Haida Picture Appreciation | January 2024

This month's Picture Appreciation is here, let's appreciate some amazing photos taken by our excellent official Haida Ambassadors with Haida filters!

Title: The Borrego Cactus

Not far from San Diego, California is the Anza Borrego Desert. A lesser known part of the desert but it has a lot to offer.
I roamed around in the middle of nowhere just before sunrise and found this gigantic barrel cactus which are very common in this area.
 
Nikon Z6ii, @12mm

f/11 | 1/3 sec | ISO 100
 
Haida C-POL Filter

Title: Trust the Light
 
There I was, standing in the perfect spot, waiting for the sun to work its magic. The sky looked calm, almost too quiet, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d misjudged the timing.
People think great photos are just luck, but the truth is, it’s about believing in the light and being in the right place at the right time. You don’t just wait for it—you show up, ready for whatever happens.
And then it did. The sunset lit up the sky with reds and soft pinks, turning the moment into something unforgettable. It only lasted a few minutes, but those minutes were why I came.
The lesson? Trust the light and make the effort. The magic is always worth it.
 
Canon 5D Mark IV + Canon 16-35 F4ISL
 
1/2 sec | ISO 100
 
Haida M10 Filter Holder
Haida Red-Diamond Soft Grad ND0.9 Filter

This lake is quite famous in my area, because, seen from a particular perspective, it has a beautiful heart shape.
The path to the viewpoint is very simple, so during the day it is quite crowded. But as always, the best things happen to those who wait: I took some shots at sunset, but I decided to stay until the lights of the streets and houses were turned on..
For this shot I used the Haida GND0.9 soft filter, from the Red Diamond series... essential to balance the brightness of the sky.
 
Sony A7r III + Sony FE 16-35 f/4

f/9 | 20sec | ISO 640
 
Haida Red-Diamond Soft Grad ND0.9 Filter

During my scouting tour in the Øresund area, I stumbled upon this striking sculpture in Malmö which is also a fountain in summer. It’s a mesmerizing piece of art, designed by Charlotte Gyllenhammar, that combines a sense of strength and serenity, making it a perfect subject for creative photography.
To capture this scene, I walked the entire circle around the sculpture, searching for the ideal angle. Finally, I found this composition with the surrounding buildings framing the artwork beautifully. The dynamic lines and reflections created a balanced yet powerful perspective.
To achieve this long exposure, I used neutral density filters to make the moving traffic around the busy roundabout completely invisible, allowing the sculpture to stand out in a peaceful moment amidst the urban rush.
 
Sony a7r IV
 
f/9.0 | 30 sec | ISO 100 | 16 mm
 
Haida M10-II Drop-in Nano-coating ND3.0 (1000x) Filter
Haida Red-Diamond Soft Grad ND0.9 Filter

During my scouting tour in the Øresund area, I stumbled upon this striking sculpture in Malmö which is also a fountain in summer. It’s a mesmerizing piece of art, designed by Charlotte Gyllenhammar, that combines a sense of strength and serenity, making it a perfect subject for creative photography.
To capture this scene, I walked the entire circle around the sculpture, searching for the ideal angle. Finally, I found this composition with the surrounding buildings framing the artwork beautifully. The dynamic lines and reflections created a balanced yet powerful perspective.
To achieve this long exposure, I used neutral density filters to make the moving traffic around the busy roundabout completely invisible, allowing the sculpture to stand out in a peaceful moment amidst the urban rush.
 
Sony a7r IV
 
f/9.0 | 30 sec | ISO 100 | 16 mm
 
Haida M10-II Drop-in Nano-coating ND3.0 (1000x) Filter
Haida Red-Diamond Soft Grad ND0.9 Filter