Silhouette Reflections, Golden Gate Bridge

Silhouette Reflections, Golden Gate Bridge, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

Another image from the other evening's sunset at Horseshoe Cove, Fort Baker in Marin County, just under the Golden Gate Bridge.

The water was gently rippling, so I used a long exposure to emphasize the reflections.

Does anyone who understands wave properties and optics better than I do know why the vertical reflections come out so strong, but the horizontal reflections don't come out at all? I'm curious.

Canon 5D, Canon 24-70L, f/22, 30s, ISO 50. No filters.

Twilight Reflections, Fort Baker

Twilight Reflections, Fort Baker, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

I had Veteran's Day off yesterday so I spent the day hiking in the Marin Headlands and caught the sunset at Fort Baker, at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. I loved the colorful reflections and the sailboats in the foreground.

Canon 5D, 24-70L, f/9, 30s, ISO 50. No filters.

Golden Gate Balancing Act II

Golden Gate Balancing Act II, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

I'm sure you're getting sick of my Golden Gate Bridge + sunset posts... unfortunately all the time I've had for photography recently has been shots from my roof at sunset ;-)

Fortunately, though, I have some fun shoots planned for Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates with me!

Canon 5D, Canon 100-400L, f/9, 1/400, ISO 50. No filters.

Autumn Sunset over San Francisco

Autumn Sunset, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

Tonight's sunset, the end of a beautiful fall day.

Canon 5D, 100-400L

Smoking Mt. Bromo, Java, Indonesia

Smoking Mt. Bromo, Java, Indonesia, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Golden Gate: Green Flash!

Golden Gate: Green Flash!, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Giggling Apsaras, Angkor Wat

Giggling Apsaras, Angkor Wat, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

[International] Orange Impression, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Autumn at Valley View, Yosemite

Autumn at Valley View, Yosemite, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Golden Gate Balancing Act

Golden Gate Balancing Act, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

The Leaning Tree over the Merced, Yosemite

The Leaning Tree over the Merced, Yosemite, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Autumn Reflection, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite

Autumn Reflection, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Bay Bridge Blue Hour

Bay Bridge Blue Hour, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

Golden Gate Sunset

Golden Gate Sunset, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

San Francisco Stormcloud II

San Francisco Stormcloud II, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

San Francisco Storm Cloud

San Francisco Storm Cloud, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

Fire in the Sky over San Francisco, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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/

San Francisco Slow Burn

San Francisco Slow Burn, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Evening Commute, Hoi An, Vietnam

Evening Commute, Hoi An, Vietnam, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

San Francisco Bay Bridge and Skyline at Twilight

San Francisco Icon, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

San Francisco on Ice

San Francisco on Ice, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Point Bonita

Point Bonita, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Wallowing Water Buffalo

Wallowing Water Buffalo, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

Boston Panorama, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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!

Blue Hour on Sydney Harbour

Blue Hour on Sydney Harbour, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Woman Lighting Butter Lamps, Boudha, Nepal

Woman Lighting Butter Lamps, Boudha, Nepal, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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

The McDonald Family - Happy Anniversary!

Our good family friends celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary recently and I took a few portraits at the occasion. They even dressed up in their wedding duds! It's great to see a couple with such a great sense of humor and still so in love 40 years later. Tom and Cathy, I hope you enjoy these photos!

[click images to view larger]

The lovely couple

Members of the original wedding party

The handsome groom

The beautiful bride

With their lovely daughter, Megan

Cathy loves a man in uniform! ;)

Cathy's adorable bonnet-veil

The Golden, Foggy Gate

The Golden, Foggy Gate, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

Low fog flowed through the Golden Gate last Friday evening.


The tech: Canon 5D, 100-400L, ISO 50

Violet Hour on Sausalito Harbor and San Francisco

Violet Hour on Sausalito Harbor and San Francisco, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.

Summer Stunner: Sunset Over San Francisco Bay

Summer Stunner: Sunset Over San Francisco Bay, originally uploaded by Della Huff Photography.

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.