📷 July Collection

I’m exploring the use of HDR images. In some pictures, you might observe:
HDR images with up to 4x the brightness of SDR.
On SDR devices, unknown tone mapping and unpredictable display effects.

It’s hot, so let’s start with a glass of iced coffee. By placing the ice cube tray in an insulated bag before putting it in the freezer, you can get clearer and harder ice. Thanks to my senior, Leo, for the coffee beans.

Clear ice melting in coffee

Clouds, Sunset Glow

This July, Hangzhou had a sunset glow almost every day. If the forecast for fiery clouds and sunset glow showed a high index, the day seemed to hold a little more anticipation.

Giant, white cumulonimbus clouds, their strong reflection making them exceptionally bright.

Giant white cumulonimbus over a green lawn

Mao statue against a pink sky

A rainbow that lasted the entire evening, cutting through fast-moving clouds.

Rainbow over the lake cutting through fast-moving clouds

Fiery clouds reflecting on the lake and distant mountains

Fiery clouds reflecting on the lake and mountains

Golden fiery clouds reflecting on the lake and mountains

Another Saturday with a very high index, featuring a pure, golden sunset glow.

Golden sunset glow between city high-rises

An evening with great air quality, an elegant blue hour.

Campus dusk with fiery clouds at blue hour

Silhouette of a Mao statue with a crescent moon

Light and Cats at Yuquan

Campus red-brick building with parked cars

OPPO’s new feature: soft light simulation. Sometimes it gives the feeling that the lens hasn’t been wiped clean.

Tree-lined path in Yuquan Park

Still the soft light filter.

Sunlight filtering through leaves on a shaded path

Naughty cat, shamelessly chilling at Teaching Building No. 3, loves to randomly lie on pedestrians’ shoes.

Orange tabby lounging on a marble floor

Orange tabby resting on the floor by the doorway

A Not-So-Boring Weekend

Usually, my weekends are for sleeping two full days. Recently, I’ve switched to sleeping two half-days, then going out to play with a cat that’s as big as a truck and take a boat ride.

Gray-and-white cat sitting with its back to the camera

Tabby cat crouching on a white box

Hangzhou skyline from a boat

Yellow tour boat on the Hangzhou Canal

Plastic Figurines

When it rains, staying home is a good opportunity to photograph some plastic figurines. A slightly counter-intuitive fact is: the closer the light source is to the object, the larger its relative area, and the softer the light. If your light isn’t very big, you can try shooting figurines. Be bold and get close; you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Indoor figurine photography setup