DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

My wife, two of our daughters, their husbands and 6 of their children went to the Oakland Zoo on the evening of December 26 to see the "Zoo Lights" (the Christmas lights all over the zoo). My wife said I should leave my camera (Canon 80D) at home, but I took it with only one lens to lighten the load, my EF-S 18-135. We rode the gondola up to the top of the park and I took several photos, a couple of photos that I liked are attached. The first is of the Bay Bridge, Oakland and San Francisco, the bright yellow lights clustered in the area below the bridge are the Port of Oakland. The second photo is mostly Oakland and San Francisco. Both were taken at ISO 8000, hand held at 135 mm, the first one at 1/6 second, the second one at 1/5. They are cropped from the full size image (top and bottom crops). I post-processed the RAW files in Lightroom. Considering the challenging nature of them, I'm pleased with the results; best viewed as downloads.

(Download)


(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

They're very good considering the shutter speed. I think what doesn't help is the atmospheric haze. That type of shot looks best when the air is clear.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks for your comments R.G. It wasn't a specific "photo expedition" so I had to work with what I had. The air could have been much worse, since fog is common over the bay.

BTW, I notice you are in Scotland. We visited the Shetland and Orkney Islands and Edinburgh on a cruise in July and thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. I'm all too familiar with having to work with the weather du jour. It sounds like you enjoyed your trip and that's what matters most.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

It was the best vacation we've ever had. I'm finally post-processing the photo and will be posting in the future.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Great shots Dennis. Sounds like a good outing for the grandkids.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you Mark. It was a fun outing. I had not been to the Oakland Zoo in a long time, though this time was mainly for the lights and not the animals. The grandchildren really liked it (they are from 10 months to 9 years old). We're fortunate to have 6 of our grandchildren within two miles of us; the other 4 (two sets of twins!) are only about 60 miles away in Los Altos.

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

We are fortunate as well to have all 4 in Marin ages 2-10. The 2 big ones are within walking distance. Spent New Year's Eve with all of them - very enjoyable!