This and the next post take place between July 2016 and December 2017. I was living in Silicon Valley, but I went all over, mainly around California and Washington.
![My girlfriend took this picture for me that I've been using as a profile picture ever since. Do you want to see what I took for her? Spoiler alert: it's not good. 😂 ](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-16_20-40-22.png)

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After graduation, my girlfriend and I ended up working in different cities. She accepted an offer from Amazon in Seattle while I went for Facebook in Silicon Valley. We weren't sure how long we'd have to do this long-distance relationship, but that didn't bother us much. 

For the first time in our lives, we lived on the money we earned, and we were getting paid generously. We've never been to Seattle or Silicon Valley before, so everything is new, refreshing, and exciting. We would take turns visiting others or meet up at a third location. I also explored my local area with my friends over the weekends.

With all this traveling and exploring, I shot a lot of different stuff during this period. Mostly wildlife, cityscape, landscape, portrait, travel, and nightscape. I wasn't sure which kind of photography I'd like to dig deep into, but I'm interested in finding that out.

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## July 2-10, 2016
We first stopped by California to settle down my stuff and check out San Francisco when we returned to the US. Then we went to Seattle to set up hers. We also went to the top of Space Needle to enjoy the nightscape.

![THE spot for a famous composition, but I didn't see it back then, so I just snapped a few random compositions](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C2087060-A25F-4210-9279-FC8AC5AA7556_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## September 4, 2016
My girlfriend came to visit me, and we went to this famous coastal city Monterey for a day trip. Monterey has now become one of the Mac OS's version's names! 😆

![I love the sea, so I took a picture of the sea](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DF5B2831-B6E2-4388-A130-57FDB27D1514_1_101_o.jpeg)
![I like to include people in the scene so that it feels there's something to look at](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/0AF45BB7-E7B9-4206-988D-343DE0D80601_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Having people in the frame also felt a bit more dynamic](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4AD76EA5-4922-44DA-8039-48BF20B985DE_1_101_o.jpeg)
![I couldn't help but snap a few shots of squirrles](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B5FE6123-81CD-4708-A5FF-0750D5EDD51B_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Aquirrium was a fun place to shot weird fish](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/360BA3EB-28BB-462B-BCEF-1EAECBABD1B5_1_105_c.jpeg)
![More weird stuff](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6D552C62-D067-458B-BFCD-B83EA7DE19A0_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Some are quite amazing](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/60352BC8-27AE-4A63-B846-128C95C0431D_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## October 28-30, 2016
Our first time traveling to Canada and our first time seeing fall color! It was super beautiful and memorable!

![Taking picture for my girlfriend was a must](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5593F77B-55E4-4F08-9C9D-C7B929C5812D_1_101_o.jpeg)
![I like watching wildlife do their things](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/F31B1F19-7051-4DC6-9922-D57A98CC9B69_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Love the carriage and the vibrant tree on the right](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/190FFCEE-5DC6-41A5-A67F-6DB1A98E1EFE_1_105_c.jpeg)
![Trying to includes more colors by getting close to the leaves](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D09F6DCB-51BA-48C8-A499-0CC1439060B9_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Try shooting through droplet](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/43155783-88B4-4E3E-9CCF-BA71743F1C35_1_101_o.jpeg)
![The trees and bridges in the distance looks nice together](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/FC6B16E2-47BF-4083-B247-7E4371A08CDD_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Taking the chances to shot city's nightscape](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8611BAFC-490D-4444-8094-4B4103A9AC47_1_201_a.jpeg)
![Whale specimen from below. I like the symmetry and the tension](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/471EBF85-F607-477F-B1EA-BB7605019BFE_1_101_o.jpeg)

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## December 4, 2016

Around this time, I started to notice how fun it was to shoot wildlife. But my 24-105mm and 24-70mm just aren't long enough. So I purchased one of the best telephoto lenses at the time: Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L II. At 400mm, it can make distanced blurry object looks enormous in my frame, and the image quality was second to none. 

I took the lens out to Baylands Natural Preserve for the afternoon. Unfortunately, it felt so big and heavy and attention-drawing that I figured I wouldn't dare and feel comfortable to use it too often. So I returned it within 30 days.

![I like shooting airplanes from the bottom](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B9C2D5B4-BCE5-4C3E-A108-5E68086E7C3A_1_105_c.jpeg)
![The image quality was superb that I can feel the texture of the fur](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/2EAB787E-DAA3-4966-A4FC-3E92BFC49B25_1_101_o.jpeg)
![It even capture the water splashes!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/380E8148-A28B-418C-ADAC-F0D73C0373E1_1_201_a.jpeg)

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## Dec 24, 2016

After returning the telephoto lens, I purchased a Canon 50mm F1.8 STM prime lens. I was convinced prime lens has better image quality, and with a bigger aperture, it will come with nicer bokeh. Someone on the internet also advocates that with a prime lens, you'll eventually learn how to compose images better by walking around more, which now I think is non-sense. 

We found a neighborhood with a full-blown Christmas decoration to enjoy the holiday and take pictures.

![Deliberatly out of focus shot to emphasize the LED lights](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/F83FB90C-D883-4A01-AE37-42DFE5903962_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Another one](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3A60EA30-258C-4818-BFC3-8CE9C814B827_1_101_o.jpeg)
![The bokeh was nice for sure. But the face was backlit and looks dark 😅](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EFF90DBD-D010-4806-872A-A0950DC38844_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## Dec 25-30, 2016

During Christmas and New Year, we had 2 consecutive long weekends. So if we also take time off in between, we can create an 11-day long vacation. And that's what we did. We decided to use this time for our first-ever road trip in the US.

We went from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles for Disneyland and back, taking famous California's Highway 1 to enjoy the coastline along the way. It was the first time we realized we could drive long-distance and enjoy the whole trip, and we really appreciate the freedom and flexibility that comes with it. This trip became the first that inspired the many other road trips we have taken since then.


![This is when I get the profile picture that I've been using for years!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-16_20-40-22.png)
![My shot for my girlfriend was pretty bad 😂](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8867DB2D-8540-452D-998E-C0173237ED9D_1_101_o.jpeg)
![We win this giant minion from a carnival game. The waiter was amused. It still lives in our living room today](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/98DB77B2-7EB4-43C3-976A-56C2AF09AF8D_1_201_a.jpeg)

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## Feb 11-14, 2017

After the Christmas road trip, we couldn't wait to get back on the road. So on our 4th anniversary, we went to Las Vegas and roadtrip to Grand Canyon. We realized we don't care much about city lives and enjoy the outdoors a bit more.

I also switch my camera to always save RAW+JPEG. Even though I still didn't bother to post-process my photo until later in the year, I felt there was no harm in saving those files.

![I start loving having small people in the frame to contrast the scale of a grand landscape](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/67082A03-B801-4A53-B67C-D7346899102A_1_105_c.jpeg)

![Buying some souvenirs from the visiting center and took tourist photos](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3D4B7A4D-B28C-45C6-9481-CE0307BD7B7E_1_201_a.jpeg)

![At Hoover Dam, I was imagining the scene in Transformers](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/33559CDD-C972-4C7D-A364-8300C8B20C2A_1_105_c.jpeg)

![Elphant-shaped rocks. We were more impressed with Valley of Fire State Park than Grand Canyon after this trip](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/37EBD259-4ABA-424B-8B63-CC9EEF531A22_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## March 25, 2017
Since I still need a telephoto lens to shoot wildlife, I researched all the lenses with telephoto capability and decided on this 28-300mm lens from Tamron. It was super lightweight, and the image quality looked indistinguishable from Canon's lens to me back then. I was so proud that I found this versatile all-in-one lens.

![300mm](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/A40A6B96-A9CB-4F24-8CAC-193ECA28CE2B_1_105_c.jpeg)
![300mm](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DE3CDAA4-3AE1-4793-8343-11DE000C6229_1_201_a.jpeg)
![Squrrels again, at 300mm](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3C1AAF34-FF2E-4B5D-923C-B257EA5C08E7_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## April 4, 2017

We went to Yosemite for the first time! It was also our second National Park after Grand Canyon. I really appreciate American's National Park system that it's very easy to find things to do with very little research. We just need to show up and get that free yet well-designed brochure at the entrance. For this trip, we also ask a ranger for recommendations and simply follow that. 

At the time, I had no idea of the picturesque potential of Yosemite, nor did I know the benefit of shooting during sunrise and sunset. So we just went out mid-day like a normal person. 😆

![The classic tunnel view](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/016A31CA-DA6B-4E4A-9422-2A4C236C0BBE_1_105_c.jpeg)
![Yosemite falls](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D3A7B60F-0713-4020-845C-414864751DB1_1_201_a.jpeg)
![We also join a ranger walkabout bears. We thought he would take us to see a real bear 🤣](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/9E022188-A2BD-4E47-BA62-145D31E84702_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## April 23, 2017

My friend found this local park: Rancho San Antonio Country Park, which has many animals. So we went for a hike, and I took some wildlife pictures.
![Squrrels again.](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D3A6291A-CE01-4A9F-9757-A2CD68E6CA96_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Turkey](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/784FAE76-C211-4D83-9E55-2CCAEF09FDD5_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/CC38474B-7F31-49DA-A874-DA704D9B2527_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C9800DA6-818E-43D6-B411-AE73BD433FAA_1_101_o.jpeg)

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## May 6-7, 2017

Now that we're in love with American National Park, my friends and I went to Seattle to check out Mt Rainier National Park for the first time. We had no idea it was still snow-covered in May and that I'd be coming back like it's my backyard.

![I like that gentle lights touching the snow](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5073AA6F-284C-4357-89AC-387B55D1D211_1_105_c.jpeg)
![I love taking candid photos of my friends](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/642B12FA-AAF7-4255-8A49-349724C5D374_1_105_c.jpeg)
![It gives me great satisfaction when these candid photos contain actions that strongly draw the viewer's attention](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/868A779D-A23B-4623-8054-7A9AC44E6A2E_1_105_c.jpeg)
![It also works similarly with wildlife. You know something is going on just by looking at the photo](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/55C51DC4-D5EA-4D9C-8070-053BA79C9177_1_101_o.jpeg)

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As you can probably tell, I was drawn into nature a lot. I don't have any successful landscape photos yet, but I have a small taste of success with wildlife and candid photos that I really love.

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這篇跟下篇的時間點發生在 2016 年 7 月到 2017 年 12 月，我住在加州矽谷，王文昱在西雅圖，所以我們主要都在加州跟華盛頓州到處趴趴走。

![王文昱幫我拍的照片被我當作大頭貼到現在，想要看我幫她拍的版本的話請繼續下滑 😂](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-14_18-18-36.png)

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畢業後王文昱拿了 Amazon 的正職在西雅圖，然後我拿了 Facebook 的在矽谷。遠距離雖然有點麻煩，也不知道什麼時候能夠結束，但我們當時也沒太糾結。畢竟我們終於開始花自己賺的錢過著舒適的生活，再加上我們從來沒有來過加州跟西雅圖，所以什麼都超級新鮮有趣。我們說好輪流去對方的城市玩，或是選個第三點去探險。週末我也常常會跟在加州的朋友到處探索。

在這樣的生活下到處拍了各種東西，主題主要是野生動物、城市、風景、人、旅遊跟夜景，我不知道自己喜歡或擅長拍什麼，但還蠻想要有個可以專注發展的主題的。

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## July 2-10, 2016

從台灣回來美國後我們先到加州搞定我的住宿，順便逛了一下舊金山。接著一起去西雅圖搞定王文昱的東西，也順便逛了一下西雅圖市區，還跑到 Space Needle 上面看夜景。

![當時不知道後退幾步有個金門大橋的一個超級經典的構圖，所以就只拍下了自己隨便選的構圖](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C2087060-A25F-4210-9279-FC8AC5AA7556_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## September 4, 2016

王文昱跑來加州找我，一起去 Monterey 這個加州的海邊小鎮一日遊，這個地名現在也升格成蘋果作業系統的版本名字之一了 XD

![覺得海很漂亮就拍了海](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DF5B2831-B6E2-4388-A130-57FDB27D1514_1_101_o.jpeg)
![那時候喜歡把路人一起拍進來，覺得畫面好像比較有東西可以看](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/0AF45BB7-E7B9-4206-988D-343DE0D80601_1_101_o.jpeg)
![路人的一些動作會讓畫面看起來也比較有動感](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4AD76EA5-4922-44DA-8039-48BF20B985DE_1_101_o.jpeg)
![看到松鼠還是會拍個幾張](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B5FE6123-81CD-4708-A5FF-0750D5EDD51B_1_101_o.jpeg)
![水族館的可愛生物](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/360BA3EB-28BB-462B-BCEF-1EAECBABD1B5_1_105_c.jpeg)
![我記得幾年前台灣有個很流行的大頭貼跟這個蠻像的](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6D552C62-D067-458B-BFCD-B83EA7DE19A0_1_101_o.jpeg)
![吶喊的沙丁魚](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/60352BC8-27AE-4A63-B846-128C95C0431D_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## October 28-30, 2016

第一次去加拿大溫哥華，也是第一次看到厲害的秋景！

![出門玩總是要幫女朋友拍個照](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5593F77B-55E4-4F08-9C9D-C7B929C5812D_1_101_o.jpeg)
![很喜歡看動物做他們自己](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/F31B1F19-7051-4DC6-9922-D57A98CC9B69_1_101_o.jpeg)
![很喜歡馬車跟右邊的橘黃色秋葉](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/190FFCEE-5DC6-41A5-A67F-6DB1A98E1EFE_1_105_c.jpeg)
![試著要讓畫面有更多豔黃色的落葉](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D09F6DCB-51BA-48C8-A499-0CC1439060B9_1_101_o.jpeg)
![試著透過水滴拍照](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/43155783-88B4-4E3E-9CCF-BA71743F1C35_1_101_o.jpeg)
![覺得遠方的橋跟樹搭起來還蠻和諧的](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/FC6B16E2-47BF-4083-B247-7E4371A08CDD_1_101_o.jpeg)
![拍了一下溫哥華的夜景](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8611BAFC-490D-4444-8094-4B4103A9AC47_1_201_a.jpeg)
![鯨魚標本，蠻喜歡對稱跟張力](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/471EBF85-F607-477F-B1EA-BB7605019BFE_1_101_o.jpeg)

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## December 4, 2016

在這附近我開始覺得拍野生動物很好玩，但是 24-70mm 或 24-105mm 的焦段不夠長拍起來實在有點吃力，就入手了一個當時最頂級的望遠變焦鏡頭 Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L II。400mm 可以把遠方肉眼都看不清楚的東西放大到超大，畫質還超級好，真的是猛到爆。

我帶著這顆鏡頭去附近的一個自然保護區 Baylands Natural Preserve 拍了一個下午，可惜覺得鏡頭實在是太重太大又很招搖，想想這樣的情況下之後應該出勤率可能不會太高，就把他退回去了。

![拍飛機的肚皮](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B9C2D5B4-BCE5-4C3E-A108-5E68086E7C3A_1_105_c.jpeg)
![畫質好到完全可以感受到羽毛的質地](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/2EAB787E-DAA3-4966-A4FC-3E92BFC49B25_1_101_o.jpeg)
![甚至連濺落的小水花都拍下來了](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/380E8148-A28B-418C-ADAC-F0D73C0373E1_1_201_a.jpeg)

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## Dec 24, 2016

退回望遠鏡之後買了 Canon 50mm F1.8 STM 這顆定焦鏡。那時候覺得定焦鏡的畫質好像比較好，大光圈又可以有更好的散景，而且網路上還看到有人說拿定焦鏡拍照有助於學習構圖，就買了。不過後來覺得對我學習構圖沒什麼幫助就是。

聖誕夜我們找到了一個充滿聖誕裝飾的社區去感受過節氣氛，順便拍拍照。

![刻意失焦來讓 LED 燈變超大的光點](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/F83FB90C-D883-4A01-AE37-42DFE5903962_1_101_o.jpeg)
![一樣的概念](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3A60EA30-258C-4818-BFC3-8CE9C814B827_1_101_o.jpeg)
![定焦鏡散景的確是很不錯，不過背光拍把臉都拍黑了 😅](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EFF90DBD-D010-4806-872A-A0950DC38844_1_105_c.jpeg)

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## Dec 25-30, 2016

聖誕節跟跨年是美國我們有連續兩週的四天長假，所以把中間的週間也請掉的話搭配週末就可以湊出一個十一天的長假，覺得不能浪費的我們決定來個長途自駕旅行。

我們決定從矽谷開到洛杉磯去迪士尼樂園玩再開回來，走了以風景優美著稱的加州一號公路，沿途在海岸線上的各個景點停停走走。整趟下來開了大概 1600 公里，不僅創下了我們第一次長途自駕的紀錄，還愛上了長途自駕這種自由彈性的玩法，於是有了後來無數次的旅程。

![王文昱在海邊幫我拍的大頭貼](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-14_18-18-36.png)
![我幫她拍的，覺得有點糟 😂](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8867DB2D-8540-452D-998E-C0173237ED9D_1_101_o.jpeg)
![在環球影城玩遊戲贏了個超大的 minion，服務生覺得很有趣 😂 現在還在我們家客廳](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/98DB77B2-7EB4-43C3-976A-56C2AF09AF8D_1_201_a.jpeg)

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## Feb 11-14, 2017

有了跨年的長途自駕後經驗，四週年的紀念日我們迫不及待的又來了一趟。這次我們飛到拉斯維加斯然後租車去大峽谷跟周邊的一些景點，覺得戶外踏青還是遠比城市生活來得有吸引力。

同時我也把相機設定成拍 RAW+JPEG，雖然當時還是不知道要怎麼後製，但覺得反正檔案存下來也沒有損失。

![開始愛上用風景裡的小小人來構圖](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/67082A03-B801-4A53-B67C-D7346899102A_1_105_c.jpeg)

![買紀念品拍遊客照](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3D4B7A4D-B28C-45C6-9481-CE0307BD7B7E_1_201_a.jpeg)

![去朝聖有變形金剛出現過的胡佛大壩](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/33559CDD-C972-4C7D-A364-8300C8B20C2A_1_105_c.jpeg)

![Valley of Fire State Park 有個很像長毛象的石頭，我們這趟結束後一致覺得這邊比大峽谷好玩](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/37EBD259-4ABA-424B-8B63-CC9EEF531A22_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## March 25, 2017

為了繼續拍野生動物，我地毯式的找遍了所有有望遠端的鏡頭，最後買了 Tamron 的 28-300mm。他超級輕便、相對便宜、畫質在我當時看來也沒有比原廠鏡還差，超級驕傲自己發現了這顆無敵鏡頭 XD

![300mm](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/A40A6B96-A9CB-4F24-8CAC-193ECA28CE2B_1_105_c.jpeg)
![300mm](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DE3CDAA4-3AE1-4793-8343-11DE000C6229_1_201_a.jpeg)
![300mm，又是松鼠 XD](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3C1AAF34-FF2E-4B5D-923C-B257EA5C08E7_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## April 4-5, 2017

第一次去優勝美地！也是大峽谷之後的第二個國家公園。覺得美國的國家公園有很棒的一致性，除了網站的導覽做得很好之外，只要人到了那邊，入園的時候都會拿到很詳細的攻略，也可以找遊客中心的 ranger 幫你推薦行程，這趟基本上就是單純的跟著 ranger 推薦的路線走。

當時完全不知道優勝美地可以被拍的多美，也還不知道要在日出日落的時候拍照，所以我們就像個正常人一樣用正常人的方式在日正當中遊園 XD

![經典的 tunnel view](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/016A31CA-DA6B-4E4A-9422-2A4C236C0BBE_1_105_c.jpeg)
![Yosemite falls](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D3A7B60F-0713-4020-845C-414864751DB1_1_201_a.jpeg)
![我們還加入了 ranger 帶的熊的導覽，還傻傻以為可以看到真的熊 🤣](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/9E022188-A2BD-4E47-BA62-145D31E84702_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## April 23, 2017

週末跟朋友去了一個家附近有很多野生動物的公園：Rancho San Antonio Country Park

![繼續拍松鼠](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D3A6291A-CE01-4A9F-9757-A2CD68E6CA96_1_101_o.jpeg)
![火雞](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/784FAE76-C211-4D83-9E55-2CCAEF09FDD5_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/CC38474B-7F31-49DA-A874-DA704D9B2527_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C9800DA6-818E-43D6-B411-AE73BD433FAA_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## May 6-7, 2017

愛上國家公園的行程之後，跟朋友去西雅圖找王文昱順便去 Mt Rainier 國家公園。當時不知道五月的時候其實山上還都是雪，也不知道之後會把這邊當後花園的在去 XD

![入園前在路邊看到的景，覺得光線很美](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5073AA6F-284C-4357-89AC-387B55D1D211_1_105_c.jpeg)
![我發現我很喜歡拍一些同伴的自然照片](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/642B12FA-AAF7-4255-8A49-349724C5D374_1_105_c.jpeg)
![有時候會意外拍到一些有很強的動感或故事性的照片，會覺得超有成就感](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/868A779D-A23B-4623-8054-7A9AC44E6A2E_1_105_c.jpeg)
![同樣的動感跟成就感也會發生在拍野生動物上面](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/55C51DC4-D5EA-4D9C-8070-053BA79C9177_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

到這邊應該不難看出來，我們非常喜歡去戶外跟大自然接觸，雖然還沒有拍出很成功的純風景照，但已經開始體驗到了拍到很有趣的野生動物或朋友的照片時的成就感了。

---

- 前一篇：[第一台單眼相機](https://yuchienphoto.com/tw/p/my-first-dslr)
- 下一篇：[遠距離戀愛 (下)](https://yuchienphoto.com/tw/p/long-distance-relationships-p2)

- Follow [FB: Yu-Chien Photography 北美風景攝影筆記](https://www.facebook.com/yuchienphotography) 訂閱新文章
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Photography Journey

2. Long distance relationships period (1)

2. 遠距離戀愛時期 (上)

... continue from: [Long distance relationships (1)](https://yuchienphoto.com/p/long-distance-relationships-p1)

## May 28, 2017 @ Muir Woods National Monument

I purchased my second camera: Canon 5D Mark IV. It was one of the flagship cameras from Canon at the time that many professionals use! I don't remember the exact reason behind this purchase, but I probably had enough money saved up and the desire to take my photography to the next level. 5D Mark IV is indeed better than 6D, and the upgrade was noticeable in many aspects.

![We found this cutest baby fox along the trail!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/43FA6797-99DD-4A19-9C9F-9051F5541CBB_1_101_o.jpeg)

![The shape of these flowers looks interesting to me](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/AFA6615A-E6DF-403F-8C85-70837A5B5C3A_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## June 3, 2017
My girlfriend visited me again, and we went to Lake Tahoe. Besides photography, I was also considering cycling as a hobby. Back in college, when I had no car or motorcycle, I used to cycle to the nearby mountains and joined my University's cycling club. But somehow, riding a bike doesn't feel as enjoyable anymore, so this hobby didn't take off.

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3605434B-4B2A-43B8-B873-9141C06A7859_1_101_o.jpeg)

![I tried to shoot Milky Way, but I have no idea which direction to point my camera. Also, the moonlight was so intense that I couldn't even see the stars](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3672F972-0E35-45C4-AC1C-796108900AEB_1_101_o.jpeg)

![We are trying to mimic how the conductor enjoying the music (nature)](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1AA15EAF-8D7F-4374-9471-FF0B3F169B55_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## June 17, 2017
We went to San Diego for my friend's graduation ceremony. I almost went here for my graduate degree, so I was curious to see what I've missed!

![Some interesting architechture](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/55E01C98-EC34-4F55-BA8B-CD00692BEFA3_1_201_a.jpeg)
![Taking group pics for my friends](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D86FBDD9-B191-4716-8323-2C17220F9B8F_1_101_o.jpeg)
![And of course, taking some candid pictures as well](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/007039A6-F101-4D69-A460-96DB61C1CC9C_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

## June 28, 2017

I bought my first wide-angle lens! It was the classic Cannon 16-35mm F4 L, and I immediately used it to try capturing a timelapse from my apartment. 
![](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CQOlBVimlU)

---

## July 23-24, 2017

So far, most of my trips have been either with my girlfriend or my friends, and I seldom went alone just for photography. But I started to want a better success rate during the outing, so I decided to go alone this weekend to try the Milky way shot.

![The sunset at Shark Fin Cove was quite beautiful, and I was excited for the stars to shows up](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B8D5388C-0CFA-4069-A9DA-106145EDF6CA_1_201_a.jpeg)
![Unfortunetly, it fogged out. And I also realized there's a lot of light pollution going on](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E79FE970-5969-4E03-9E20-FA04ABEAC092_1_105_c.jpeg)

I went back after this failure and did some research on the Internet for where to best take pictures of the milky way around Silicon Valley. I quickly decided to go to Henry W. Coe State Park the next day.

![Shot some random stuff while waiting for the night](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C504ADC7-B8B1-430B-A383-0F09EB756405_1_105_c.jpeg)
![And here goes my first successful Milky Way shot!!!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/02DC7800-D4CB-46E3-8DDD-65BB6CF2DA0C_1_201_a.jpeg)
![With the images, I created a timelapse from them. There's a lot of airplanes flying over that it felt like a meteor shower 🤣](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhynbahfwE0)
![I also create star trails from the sequences of shots](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/BC827A8B-0DFC-4C63-B545-ACB4C24B5A7C_1_101_o.jpeg)


---

## Augest 27, 2017
We went to Mt Rainier again for another hike around Sunrise Visitor Center. This time it was a clear day, and we were able to see the magnificent mountain herself. But I was disappointed when I saw the pictures from my computer later. I felt like I didn't do the scene justice and wasted my time with many bad shots. I even tried using Apple Photos to post-process the image a bit, but no luck.

![Trying to use a small aperture (f/22) to create Sunstar effect](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6618409F-06B7-4D18-A5EE-D4B7D47F04AF.jpeg)
![We didn't realize it during the hike, but it's pretty hazy that day](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/21D05C1C-AC58-4C01-BAC9-652E7C134F0C_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Sep 23, 2017

My girlfriend came to California, and together with our friends, we went to Point Reyes National Seashore for the coastline and the Elk.

![Using a small person in big landscape composition again. I like their pose seems to be enjoying the scene together.](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E87B1BEA-A624-45BD-B9B4-8F3CF97FBDAA_1_201_a.jpeg)
![Also tried with bigger person and bokeh](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/428985A0-AE1B-4E48-B3E0-95B7E5269650_1_101_o.jpeg)
![Getting creative](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/32C40FAB-FDC5-4200-9AB8-AC4C4AE3D379_1_105_c.jpeg)
![And some mean wildlife shot](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3FF1DA4B-6562-442A-8EDE-893D41DB5319_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

## Oct 7-8, 2017

It was my turn again to visit Seattle. This time we went to Olympic Nation Park with friends.

![The lushed green rainforest looks super moody and beautiful](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/039F5270-A504-4E08-A23D-4AD1931E9043_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/ECE2FA41-EDB4-464A-972A-71DD93B48D5E_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DA4DA232-42AA-49B0-88A9-031F6A679494_1_105_c.jpeg)
![Successfully using slower shutter speed to capture a silky waterfall!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D9898EB3-BDBC-4E14-9013-9A54DC8F4A8B_1_105_c.jpeg)
![Another portrait of my friends at Hurrican Ridge](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D672A15A-700F-4204-AEF0-455424F04986_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Oct 20-22, 2017

Suddenly it's fall again! I saw an article from https://www.guruin.com/articles/1321 about the beautiful fall color around Mammoth Lake and High Sierra. I was super impressed by the article and shared it with my friends to see who was interested. It turns out people all wanted to go, and we ended up having a big group of 10+ people on this trip!

I was looking forward to getting some good pictures, so much so that I woke up early for sunrise.

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/88BFF5EC-7837-4529-B98F-B09FEEBC73BD_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E4F9A14C-713D-4C2A-8407-C492F2342C5E_1_105_c.jpeg)

But I didn't know how to pick a good sunrise spot, so the images were still only looking ok. I'm happier with the photos I took for my friends, though. Everyone seemed to have a good time with the trip. As an organizer, that's a big relief.

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4BC7F574-DD0C-41FA-8371-C4E6685AC0F6_1_201_a.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/7D7EA0DB-9642-49EB-9A62-D99EB8BD6286_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/12119099-DA11-4116-B5D8-14B4E5856520_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B9905A6D-9F6B-487C-91A0-FBE0F8B561D3_1_105_c.jpeg)

I was also really into shooting directly into the sun to show how sunny the day was. It looks super cool on the back of the camera but not that impressive on the computer. There's also tons of glare that makes the image looks dirty.

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5B8F896C-B48D-49F0-A2D2-6D751A382CF5_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/44FAFA83-F000-4FA3-8252-78CD92D82C94_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Oct 28, 2017 @ Sunol Regional Wilderness

I started to get very hungry at getting good pictures. It doesn't matter if it's wildlife, friends, or whatever, as long as it looks beautiful or meaningful to me. I'd gone out almost every weekend to shoot something, with or without friends.

I also started doing basic post-processing on my pictures to make them look a bit better. Since I always import my photos to Apple Photos, I use its built-in editor to make basic adjustments like brightness and colors.

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B6429FCE-55B9-486D-B14D-34E0FFF3F3AB.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/A11B6AC8-E016-4B41-9D23-F200BD3014E1_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/0260E47F-7E30-4A48-9739-D10BF1B1D18C_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Nov 5, 2017 @ Point Reyes
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1B84A97D-7971-47C7-972D-B46779EDDDFC_1_201_a.jpeg)
![](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrZTjKDE-c)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4D6EA2AA-CFB2-434A-9319-9E2F73E8788F_1_105_c.jpeg)
![I like the leading line to the lighthose, and the sunstar](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8B1E84C6-181F-4137-92AE-70CC0F6425E6_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Nov 11, 2017 @ Point Reyes

![Waterfall directly into the sea](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/52C65553-708E-48BD-9459-A546D66436EB_1_105_c.jpeg)
![I like the chaos of those breaking waves](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4EAF83E8-6F34-424E-A5BD-E8081EAC5D11_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Dec 10, 2017 @ Pinnacles National Park

![I didn't know how to predict colorful sunset yet, so I left the park early. But I'm happy that I captured this pinky sky during my way home.](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6599AB9B-D429-43A4-9B2D-B49453947938_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

So this and the previous post pretty much wrap up the long-distance relationships period of my life. Because one this one day, my manager told us that our team would be dismissed by the end of 2017 😅

I had already started to feel a bit bored with what our team was doing back then and started thinking about switching teams. But I had no idea the company would dismiss the team without much hesitation. I'm pretty happy personally because now there's no reason for me not to relocate to Seattle to be with my girlfriend anymore.

But before I moved in Feb 2018, we went on another epic road trip during Christmas and New Year holidays. Stay tuned for the next post!

---

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... 續前篇：[遠距離戀愛 (上)](https://yuchienphoto.com/tw/p/long-distance-relationships-p1)

## May 28, 2017 @ Muir Woods National Monument

我入手了 Canon 5D Mark IV，是當時 Canon 的旗艦機之一！確切的理由已經不太有印象，但大概是覺得工作一年存了不少錢了可以寵自己一下，然後想要讓自己的攝影進入下一個層次吧，旗艦機比起 6D 真的是厲害不少，是個很有感的升級。

![在步道的旁邊看到了無敵可愛的小狐狸！](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/43FA6797-99DD-4A19-9C9F-9051F5541CBB_1_101_o.jpeg)

![長在樹上的花看起來很有趣](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/AFA6615A-E6DF-403F-8C85-70837A5B5C3A_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## June 3, 2017 @ Lake Tahoe

王文昱來加州找我然後我們載了兩台腳踏車去灣區的度假勝地 Lake Tahoe 玩。以前大學的時候我總是透過騎單車的方式親近自然，就想說在美國要不要重拾這個興趣。不過後來習慣開車出門後就沒有繼續投資單車，而且騎腳踏車跟帶全副攝影設備出去拍照有點互斥。

![沿著 Lake Tahoe 騎車](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3605434B-4B2A-43B8-B873-9141C06A7859_1_101_o.jpeg)

![試著要拍銀河，結果連要往哪個方向拍都不知道，也是第一次意識到滿月的時候會看不太到星星 XD](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3672F972-0E35-45C4-AC1C-796108900AEB_1_101_o.jpeg)

![想要表現出像指揮家陶醉在音樂 (自然環境) 的樣子](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1AA15EAF-8D7F-4374-9471-FF0B3F169B55_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## June 17, 2017

去了 San Diego 參加的朋友的畢業典禮。之前有拿到 UCSD 的碩士錄取信，差一點就去唸了 XD

![神秘的建築物](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/55E01C98-EC34-4F55-BA8B-CD00692BEFA3_1_201_a.jpeg)
![幫拍畢業照](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D86FBDD9-B191-4716-8323-2C17220F9B8F_1_101_o.jpeg)
![隨便側拍老司機朋友指揮大家站位](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/007039A6-F101-4D69-A460-96DB61C1CC9C_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

## June 28, 2017

買了第一顆廣角鏡 Cannon 16-35mm F4 L，馬上用來在家裡拍縮時。

![](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CQOlBVimlU)

---

## July 23-24, 2017

到目前為止，我大部分的行程都是跟王文昱或朋友們，很少自己單獨行動，攝影也因此比較是「順便」的活動。但慢慢開始覺得很想要提升拍出好照片的成功率跟專注在攝影，於是這個週末就決定以拍銀河為目標，自己出門拍照。

![在 Shark Fin Cove 等天黑，覺得夕陽的暖光照在懸崖上很美](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B8D5388C-0CFA-4069-A9DA-106145EDF6CA_1_201_a.jpeg)
![可惜晚上的海邊都是霧，而且還有光害，什麼星星都沒拍到](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E79FE970-5969-4E03-9E20-FA04ABEAC092_1_105_c.jpeg)

失敗之後回家研究了一下網路上對在灣區拍銀河的建議，隔天決定去另一個內陸據說沒有光害的地點：Henry W. Coe State Park

![等待夜晚來前隨手亂拍](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/C504ADC7-B8B1-430B-A383-0F09EB756405_1_105_c.jpeg)
![終於成功拍到銀河了!!!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/02DC7800-D4CB-46E3-8DDD-65BB6CF2DA0C_1_201_a.jpeg)
![還做了個縮時影片，很多飛機飛來飛去很像流星雨覺得很帥 🤣](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhynbahfwE0)
![用疊圖的方式做了一張星軌照](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/BC827A8B-0DFC-4C63-B545-ACB4C24B5A7C_1_101_o.jpeg)


---

## Augest 27, 2017

換我去西雅圖找王文昱順便去 Mt Rainier 的另一個區域：Sunrise Visitor Center。這次大晴天終於看到了壯闊的山！但回家後看照片卻非常失望，覺得完全沒有捕捉到現場感受到的壯闊感，浪費了很多精力卻帶回了不怎麼樣的照片。我也開始試著用 Apple Photos 內建的修圖功能來修圖，不過也沒有好太多。

![試著縮光圈到 f/22 拍太陽星芒](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6618409F-06B7-4D18-A5EE-D4B7D47F04AF.jpeg)
![當下沒發覺，但那天其實有點霧霾](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/21D05C1C-AC58-4C01-BAC9-652E7C134F0C_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Sep 23, 2017

換王文昱來加州，跟朋友們去 Point Reyes National Seashore 看海跟鹿

![風景裡的小小人，很喜歡他們的姿勢，感覺在討論享受眼前的景色](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E87B1BEA-A624-45BD-B9B4-8F3CF97FBDAA_1_201_a.jpeg)
![也試著把人拍大一點搭配散景](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/428985A0-AE1B-4E48-B3E0-95B7E5269650_1_101_o.jpeg)
![亂拍](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/32C40FAB-FDC5-4200-9AB8-AC4C4AE3D379_1_105_c.jpeg)
![鹿看起來很兇呢](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3FF1DA4B-6562-442A-8EDE-893D41DB5319_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

## Oct 7-8, 2017

我又跑去了西雅圖，這次是跟朋友們去 Olympic National Park

![雨林的色調看起來超舒服](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/039F5270-A504-4E08-A23D-4AD1931E9043_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/ECE2FA41-EDB4-464A-972A-71DD93B48D5E_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/DA4DA232-42AA-49B0-88A9-031F6A679494_1_105_c.jpeg)
![用慢快門拍絲狀瀑布](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D9898EB3-BDBC-4E14-9013-9A54DC8F4A8B_1_105_c.jpeg)
![在 Hurrican Ridge 拍朋友](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/D672A15A-700F-4204-AEF0-455424F04986_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Oct 20-22, 2017

秋天毫無預警的到了！發現了網路上一篇推薦加州 Mammoth Lake 跟 High Sierra 秋景的文章 (https://www.guruin.com/articles/1321) 後超級心動，傳給朋友們後迅速的就揪到了一團十幾個人都想去 XD

這趟我因為實在太想拍好照片了，連續兩天都早起出門拍日出。

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/88BFF5EC-7837-4529-B98F-B09FEEBC73BD_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E4F9A14C-713D-4C2A-8407-C492F2342C5E_1_105_c.jpeg)

但那時候還不知道要怎麼找好的日出點，然後也不知道確切哪個點才有好看的秋景，所以日出照的成果看起來有點普通。我反而還是更喜歡我拍的朋友照，大家看起來都玩得蠻開心的，作為主辦人覺得鬆了一口氣。XD

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4BC7F574-DD0C-41FA-8371-C4E6685AC0F6_1_201_a.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/7D7EA0DB-9642-49EB-9A62-D99EB8BD6286_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/12119099-DA11-4116-B5D8-14B4E5856520_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B9905A6D-9F6B-487C-91A0-FBE0F8B561D3_1_105_c.jpeg)

這時候開始我也越來越喜歡縮光圈拍太陽，覺得太陽星芒可以表現出大晴天的感覺，可惜往往在相機上看起來超級酷，回家用電腦看卻又覺得很普通。而且拍太陽常常會有耀光，讓照片看起來髒髒的不知道要怎麼解決。

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5B8F896C-B48D-49F0-A2D2-6D751A382CF5_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/44FAFA83-F000-4FA3-8252-78CD92D82C94_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

## Oct 28, 2017 @ Sunol Regional Wilderness

漸漸的我開始越來越渴望拍出好照片，野生動物、朋友、或任何東西都可以，只要能夠讓我滿意就好。於是我幾乎每個週末都會出門拍照，不管有沒有朋友要跟。

我也開始都會用 Apple Photos 簡單調一下照片的光線跟顏色，試圖讓照片看起來更好看。

![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B6429FCE-55B9-486D-B14D-34E0FFF3F3AB.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/A11B6AC8-E016-4B41-9D23-F200BD3014E1_1_101_o.jpeg)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/0260E47F-7E30-4A48-9739-D10BF1B1D18C_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Nov 5, 2017 @ Point Reyes
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1B84A97D-7971-47C7-972D-B46779EDDDFC_1_201_a.jpeg)
![](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIrZTjKDE-c)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4D6EA2AA-CFB2-434A-9319-9E2F73E8788F_1_105_c.jpeg)
![蠻喜歡那個步道延伸到燈塔的，還有那個太陽星芒](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8B1E84C6-181F-4137-92AE-70CC0F6425E6_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Nov 11, 2017 @ Point Reyes

![直接入海的瀑布蠻帥的](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/52C65553-708E-48BD-9459-A546D66436EB_1_105_c.jpeg)
![很喜歡浪破掉瞬間的狂暴感覺](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/4EAF83E8-6F34-424E-A5BD-E8081EAC5D11_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

## Dec 10, 2017 @ Pinnacles National Park

![當時還不知道要怎麼預測粉色的天空，就提前離開了國家公園。幸好在路上有看到有趣的前景，拍下了這張照片](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/6599AB9B-D429-43A4-9B2D-B49453947938_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

到這邊差不多就是遠距離戀愛時期的結束了，起因是有一天我的主管突然跟我們說我們小組在年底要被解散了 😅

當時本來就開始覺得在那個組做的東西好像沒那麼有趣了，也開始萌生想換組的念頭，但沒想到公司會毫不拖泥帶水的說解散就解散。也因此就毫無懸念的決定趁這個機會搬去西雅圖的分部工作，順利的結束了這一年半的遠距離戀愛。

不過在隔年二月真的搬去西雅圖之前，我們在聖誕新年連假來了一場超級公路旅行，敬請期待下一篇！

---

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3. Long distance relationships period (2)

3. 遠距離戀愛時期 (下)

Many people have asked me: "How long have you been photographing?" and got me thinking about the progress I've made so far and all the pivotal moments. So I thought it would be fun to look back and document my journey with images I've taken along the way. 

This post took place in New York & Taiwan, from December 2015 to July 2016.


![Hey, it's me!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/077F98E6-DA69-430F-BE8E-5DFFEAE6B4F5_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

Growing up, I've always wanted a DSLR. But living on an allowance from my parent, I've never saved up enough to get one. They also strongly prefer I focus my time on education instead of investing too much time and money on the hobby. This goes on until 2015. 

After being born and raised in Taiwan for 25 years, I came to New York City for my graduate degree. It was a 9 months Master of Engineering program from Cornell Tech, and it was expensive. My goal was straightforward: get a full-time job before graduating to stay in the US and pay off the student loan as fast as possible. 

For people who have been in the same situation, you'd know the pressure can get quite high. Especially when one has no real working experience nor internship on their resume. I'm also not very good at communicating using English. I still remember feeling depressed after school because I couldn't find a way to speak up in classes. 

However, lucky for me, I got a verbal offer from Oracle for their Software Engineering position right before Christmas. And that took all the pressure off.

With such a relief and milestone achieved, I know I'll finally be living on my own money soon. Also, being in these exotic places and the Christmas season, it seems like I have all the reasons to treat myself with my dream camera. And so that's what I did. I'm a happy owner of a Canon 6D full-frame DSLR with a 24-105mm F4 lens. 


![Testing my new camera on my girlfriend. I was so excited with that background blur 😂](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-12_18-33-53.png)

---

![Still very excited about the background blur](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E98647B9-4E12-40FC-A655-BBCEA539819D_1_105_c.jpeg)

![I also love being able to zoom in at 105mm and still get a cristal cleared image](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B30F2225-D32D-4FFF-B41C-355954B145D3_1_201_a.jpeg)

![New year's eve, shooting handheld with ISO 12800, 1/40 sec](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8B42D474-2D8F-4F91-9537-8A8C90E4B66F_1_201_a.jpeg)

![Trying to get that silky waterfall effect with 1/4 sec. Ended up also having blurry foreground because of shooting handheld](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1AF67350-6C09-4895-9A35-96EE513D694D_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

At this point, I was comfortable with the camera. I already knew how to choose aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to create the desired effect. But what I don't know is what they can do to negatively impact the images. Like f22 will degrade the image quality due to diffraction, or ISO 12800 will have tons of noise. After reviewing my photos at my computer, I learned not to make those mistakes and started getting accessaries like tripods. 

I also haven't realized what different times or weather can do to the scene. So I haven't pursued shooting during sunrise/sunset yet. Plus, as someone who has never been to the US before, living only in a subtropical area, there are tons of interesting things for me to point my camera at. Like that UPS sign 🤣

Finally, even though I knew the advantage of shooting RAW, I never bothered to post-process the images. I also couldn't process my RAW file better than the straight-out-of-camera JPEG at that time anyway, so I was taking JPEG only the whole time. 

---

![Seems like my interest in shooting those cute squirrels can be dated back to 2015](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5B74BAE7-1E72-4257-9B15-B595C164B195_1_201_a.jpeg)

![The Computer Science department building at Cornell looks super impressive](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3682C4BA-2514-4E33-AE96-5E6A86EF0606_1_101_o.jpeg)

![One World Trade Center](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B8324CBC-F18D-427A-9C6F-BD58BDB61A49_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

Then I bought my second lens: 24-70mm F4 Macro. I wasn't satisfied with the focusing distance and thought I really wanted a lens that could shoot close up. 

![Trying to shot snowflake with Macro](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/674361E0-4811-4D09-BBD7-48481917C394_1_101_o.jpeg)

![more Macro](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B0D0582D-7CE0-4C39-8C45-622005760F53_1_105_c.jpeg)

![and more](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/549BDEF1-FDC5-480F-B039-38447C74A4DB_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

Before I graduated, I also got a full-time offer from Facebook for a Software Engineering position in April 2016. It was more than a cherry on top because it has been my dream to work at these tier-1 tech companies for quite some time. And among them, Facebook was my number 1 choice. I love everything I hear about them, from their culture, projects, talents, to perks. It was before all the negative news started piling up on Facebook. But I don't think any of the reasons I joined and loved about Facebook have changed, so I'm still happily employed here as of Oct 2021, with no plan to leave just yet.

Anyway, after graduation, I went back to Taiwan for a month to relax before starting the job in Menlo Park, California. I've used up all my allowance at the time, and my sign-on bonus won't come in until 3 weeks after the job start. So I was pretty broke to take any trip besides just traveling within Taiwan a little.

---

![One last view of New York City hasn't come back since then. I missed the scenery, but not so much on the public transportation](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8EFFCA4D-77BA-4F9A-BDE5-38B8F4A8E7EE_1_201_a.jpeg)

![Taiwan had some interesting landscapes, but I have no idea how to best shoot them](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3236144E-10CB-4BA3-968C-A4B8D501E8E3_1_101_o.jpeg)

![Rainbow bridge, 4 sec, ISO 640 with a tripod. A solid night's picture without much noise!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B04EA9F9-CE1E-4896-AA64-AC47B769F71D_1_105_c.jpeg)

![And then firework started. I was very proud of the result.](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EC3B779D-8F52-4EC3-A12E-19F0C3CF34A4_1_105_c.jpeg)

---

So these all took place in New York & Taiwan, from Dec 2015 to July 2016. The photos might look blah, but there was no short of fun and excitement during the time. I didn't chase any scene nor post-process any of my pictures. I didn't look at other people's photographs or compare mine with theirs. I didn't even actively learn how to take a good photo. I just pointed my camera at things I thought were interesting and had a good time. 

I think this is how most people started with photography, and to be honest, I miss that excitement sometimes.

---

![Roaming in Cornell during snow](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/16FCF7A6-9414-4025-A405-0E824A542A5C_1_105_c.jpeg)

![With burst mode, I've accumulated quite a lot of photos](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-12_18-43-13.png)

![My girlfriend got me my first drone as an anniversary gift! It can take HD video!](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EA94ED40-DECB-49E3-8711-D9EFD181455B_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

Next: [2. Long distance relationships (1)](https://yuchienphoto.com/p/long-distance-relationships-p1)

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最近發現蠻多人會問我我開始攝影多久了，讓我常常在回想這一路走來的心路歷程。覺得不如把這個歷程打出來成一個系列文，搭配一路上拍過的照片，應該會蠻有趣的。如果能夠啟發大家精進自己的攝影也很不錯。

這一篇的內容發生在 2015 年 12 月到 2016 年 7 月，場景在紐約跟台灣。

![是我！XD](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/077F98E6-DA69-430F-BE8E-5DFFEAE6B4F5_1_101_o.jpeg)

---

印象中從很小的時候我就很想要有單眼相機，但我一直以來都是過著領爸媽給的零用錢過生活，從來沒有存夠錢買一台。而且爸媽非常傾向於讓我把精力專注在求學上面，而不是花在興趣，這個情況一直持續到 2015 年。

那年我大學畢業當完兵，申請到了紐約的康乃爾大學唸資工碩士，那是一個九個月的超貴學程，所以我的目標蠻單純的：在畢業前找到工作留在美國，賺 Global Pay 快速累積資產。

有走過一樣的路的人應該都知道這個壓力有時候是蠻大的，尤其是在沒有工作經驗、沒有實習經驗、英文口說又不流利的時候，在課堂上會有想法說不出口變成啞巴，然後找工作投履歷九成被發無聲卡，少數拿到的面試又通過不了的時候，再加上知道畢業後如果太久沒有工作，簽證會失效沒辦法繼續待在美國，真的是會很焦躁。

幸運的是，我在聖誕節前一天收到了 Oracle 軟體工程師職位的口頭錄取通知，瞬間鬆了一大口氣。

在這情況下，知道隔年上工後我就財務獨立了，再加上第一次在美國各種新奇，又是聖誕節，覺得我集結了所有合理的理由送自己一台單眼，就立刻手刀下手了一台二手的 Canon 6D 全幅單眼 + 24-105mm F4 標準鏡。

![拿女朋友來測單眼，覺得有散景就是好看 😂](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-12_18-33-53.png)

---

![持續為散景感到興奮](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/E98647B9-4E12-40FC-A655-BBCEA539819D_1_105_c.jpeg)

![105 mm 可以把遠方的東西拉的很近也很興奮，是手機拍不了的照片](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B30F2225-D32D-4FFF-B41C-355954B145D3_1_201_a.jpeg)

![新年拍紐約天際線，手持 ISO 12800, 1/40 sec，回來才發現雜訊爆多](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8B42D474-2D8F-4F91-9537-8A8C90E4B66F_1_201_a.jpeg)

![試著拍絲狀的瀑布，1/4 sec，f22，手持拍回來才發現前景完全糊掉](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/1AF67350-6C09-4895-9A35-96EE513D694D_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

我在這個階段算是蠻熟悉相機的操作的，知道要怎麼用光圈、快門來達到我想要的效果。但我不知道的是某些設定會有負面效果，像是光圈縮到 f22 其實畫質會變差，或是 ISO 12800 雜訊爆多根本不堪入目。都是回家在電腦上看照片的時候才發現，然後才意識到之後該怎麼改進的，也才買了腳架。

這個階段我也還不知道不同時間點的光線會拍出完全不一樣的照片，所以我完全沒有特別在日出日落的時候去拍任何照片。不過老實說，當時在美國什麼事物都超級新鮮，不管什麼時候出門都會有想拍的東西，像是那個 UPS 招牌 🤣

另外，雖然我那時就知道拍 RAW 的好處，但根本懶得修圖，而且反正想修也修不出比相機直出的 JPEG 好，就都只拍 JPEG。

---

![看到小松鼠就會不自覺的想拍，直到現在也是 🤣](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/5B74BAE7-1E72-4257-9B15-B595C164B195_1_201_a.jpeg)

![Cornell 的資工系大樓看起來超帥](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3682C4BA-2514-4E33-AE96-5E6A86EF0606_1_101_o.jpeg)

![紐約的 One World Trade Center 看起來也超帥](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B8324CBC-F18D-427A-9C6F-BD58BDB61A49_1_201_a.jpeg)

---

接著發現很多時候我想近距離拍攝東西卻對不到焦，考慮再三後決定就入手了第二顆鏡頭，是有微距功能的 24-70mm F4 Macro

![為了拍雪花](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/674361E0-4811-4D09-BBD7-48481917C394_1_101_o.jpeg)

![後來春天去植物園亂拍](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B0D0582D-7CE0-4C39-8C45-622005760F53_1_105_c.jpeg)

![也是在植物園](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/549BDEF1-FDC5-480F-B039-38447C74A4DB_1_101_o.jpeg)

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畢業之前，四月初幸運的又拿到了 Facebook 的錄取信，當時真的是開心到爆炸。Facebook 是我當時最最最想去的科技公司沒有之一，從聽到的公司文化、產品、人才、福利等等都超級讓我嚮往，而且那是在各種負面消息都還沒出來的時候。在那之後雖然眾多負面新聞不斷的浮現，大家對於 Facebook 的印象也開始變很差，不過從我的角度來看當時公司讓我嚮往的種種面向其實都還是沒變，所以到現在 (2021 年 10 月) 還是很開心的繼續在這邊工作。

總之，五月底畢業後回到台灣休息了一個月，準備在矽谷展開新生活。不過那時候剛好生活費都花光了，簽約金又要上工後三週才會拿到，整個窮到不行，只能在台灣小玩一下。 😂

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![離開紐約前去摩天大樓頂樓看景，之後就再也沒有回去過紐約了](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/8EFFCA4D-77BA-4F9A-BDE5-38B8F4A8E7EE_1_201_a.jpeg)

![跑去澎湖玩，沒梗拍雙心石滬](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/3236144E-10CB-4BA3-968C-A4B8D501E8E3_1_101_o.jpeg)

![澎湖的橋，4 sec，ISO 640，終於用腳架拍出沒有雜訊的夜景了](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/B04EA9F9-CE1E-4896-AA64-AC47B769F71D_1_105_c.jpeg)

![還拍了煙火，那時是蠻驕傲的第一次拍就成功 XD](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EC3B779D-8F52-4EC3-A12E-19F0C3CF34A4_1_105_c.jpeg)

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這大概就是 2015 年 12 月到 2016 年 7 月之間發生的事，照片看起來其實就蠻一般，不過當時拍攝的當下其實都超級開心又覺得很好玩。不會去看別人拍了些什麼，也不會拿自己的照片去跟別人比較，甚至也沒有特別去研究要怎麼拍出好照片，就只是單純的把相機朝著有趣的地方拍然後享受那個過程。

我想應該大部分的人都是這樣開始接觸攝影的。老實說現在有時候沒有攝影靈感的時後，其實也會懷念當時那種隨便拍都可以很開心的感覺。

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![下雪時在 Cornell 亂晃](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/16FCF7A6-9414-4025-A405-0E824A542A5C_1_105_c.jpeg)

![有連拍就會一直狂按](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/Screenshot_2021-10-12_18-43-13.png)

![在一起三週年，王文昱送的空拍機！飛得很不穩拍的畫質也比不上 DJI，但是還是很好玩 XD](https://ik.imagekit.io/1alhfoypqsx/EA94ED40-DECB-49E3-8711-D9EFD181455B_1_201_a.jpeg)

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