life to the whole.
The added shells looks a bit strange, but who am I to judge.
My best regards and a nice weekend,
Ike

mesutilgim (0) 2016-03-19 8:33

Hello dear Bülent,
I know that the majority of the worlds population has multi-god religions but they are seemingly happier than us monotheist's. Something wrong ?
This capture and entry shows that tou've been to one of my most desired destinations, not only with it's natural wonders but also their unque culture.
The group of women at back are fully in their own World and the gods on theirs.
Again many interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

G2G (103) 2016-03-19 8:39

Hallo Bulent,

I am new on TE. Your writing is excellent reading. Up to now I knew next to nothing of this part of the wordld.
The presence of the red dustbin at the base of the photo shows that the images of these gods are a part of daily life. Some people might find this presence distracting but as you saw, I dont agree.
Good visibility of the blacks and only a small bit of clouds top left blown out. This calls for a good light management on your part.
Greetings, Gerard

ricardomattos (17460) 2016-03-19 8:47

Hi dear Bulent,

Very interesting note and a well framed shot with these native gods scared here. Impressive work of art here serving two purposes here: to sustain the roof and preserving the history of their cultures. Here in Brazil we have something carved on the boats of the São Francisco River and are called "scowls" and are frightening faces.

Warm regards and have a nice weekend

Ricardo

Fis2 (170669) 2016-03-19 9:20

Witaj Bulent!
Very nice view.
Interesting sculpture.
Good framing and colors.
Women add flavor to this composition.
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

cornejo (61504) 2016-03-19 10:25

Bulent Hello, very nice picture of this interesting scene of daily life in the house of the gods, well composed and captured in this interesting image with good sharpness, light, color and quality. A great job well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
All the best from southern Spain.
Angel.

No_One (4) 2016-03-19 12:04

Hi Bulent
I've heard of Kane and Kanaloa in TV or film from oceania but I never thought to wonder what these gods represented. Reading your great note I now know and can understand why I would be aware of the positive gods more than the negative, I would never associate war with a place like this, though again your note informs me otherwise. Very interesting post, thanks . I hope all is well!!
Cheers
Noel

Silvio1953 (221493) 2016-03-19 12:31

Ciao Bulent, lovely composition with fantastic statue and nice people, fine details, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jmdias (115072) 2016-03-19 15:56

bulent

nice image of these artistic columns with a great symbolism. I liked the inclusion of the locals in the image too. very nice and full of local mood.

hugs

jorge

pajaran (115805) 2016-03-19 22:49

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst o Oceania ...
Dobar rad i kompozicija, lepo pokazane drvene skulptute, dobar kontrast i perspektiva, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa posetiocima.
Lepe drvene skulpture.
Sve najbolje, srecno.
Paja.

Hello.
Nice view, interesting and good text on the Oceania ...
Good work and composition, nice wooden indicated skulptute, good contrast and perspective, nicely captured the moment with visitors.
Beautiful wooden sculptures.
All the best, good luck.
Paja.

Graal (103040) 2016-03-20 2:57

Hello Bulent,
interesting fragment of house. Amazing wooden sculptures. Good presentation from far Oceania. Great trip you had. Well done photo.
Have a nice Sunday.
Aleksander

jhm (211736) 2016-03-20 4:00

Dear Bulent,

Thank you very much for your interesting notes, I learn something new everyday on TE.
You placed the two ladies perfect between the wood statues, I makes a trip through your nice images and notes.
I like your series of picture, also I learn of your photowork.
Composition and presentation are wonderful done.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a lovely Sunday,
John.

king (4242) 2016-03-20 7:42

Hello Bulent,
In my opinion little distance between religion and daily life is to prefer above much distance. That's one reason why I like this picture. There are more...:
Composition, colours,...
You and your new camera are doing your job well.
Have a nice day,
Huub

mkamionka (74329) 2016-03-20 12:54

Hi Bulent,
They do look quite similar to Easter Island Moai. In fact I have one Moai in my collection too: CLICK HERE.
You were so lucky to visit this remote and so exotic destination.
Very interesting upload!
M

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2016-03-21 1:35

Hi dear Bulent

Ya for a while I missed your precious sereis so I backed to see yours---. Very impressive image, so fantatsic and nostalgic image at all. Th ebest combination of talls on apilors and human.

All the best and have a good day! Takero

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-03-21 7:43

Hello Bulent,
Long time ago a “funny” guy put some of this kind of statues in the dunes near Haarlem. Later it approved to be a 1 April joke.
I like the statues Tiki Gods here. They belong here in Oceania. I think, Gods belongs to culture and the people that belongs to that culture and it better to keep them there.
Groet Rob

berek (50518) 2016-03-21 20:28

Merhaba Bülent bey ,
Buraların bir gizemi var. tahtadan oyma destekler mükemmel. elinize sağlık.

sevgiler.
Burak.

ps: 7100 den memnunum özellikle boyun fıtığı problemimden sonra hafif bir gövde arıyordum ve sonunda geçen sene Amerikada bir kampanyada buldum ve aldım.
7200 almadığıma wirless bağlantısı olduğu için sonra biraz pişman oldum. Ama genel performansı çok iyi. Bu arada sizin Panasonic te çok başarılı. sizden sonra biraz inceledim fotograflarına baktım.

cristina1 (1165) 2016-03-22 0:44

Hello Bulent,
very characteristic and interesting picture of these wooden statues with the people talking on the background.
The Pacific Island very peaceful place!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a nice day.
Cristina

Nicou (193806) 2016-03-22 5:29

Hello

Fantastique vue et image quel masque et vue quel rendu et image superbe vue quelle sculpture de bois avec les dessin à la surface les personnes en fond quelle image et compo superbe vue.
Bravo et amitié
Nciou

Royaldevon (85862) 2016-03-22 8:32

Hello Bulent,

Thank you for the interesting notes that you included with this excellent photograph.
I think I would feel safe with these stern-faced, Tiki Gods fronting the relaxation area! They, also, make a fine compositional line, using the number three and creating a fine sense of perspective.
You situated your camera well so that the Melanesian figures fit nicely into the gap between the statues.
A most interesting and well exposed shot which I enjoyed very much.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)
Thank you for your w/s added to my previous shot. I must admit, I have a few filters, which can be applied in various conditions and have rarely used them! It's not really laziness, it's just something else to carry with me! Oh, well!

pierrefonds (114371) 2016-03-22 10:27

Hi Bilent,

The presence of the persons has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details of the Tiki Gods. It is clear and sharp. Have a nice day.

Pierre

ktanska (44738) 2016-03-22 12:32

Hi Bulent,
Fascinating picture from a rarely visited country. And your documentary note gives more meaning to these carved characters. I guess you could have cropped off the trashcan on the bottom.
Kari

ChrisJ (171818) 2016-03-23 16:07

Hi Bulent

It was a surprise to see Polynesian style tikis more in the style of New Zealand or Hawaii than the predominant Melanesian culture of the Solomon Islands. I guess it is one of those areas of the Pacific where the 2 overlap. Good sharpness and the local woman are nicely framed by the statues. Tfs!

mcmtanyel (68421) 2016-03-25 19:12

Selamlar Bülent Bey,
The carved gods are impressive works of art and the people in the gazebo provide color and sense of scale. As we say in Turkish, "may you use your new camera laughingly!"
Regards,
MT

eldancer1 (36343) 2016-03-27 18:09

Nice capture of those wood carvings, they are huge. Good pov and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

photoray (13981) 2016-04-23 5:29

Howdy Bulent,

Impressive large Tiki God statues, with the carved wood accentuated by the mosaic lines of sea shells.
And the surrounding low wall of tree limbs flavors the Polynesian scene.
A bonus with your informative report.

Well done,
Cheers,
Ray