A mother duck and ducklings and an observing egret sparks a deeper reflection on motherhood, instinct, and survival. Join this quiet moment at the pond’s edge.

At the Water’s Edge: Motherhood, Survival, and Stillness in Nature

A family of ducks glides past a watching egret — instinct, care, and balance at the edge of still water. Coyote Hills, Fremont, CA. Canon R5 Mark II + RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM + 1.4x Photo Journal Entry • Theme: Light and Shadows • Mood: Observant, Reflective “Through Two Lenses” is an ongoing photo […]

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Small bird captured mid-flight with wings spread and legs dangling, leaping off a TV antenna against an evening sky with warm rim lighting — minimalist urban wildlife photo taken with Canon R5 Mark II and EF 85mm f/1.8 lens in Fremont, California. Sean Duan

Leap of Light

Figure: Fantail (likely genus Rhipidura) in mid-flight. This small, agile bird is recognized by its widely fanned tail, which it uses to maneuver while catching insects. Captured with Canon R5 Mark II and EF 85mm f/1.8 lens. Image protected with watermark and copyright © Shutter to Light. After dinner, I grabbed my Canon R5 Mark

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The Secret Lives of Central Park’s Feral Cats: A Photo Journey

Three feral cats—two with tuxedo markings and one gray and white—are spaced along a grassy path in a natural setting at Central Park, Fremont, California. The image captures the social dynamics and stealthy behavior of community cats living in the wild. Updated May 27th, 2025: New photos and stories added! A Siamese feral cat with

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Gliding Over Gold -Sean Duan

Gliding Over Gold

Date: May 24, 2025 Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park Camera/Lens: Canon R5 Mark II + EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM + 1.4x Extender Theme: Light and Motion Caption/Reflection: Captured during golden hour bird photography at Coyote Hills, this great egret drifted past in near silence — no flapping, just pure glide. Its wings locked

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Golden Triangle Within - Sean Duan

Golden Triangle Within: Geometry and Light

The Golden Triangle pattern revealed itself unexpectedly on a quiet neighborhood sidewalk during a sunset walk. This minimalist capture highlights the interplay of light and shadow, showing how geometry can create unexpected beauty in everyday scenes. Location and Gear Neighborhood sidewalk during a sunset walkCamera/Lens: Canon R5 Mark II + EF 50mm f/1.8 Theme: Geometry

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Swallow in flight over natural landscape

About

Welcome to Shutter to Light, a personal photography journal about light and moments. I explore how shadows, reflections, and fleeting scenes come together to tell quiet stories through the lens. About Shutterpilot I’m a photographer drawn to the subtle rhythms of light, shadow, and form. My work is rooted in quiet observation—capturing the kind of

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What Huffman Coding Taught Me About Prioritizing What Matters

Image conceptualized with Sora AI. How a routine audit led me to discover a powerful lesson from Huffman coding — and how it changed the way I think about time, energy, and attention. While auditing a math problem related to weather reporting, I ran into something I didn’t fully understand. The dataset used different binary

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