Mt. Bromo is the probably the most visited of Indonesia's many active volcanoes. It's a breathtaking sight. Most visitors arrive while it is still pitch black, and as the light grows, this incredible landscape stretches before you. It's an unforgettable view.
I took this photo when it was still pretty dark. It's a 60-second exposure, which is why the plume from Mt. Bromo is blurred to the left.
It was a beautiful clear morning there. On many mornings, low fog fills the valley. I wish I could have stayed there for a week to shoot it in many different conditions, but I only had the one morning before continuing on to Bali.
To read more about my 3-month adventure in Southeast Asia, read my blog at:
delhi-to-bali.blogspot.com/
Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/11, 60s, ISO 50.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Smoking Mt. Bromo, Java, Indonesia
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Golden Gate: Green Flash!
I was photographing the sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge tonight and saw the green flash for the first time in my life!
I love astronomy and meteorology and so was really excited to see it. The flash was only visible for 2-3 seconds and I managed to snap one image during that time.
From Wikipedia on the green flash phenomenon:
Green flashes and green rays are optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible, usually for no more than a second or two, above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point. Green flashes can be observed from any altitude. They are usually seen at an unobstructed horizon, such as over the ocean, but are possible over cloud-tops and mountain-tops as well.
The reason for a green flash lies in refraction of light (as in a prism) in the atmosphere: light moves more slowly in the lower, denser air than in the thinner air above, so sunlight rays follow paths that curve slightly, in the same direction as the curvature of the Earth. Higher frequency light (green/blue) curves more than lower frequency light (red/orange), so green/blue rays from the upper limb of the setting sun remain visible after the red rays are obstructed by the curvature of the earth.
Green flashes are enhanced by mirage, which increase the density gradient in the atmosphere, and therefore increase refraction. A green flash is more likely to be seen in clear air, when more of the light from the setting sun reaches the observer without being scattered. We might expect to see a blue flash, but the blue is preferentially scattered out of our line of sight and remaining light ends up looking green.
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/10, 1/50, ISO 50.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Giggling Apsaras, Angkor Wat
I caught these sweet apsara dancers giggling together before a dance performance in the ruins at Angkor Thom (part of the Angkor Wat region).
Apsaras, celestial dancing nymphs, are an important part of the Hindu and Buddhist mythology, and can be seen carved in bas relief in great numbers at the temples of Angkor. The traditional Khmer dance is also called "Apsara Dancing" and is a beautiful, elegant dance to watch.
[International] Orange Impression
I think this might be one of my favorite photos that I've taken in awhile. I shot this as the sun sank and illuminated the hazy air with a bright orange glow. You can just make out the Golden Gate Bridge silhouette, Alcatraz, and if you look closely, a container ship passing by the bridge tower.
I'm not much of a minimalist photographer, but this works for me. Oh, and for those not from the Bay Area... "International Orange" is the official name of the Golden Gate's paint color :)
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/11 @ 1/200, ISO 50.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Autumn at Valley View, Yosemite
Valley View is always spectacular, but I couldn't resist the highlights of fall color along the Merced River. It was a perfect fall day.
Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/14, 1/15, ISO 50. Circular polarizer.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Golden Gate Balancing Act
I've been watching the sun move south over the past couple of weeks. Tonight it set right in the position I'd been waiting for: cradled in the span of the Golden Gate.
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/11, 1/100, ISO 50.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Leaning Tree over the Merced, Yosemite
Most people were turned the other way at Sentinel Bridge, taking the famous photo of Half Dome reflected in the river. I couldn't resist the opposite view with the magic late afternoon Yosemite light that looks like a Bierstadt painting come to life.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Autumn Reflection, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite
Yosemite was stunning this weekend: peak fall color and warm, 70-degree days. The waterfalls were even running, thanks to the recent storms in California.
This was taken at Valley View. I used a small aperture (f/22) and a low ISO to lengthen the exposure as much as possible to smooth the reflections.
Canon 5D, Canon 24-70L, f/22, 3.2s, ISO 50.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Bay Bridge Blue Hour
Shot between the Fire in the Sky and Slow Burn last Saturday night.
Heading to Yosemite this weekend for fall color... can't wait!
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/16, 37sec, ISO 50
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Golden Gate Sunset
The sun will be setting behind the North Tower in just a few days! Fingers crossed for a clear evening to shoot it...
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L @ 400mm
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
San Francisco Stormcloud II
This was taken 20 minutes after my last post: www.flickr.com/photos/dellahuff/4029875749/
In that time, the bay became even more calm. Check out the reflections from the Transamerica Pyramid and the B of A Building!
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/11, 30s, ISO 50.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
San Francisco Storm Cloud
Funny weather in the Bay Area this week. Yesterday a small storm worked its way over the bay in the late afternoon, soaking Berkeley. As it cleared, the moisture in the air created a stunning quality of light as the sun started to go down, casting a golden glow on the bay. Even more amazing, the bay was incredibly still -- so still that the Transamerica Pyramid cast a reflection! I don't think I've ever seen it so still, and it was just after a storm. Amazing.
Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/7.1, 1/13, ISO 50.
Fire in the Sky over San Francisco
Here's a panorama of Friday evening's sunset at its brightest from the Port of Oakland. I don't think it's quite as interesting as a photograph as my previous post, but I wanted to share the brilliant sunset for those that missed it.
To see a shot of the skyline with the slow-burning sunset a bit later, click here: www.flickr.com/photos/dellahuff/4020985569/
Sunday, October 18, 2009
San Francisco Slow Burn
When I noticed the odd clouds roll in this afternoon I thought there would be a decent shot at a good sunset, so I headed down to the Port of Oakland, a location I've been meaning to check out. The sunset started out mediocre, but just when I had given up on any color the entire sky exploded in pink - it was incredible! Even more photogenic was the lingering color in the sky, visible even after it was almost completely dark. I used a long exposure to bring the colors out even more.
I like to call those kinds of sunsets "slow burn".
It's been a really long couple of weeks for me, but seeing a sunset like this over San Francisco makes all of that stress disappear. I love this city!
Canon 5D, 100-400L, f/10, ISO 50.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Evening Commute, Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is an incredibly charming and photogenic city. For the better part of an afternoon I simply sat and waited for interesting things to walk by. I love this strategy in travel photography because I absorb more of the feeling of a place when I pause and watch the world go by around me.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
San Francisco Bay Bridge and Skyline at Twilight
I finally took this iconic shot the other night, too (same evening as "San Francisco on Ice").
It was a stunning afternoon in the Bay Area - warm, still, and clear as a bell - and the perfect conditions for this shot. In order to get the bridge lights to "star", I used a small aperture combined with a long exposure (over 2 minutes).
Now that I've gotten these two out of my system, I can concentrate on more creative shots of the Bay. I have a lot of ideas I'm excited to try out.
Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/22, 121s, ISO 50. No filters.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
San Francisco on Ice
So this has become a pretty popular spot for photography along the Embarcadero. I hadn't shot this yet, though, and couldn't pass up the chance... It's a pretty compelling composition, even if it is kinda obvious by now :)
I titled this "San Francisco on Ice" because the silky-smooth water reminds me of ice. I hope it never gets that cold here, though!
Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/6.3, 121s, ISO 50.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Point Bonita
Point Bonita is a wind-whipped, dramatic outcropping just outside the Golden Gate Bridge. I like the long shutter speed in this image, which I think gives it a sense of tranquility.
Canon 5D, 100-400L, f/16, 5s, ISO 50.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wallowing Water Buffalo
I found this guy cooling off on a ridiculously hot day in Hoi An, Vietnam. I so wanted to jump in the water with him!
Boston Panorama
I was looking through my files for something else and ran across this, a panorama taken in the summer of 2007. I lived in Boston for two years and really love the city. I took this panorama from the observation deck in the Prudential tower - one of my favorite views anywhere!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blue Hour on Sydney Harbour
I love Sydney. It's similar in a lot of ways to my native San Francisco, not least in its photogenic-ness!
This is one of my favorite views of Sydney's two most recognizable icons: the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This image was taken from Luna Park, on the north side of the city.
Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/14, 91s, ISO 50.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Woman Lighting Butter Lamps, Boudha, Nepal
After the sun set, Tibetan buddhists lit yak butter candles around Bodnath stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. I loved the beautiful light they gave off.
Canon 5D, 70-200L, f/4, 1/20
See more of my photography at www.dellahuffphotography.com
Monday, September 14, 2009
The McDonald Family - Happy Anniversary!
Cathy loves a man in uniform! ;)
The Golden, Foggy Gate
Low fog flowed through the Golden Gate last Friday evening.
The tech: Canon 5D, 100-400L, ISO 50
Monday, September 7, 2009
Violet Hour on Sausalito Harbor and San Francisco
Tonight's twilight settled in over the city with gorgeous pink and violet tones.
This was a view I'd been wanting to shoot for over a year, but the conditions (read: CLEAR) never worked out when I was near this spot. In a perfect world I would shoot this mid-winter in the middle of the week so more lights were on in the buildings in SF, but this will do for now -- I love that late-summer violet twilight color. Shot from Marin.
Techie: Canon 5D, 100-400L, f/8, 30sec, ISO 50.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Summer Stunner: Sunset Over San Francisco Bay
I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor from tonight's sunset, definitely one of the most beautiful I've ever seen over San Francisco. The color and clouds were incredible, but equally amazing was the warm, still air at sunset, which felt like being in a comfortable room, and which made the view seem even more unreal somehow.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Published! "From Delhi to Bali: Travels in Southeast Asia"
I used Blurb to put my book together and even though I haven't seen the finished product yet, I recommend them highly. I've used a couple of other self-publishing services and Blurb has the best, most user-friendly, and most versatile software that I've seen. There are virtually no limits to what you can do... just your creativity!
I can't wait to see the book in print! I'll post an update when it arrives.
If you're interested in ordering a copy of the book, let me know. I might make it "buyable" if there is enough interest.
Enjoy!
Monday, August 24, 2009
National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest Entries
I entered four images in three categories: Travel Portraits, Sense of Place, and Outdoor Scenes. Here are my entries:
http://www.worldinfocuscontest.com/bin/Rate?image_id=1006813968
The Old Fisherman, Hoi An, Vietnam
I captured this image of an elderly fisherman in the seaside town of Hoi An, Vietnam. Though we did not share a language, we shared the universal language of smiles... and his smile was unforgettable.
http://www.
Taj Mahal Dawn Reflections
The night before I captured this image, a sandstorm howled in Agra, India and I was afraid the air would be choked with dust for my sunrise photo plans. The opposite turned out to be true, and the morning dawned with an incredible sky. As I was photographing, a local stopped by to say hello. He told me that clear mornings like this happen only a few days per year in Agra. It was a once in a lifetime view, and a morning I'll surely never forget.
http://www.
Perigee Moonrise, Joshua Tree National Park
The perigee full moon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth, and thus appears at its largest. Joshua Tree National Park was, to me, the best place to capture this special moonrise. The desert stillness and the beauty of the moon create a sense of eternal stillness and timelessness.
http://www.
McWay Falls Sunset
McWay Falls is one of the most beautiful places in California, and probably on Earth. McWay Creek tumbles down a granite cliff directly into a turquoise cove in the roiling Pacific. When I captured this image, I was the only person enjoying this sunset. The solitude and beauty were nearly overwhelming. If a heaven exists, I hope that it looks something like this.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
San Francisco Summer Sunset
I watched the sunset from my deck in the Berkeley Hills this evening, watching the fog hover just beyond downtown. Lately it's been rushing in just before sunset and obscuring the whole bay, but tonight it held off just long enough to catch a gorgeous twilight settling on the City. I rushed out and took this on Grizzly Peak Road above UC Berkeley, a few minutes' drive from my house.
Canon 5D, 100-400L @ 310mm, f/18, 30sec, ISO 50.
