Paradise ( 世外桃源 )

Valley of Wild Calla Lilies ( 山谷中野生马蹄莲 ) .

You know Spring has arrived when you see wild flowers blooming on empty fields. This valley that is in the middle of nowhere is an amazing place to visit during the season. With the sunset glow setting the mood, one can easily be mesmerized by the abundance of these flowers surrounding you. This year, I was able to capture this during the peak bloom of the flowers. For a short time in a year, white, tall calla lilies filled the entire valley floor and turned it into a paradise scene.

Although these calla lilies are done for the season now, I sure hope to come back again next year!

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

In Midst of Mist ( 霧鎖金門 )

Foggy Golden Gate Scene with a Bay Bridge Tower Peaking Through at the Back. San Francisco, CA.

A black and white rendition of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge engulfed by the morning fog. Please pardon me for being lazy to write today, but I hope you like this image nonetheless. I will try to share something more interesting on my next post. Have a great week ahead!

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

Pathway to Light

Waves rushed through sea stack channel. Santa Cruz, CA.

This spot is notorious for its slick rock surface that you can see from this image. Getting to this photo spot and moving around here can be quite dangerous. Even rocks that look dry are deceivingly slippery. I have heard of several accidents happened here - from people falling into that channel to minor incidents like dropping their cameras or accessories here - and had witnessed a couple of incidents first hand as well. What's not obvious here really is just how deep that crack is. It quickly dip to at least 6-12 feet deep in that channel as far as I can see when the water retreated. Personally, while I'd never encountered any danger while shooting here (knock on wood), I have had a camera taken by these waves and buried underneath this crack. That's why I wanted to come back to get this shot.

When I saw thin clouds covering the sky, I knew my opportunity has come. I quickly drove to this area and was delighted to see nice subtle cloud texture in the sky with diffused sunlight illuminating these rocks, eliciting that orange glow from both sides. The usual strong surf from this area created some nice rushing wave patterns through that channel and the alignment of the setting sun which can be seen for only a few weeks in a year completed the scene!

This is my redemption shot...Hope you enjoy this picture as much as I do. :)

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

Rodeo Sunset

View of Sea Stacks in Marin, CA.

The Bay Area has finally gotten some much needed rain in the last two weeks. This was taken at the tail end of the first storm that passed by the area. Seeing the storm was going to tail-off right at sunset time in the North, I went to this beach in Marin to check out these famous sea stacks. Things looked promising when I arrived. The clouds were getting some nice orange glow from the setting sun. I setup and took a few shots. Unfortunately, the light faded very quickly soon after I took this as thick dark clouds won over the sky. This was the best I managed to get that evening. Anyway, hope everyone is enjoying the rain!

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

Colored Dream ( 晨梦色彩 )

Sunrise at the Pier in Santa Cruz.

As it was my first time to visit this location, my friend and I wanted to come early to look for the place. In the process, I left home in a rush and forgot my coffee on the counter top. Without my morning coffee, I drove to meet up with my friend feeling half asleep. We managed to arrive really early and there was not another soul on this beach. When blue hour came, I took a few frames and my pictures showed what looked like an overcast sky with dark patches of thick clouds near the horizon. I started to doubt our decision and felt uninspired. Even with several waves rushed in to almost knee deep high, it was not enough to keep me awake. I was in a hypnagogic state at that point. My mind wandered away then all of a sudden a hint of orange light started to lit the underside of the cloud blanket! As I noticed bigger portion of the sky turning pink and orange, my adrenaline kicked in and I became more awake than any coffee can do for me!

This would turned out to be one of the best sunrises I have witnessed in recent memory with my camera on hand. The colors lasted for merely few minutes, but it was enough for me to make a few shots and found one that I like. The peak condition couldn't have come at a better time with the deck lights still on.

On this morning, no coffee was needed and I woke up to a colored dream! ...Hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Until next time...

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

Nature's Fireworks

Sun Beam Lighting Up the Sea Splash. Big Sur, CA.

For a few weeks in a year, the setting sun aligns perfectly with this Tafoni sandstone arch to cast a light beam through the portal. When combined with the right tide level and surf, sun rays will light up the splash from the waves making it looks like fireworks. While all of that was happening during the shoot, a bird decided to participate and stood there acting as my instant model. Even though the light show ended early that day when the sun hid behind the incoming marine layer, I definitely had a fun time at the beach shooting this scene.

Updates: This picture won the 7th place in the 2014 Bay Area Photo Contest sponsored and organized by Pashadelic Landscape Photography, and Tamron USA.

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Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.

Heart of San Francisco

There are certain things in life that are better seen or appreciated from afar. Such was the feeling I got looking at this view of downtown San Francisco on this night. I have been to the city for countless times over the years. On most trips though, I felt rushed and stressed out - may it be due to the traffic, some reckless driver cutting into my lane, fighting for some precious parking spots, or just simply the hectic pace of busy urban life - and that kinda got me preoccupied and prevented me from appreciating the beauty of the city up close while being there.

As I stood here waiting for the sky to get dark, I got to observe just how vibrant and alive the city was. I was also particularly attracted to the S-curve freeway that nicely led cars in and out of the city center (thus the title) and conveyed a sense of how busy the city really is at any given time. The holiday lights topped it all off just like makeups being worn by a lovely lady.

Hope everyone had a great holiday break, and may 2014 be as bright and "vibrant" to you like how the beacon shined in this night sky!

All Images and Content Copyright © Wilson Ng Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Please Do Not Use or Copy Without Written Permission from Wilson Ng.