In the bustling and highly competitive environment of the San Francisco Bay Area, life can become a relentless whirlwind, pushing us to the brink of exhaustion. It's all too easy to forget the importance of cherishing and capturing moments that make us feel truly alive. That's why I was absolutely thrilled to embark on an exhilarating project, armed with OM System cameras, to celebrate the inherent beauty of California. Through this journey, I aim to showcase the ease with which we can reconnect with nature, finding solace and re-grounding ourselves in the process.
Gear That Makes It Effortless
The compact yet powerful design of the OM System cameras and lenses allows for a seamless connection between the photographer and the environment. With a lightweight body and intuitive controls, capturing the magic of California's landscapes becomes an uncomplicated and delightful experience. The camera packs a ton of computational photography features which came handy in all the adventures in the last few months.
1/800s f/11.0 | ISO 100
Journeying through the Californian Dream
Redwood National Park
The adventure begins in the heart of the mystical Redwood forests. These towering giants, some over two millennia old, impart an overwhelming sense of awe and tranquility. OM SYSTEM cameras enabled me to effortlessly capture their majestic presence, making sure every shot does justice to the grandeur of these ancient sentinels.
1/80s f/4.0 | ISO 200
1/80s f/4.0 | ISO200
Channel Island National Park
My next trip was along the tranquil waters of the Pacific Ocean in the Channel Island National Parks. This distant island served as a great opportunity to disconnect and slow down. Camping with the bare necessities in a remote island not only reminds me of what’s necessary in life but also reminds me of what brings true joy. I carried just the 12-40mm lens with my OM System camera, and I was delighted on seeing the capabilities of this amazing little weather sealed camera. The focusing was a breeze even in the foggiest conditions.
1/2000 f/8.0 | ISO100
1/80s f/4.0 | ISO200
1/800s f/11.0 | ISO 100
San Francisco City
Even though I absolutely love long drives and an adventure, sometimes it’s important to learn to slow down and take life one moment at a time. This is why one weekend during this project I decided to look inwards and explore my city, San Francisco, with the OM SYSTEM gear. After about 20 mins of driving, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge emerged from the mist, offering an opportunity to showcase the city's grandeur. OM System cameras allowed me to capture the bridge's ethereal beauty with unmatched ease, even as the city's hustle and bustle continued around us.
1/600 f/8.0 | ISO 100
1/600 f/8.0 | ISO 100
1/600 f/8.0 | ISO 100
Driving to the other side of the bridge over to Mt Tam gave a completely different perspective of the fog. At such a distance the fog felt like a warm blanket and with in-built features to capture timelapse I was able to set my camera to capture pictures while I sat back, relaxed and took in the views.
1/8 f/18.0 | ISO100
60s f/18.0 | ISO200
As the day gave way to night, the cameras adapted effortlessly to the captivating brilliance of the night sky. The stars came alive, reminding us of the universe's vastness. OM System cameras ensure that every star, every detail, is meticulously captured in these wondrous night skies.
Mt. Whitney
The ascent up California's stunning mountains became an adventure filled with ease. With OM System cameras in hand, I could explore the majestic peaks of the region, capturing their grandeur without the burden of heavy equipment. From hiking beautiful mountains to reaching the summit of Mount Whitney, the cameras accompanied me through every step of the journey. Some computational photography features such as in-camera focus stacking and starry auto focus came in handy during the extremely tiring hike.
1/100- f/4.0 | ISO 100
1/250- f/8.0 | ISO 100
1/250 | f/8.0 | ISO 100
1/13 | f/4.0 | ISO 400
1/2000 | f/4.0 | ISO 200
The only reason I have all these images from this incredibly challenging hike is because of the lightweight OM SYSTEM camera which let me effortlessly capture the beauty that unfolded before my eyes, without being weighed down by complicated equipment.
1/500 | f/11.0 | ISO 100
Rediscovering Stillness
Through the tell your story program, I intended to emphasize the importance of cherishing and capturing the moments that remind us of what we strive for in this fast-paced world. OM System cameras make it effortless to connect with nature and rediscover the stillness that resides within us, despite the whirlwind of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. In each photograph, I hope to convey the vibrant, breathtaking beauty of California and inspire others to embark on their own journeys to find solace and re-ground themselves in the natural wonders that surround us.
Bio - Shriya Shah
ABOUT SHRIYA SHAH
IG: @Shriyaphotos
Shriya is one of the photographers selected to participate in the OM-5 Tell Your Story project. She is an engineer by profession, and it might be an occupational hazard, but she has always been fascinated by the inner workings of things and how a simple input can evolve in the most unexpected ways. In this spirit, she found herself drawn to photography, especially during COVID when spending more time outdoors was the only way to keep sane. She loved the technical aspects of learning more about the camera gear and editing but at the same time photography allowed her to express her creative side in a new and fun way.