I got my first “real” camera in 2024 - a camera with a detachable lens and adjustable aperture and shutter speed; it is a Sony a6700 mirrorless. I used point-and-shoot camera growing up when films were the only way to record photos. I remember that people would worry about their films getting exposed under X-ray luggage scanner. Entering the digital age, I owned a golden Sony CyberShot point-and-shoot. Then I skipped the entire the DSLR age by exclusively using iPhone to take photos. Perhaps it is the first time I felt that the photo can be aesthetic, in addition to being the practical recording media that captures an event.

[aperture=f/3.5, shutter=1/2500s, iso=1000, focal=18mm]

Multnomah Falls is a very popular attraction in Oregon. Most people just stop at the bottom of the falls and take pictures. Some people would hike to the top of the falls and return, which was what I did. This time, however, I went along the Larch Mountain Trail and found Wiesendanger Falls. Significantly fewer people actually walked here, although it was not very far from the top of the Multnomah Falls.

[aperture=f/22, shutter=1/10s, iso=100, focal=18mm]

Still learning photography skills. Trying to lower the shutter speed such that the waterfall looks silky and flowing.

[aperture=f/5.6, shutter=1/500s, iso=100, focal=109mm]

Sea bird catching a fish. Harbor in Crescent City, California.
This is taking with my kit lens, which includes telephoto focal range. I did not expect it, but it is a happy surprise that I captured the moment when the bird picked up the fish.

[aperture=f/5.6, shutter=1/1600s, iso=1000, focal=135mm]

Bunny laying on the brick enjoying a sun bath. A telephoto lens make it a lot easier to take wildlife pictures. The first reason I wanted to get a camera is for taking crispy wildlife pictures of birds and small critters in the backyard.

[aperture=f/5, shutter=1/80s, iso=1600, focal=51mm]

Young fern leaves on a mossy ball in the woods. Tryon Creek State Park, Oregon. For now I am still shooting with the kit lens: Sony APS-C E-mount 18–135 mm F3.5-5.6 OSS. I would like to practice on this lens to a level when I can produce constently good photos. With a larger lens like this, the camera still has advantage over a cellphone in a darker environment such as dense woods.