Dublin Hills Regional Preserve (Part 2) - Dublin, CA

On 12 February 2024, my dad and I went to Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve in Dublin, CA at around sunset so we can do night time long exposures of the Tri-Valley area at night. Photography here was not challenging at all even for me with my half night blindness from Visual Snow Syndrome because of how bright the city lights are! I did have to navigate the trails at night using a very powerful flashlight though. After we were done there, we also dropped by Glass House Museum at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. On 13 February 2024, I returned again with my mom, because I didn't bring my telephoto lens the previous day. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

High Resolution Photos: If you want to see high resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To view my best Dublin hills Regional Preserve photos, use this link. To view my best sunset, sunrise, and night photography photos, use this link. To see all of my photos from this trip, use this link.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

This is part 2 of my photos from Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve in Dublin, CA. The photos were shot on 13 February 2024. I forgot to bring my telephoto lens the previous day. It was the first time I was at this particular East Bay Park, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. My dad didn't join me on this day, but my mom did.

I first begin my hike up the mountain.

A sunset scenery photo of San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), Dublin Blvd (front center), Schaefer Ranch Park (front right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot on Donlon Point Trail.

GPS location unavailable because I forgot to turn on my GPS receiver. 😂

A black and white process of the photo above.

A sunset scenery photo of San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), Dublin Blvd (front left), Schaefer Ranch Park (front right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot on Donlon Point Trail.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 42' 06" N 121° 58' 07" W

A black and white process of the photo above.

Next I arrive at Donlon Point (where I took most of my photos) on Donlon Point Trail. The photos were shot at approximate GPS coordinates of 37° 42' 03" N 121° 58' 05" W. 

A sunset scenery photo of San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), Dublin Blvd & Schaefer Ranch Park (bottom right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

A black and white process of the photo above.

A sunset scenery photo of San Francisco Bay & San Francisco (in the distance on the right), mountains, and clouds. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

A sunset scenery photo of houses, clouds, and mountains. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 70mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 10 seconds

A sunset scenery photo of San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), Dublin Blvd & Schaefer Ranch Park (bottom right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 30 seconds

A black and white process of the photo above.

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (center & left), Pleasanton (right), Interstate 580, Livermore & Altamont Pass (in the distance), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (center & left), Pleasanton (right), Interstate 580, Livermore & Altamont Pass (in the distance), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Santa Rita Jail (center), Dublin, and Interstate 680 (bottom). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Pleasanton (center & right), Dublin (left), Livermore (in the distance), Interstate 580, Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), Patterson Pass (in the distance on the right), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 170mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (center & left), Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Interstate 580, Altamont Pass (in the distance in the center), Patterson Pass (in the distance on the right), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 135mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Interstate 580, Dublin (left), Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 40 seconds

A night time long exposure of Stoneridge Mall and Pleasanton. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 1 minute 10 seconds

A night time long exposure of Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton, and Interstate 580 (bottom left). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 1 minute 10 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (center & left), Pleasanton (right), Interstate 580, Livermore & Altamont Pass (in the distance), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 41 seconds

A night time long exposure of San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), Dublin Blvd & Schaefer Ranch Park (bottom right), and hills. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 1 minute 2 seconds

A night time long exposure of Sutro Tower (in the distance in the center), San Francisco & San Francisco Bay (in the distance), houses (foreground), and hills. The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 300mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 1 minute 2 seconds

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

Glass House Museum - Forest Home Farms Historic Park (San Ramon, CA)

On 12 February 2024, my dad and I went to Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve in Dublin, CA at around sunset so we can do night time long exposures of the Tri-Valley area at night. Photography here was not challenging at all even for me with my half night blindness from Visual Snow Syndrome because of how bright the city lights are! I did have to navigate the trails at night using a very powerful flashlight though. After we were done there, we also dropped by Glass House Museum at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. On 13 February 2024, I returned again with my mom, because I didn't bring my telephoto lens the previous day. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

High Resolution Photos: If you want to see high resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To see all of my photos from San Ramon, use this link.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

This is my photo of the Glass House Museum at night. The photo was shot at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. We dropped by after my dad and I finished taking photos at Dublin Hills Regional Preserve. The photos were shot on 12 February 2024. 

A night time long exposure of Glass House Museum achieved using light painting with a flashlight. The photo was shot at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA.

EXIF Data: 27mm | f/16 | ISO 100 | 30 seconds

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 44' 03" N 121° 56' 59" W

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

Dublin Hills Regional Preserve (Part 1) - Dublin, CA

On 12 February 2024, my dad and I went to Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve in Dublin, CA at around sunset so we can do night time long exposures of the Tri-Valley area at night. Photography here was not challenging even for me with my half night blindness from Visual Snow Syndrome because of how bright the city lights are! I did have to navigate the trails at night using a very powerful flashlight though. After we were done there, we also dropped by Glass House Museum at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. On 13 February 2024, I returned again with my mom, because I didn't bring my telephoto lens the previous day. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

High Resolution Photos: If you want to see high resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To view my best Dublin hills Regional Preserve photos, use this link. To view my best sunset, sunrise, and night photography photos, use this link. To see all of my photos from this trip, use this link.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

This is part 1 of my photos from Dublin Hills Regional Open Space Preserve in Dublin, CA. The photos were shot on 12 February 2024. 

A sunset scenery photo with Interstate 580 (center), San Francisco Bay (in the distance on the right), houses (right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot on Calaveras Ridge Trail.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 42' 05" N 121° 58' 24" W

A sunset scenery photo of houses, mountains, and clouds. The photo was shot on Calaveras Ridge Trail.

The photo was shot at the same spot as above.

A sunset scenery photo of Dublin Blvd (center), houses, hills, and clouds. The photo was shot on Calaveras Ridge Trail.

The photo was shot at the same spot as above.

A sunset scenery photo of Interstate 580 (left), Dublin Blvd (bottom), San Francisco Bay (in the distance on the right), houses (right), hills, and clouds. The photo was shot near Calaveras Ridge Regional Trail.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 42' 03" N 121° 58' 23" W

Unfortunately my GPS tracker on my phone crashed, so there are no coordinate information for the next 2 photos. The next 2 photos were shot off trail.

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot off trail.

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot off trail.

Next I arrive at Donlon Point (where I took most of my photos). The photos were shot at approximate GPS coordinates of 37° 42' 03" N 121° 58' 05" W. 

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass & Patterson Pass (in the distance in the center), clouds, and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/14 | ISO 100 | 30 seconds

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), Patterson Pass (in the distance in the center), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/11 | ISO 200 | 30 seconds

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance in the center), Patterson Pass (in the distance on the right), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/11 | ISO 200 | 30 seconds

A dusk scenery photo of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), Patterson Pass (in the distance on the left), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/11 | ISO 200 | 30 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass & Patterson Pass (in the distance in the center), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/13 | ISO 100 | 1 minute 5 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance on the left), Patterson Pass (in the distance in the center), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/11 | ISO 200 | 15 seconds

A night time long exposure of Dublin (left), Interstate 580, Pleasanton (right), Livermore (in the distance), Altamont Pass (in the distance in the center), Patterson Pass (in the distance on the right), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot at Donlon Point on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/11 | ISO 200 | 15 seconds

Next, my dad and I start making our way back down the hill.

A night time long exposure of Dublin Blvd & houses (center & right), San Francisco Bay & San Francisco (in the distance), Interstate 580 (left), and mountains (in the distance). The photo was shot on Donlon Point Trail.

EXIF Data: 32mm | f/11 | ISO 100 | 2 minutes 40 seconds

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 42' 03" N 121° 58' 15" W

A night time long exposure of houses, Ridgeline Drive (front), Marshall Canyon Drive (back), and mountains. The photo was shot on Calaveras Ridge Regional Trail.

EXIF Data: 33mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 5 minutes 19 seconds

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 42' 05" N 121° 58' 16" W

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Dublin Hills (Part 1) | Forest Home Farms Historic Park | Dublin Hills (Part 2)

Lick Observatory/SR-130 At Night - Alameda/Santa Clara County, CA

On 11 February 2024, my parents and I took a night time trip to Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, CA. We took the back route traveling from Livermore, to Lick, then looping back via San Jose. We went for night photography and was shooting all the way into the next day (12 February 2024) until 5AM (my last photo was around 2AM because I was way too tired, but my dad took more)! What surprised me the most was the amount of light pollution (so the trip was mostly a bust). There were only 2 directions you can shoot in (north and south) because to the west was the San Francisco Bay Area, and to the east was Central Valley, both of which provided a ton of light pollution. The light pollution was so bad, I was able to see pretty well even with my half night blindness caused by Visual Snow Syndrome. The light pollution was so bright, I was usually able to tell when the photo won't turn out very well even before I started taking the shot. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

High Resolution Photos: If you want to see high resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To view my best Lick Observatory photos, use this link. To view my best sunset, sunrise, and night photography photos, use this link. To see all of my photos from this trip, use this link.

Message from the Photographer: Recently, my dad has taken up photography again, so I was teaching him how to do long exposures at night. I still can't see very well at night due to Visual Snow Syndrome, and the experimental treatment didn't completely fix it. These were all places I have been to during the day so I pretty much know what direction to shoot in (and I marked out all the spots on Google Maps). My dad did assist me as well, and I was able to compose by taking a ton of high ISO test shots (despite not being able to see much). Also, as mentioned above, there was a surprising amount of light pollution in the mountains east of the San Francisco Bay, so that assisted me as well! I'm sure some of you are wondering how I'm able to do this despite my half night blindness.

We started our trip on Mines Road. It actually dipped below freezing that night in some parts of our drive along this road.

A night time long exposure of star trails, mountains, and Mines Road. The photo was shot on the side of Mines Road in Alameda County, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | 11 minutes 1 second

The photo was shot on 11 February 2024.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 24' 07" N 121° 29' 18" W

Next we arrive on State Route 130.

A night time long exposure of star trails, mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (left). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Santa Clara County, CA.

EXIF Data: 27mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | 11 minutes 1 second

The photo was shot on 11 February 2024.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 19' 47" N 121° 29' 25" W

A night time long exposure of stars, mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (right). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Santa Clara County, CA.

EXIF Data: 20mm | f/2.8 | ISO 800 | 1 minute 22 seconds

The photo was shot on 11 February 2024.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 21' 03" N 121° 36' 38" W

A black and white process of the photo above.

Next we arrive at Lick Observatory in Mt. Hamilton, CA. There was still a tiny bit of snow left on top of Mt. Hamilton that night. I forgot to bring gloves and it was freezing cold! It was past midnight, so the rest of the photos were shot on 12 February 2024. The following photos were shot at approximate GPS coordinates of 37° 20' 23" N 121° 38' 39" W. 

A night time long exposure of State Route 130 (bottom), San Jose (in the distance), San Francisco Bay (in the distance), and San Francisco (in the distance on the right). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/11 | ISO 100 | 2 minutes 5 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of San Jose, San Francisco Bay, and San Francisco. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/9 | ISO 200 | 1 minute

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A black and white process of the photo above.

A night time long exposure of San Jose. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 42mm (84mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/13 | ISO 200 | 1 minute

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

The last of the photos I took are of stars and star trails above Lick Observatory. The photos were shot at approximate GPS coordinates of 37° 20' 33" N 121° 38' 49" W. The photos were shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (top center), mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 400 | 1 minute 5 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (top center), mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 800 | 30 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (top center), mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (bottom). I lit up the foreground a little bit using my flashlight. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 800 | 30 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (top center), mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (bottom). I lit up the foreground a little bit using my flashlight. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 400 | 1 minute 5 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of star trails, Lick Observatory (top center), mountains, clouds, and State Route 130 (bottom). I lit up the foreground a little bit using my flashlight. The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | 4 minutes 5 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (center), mountains, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 800 | 30 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of stars, Lick Observatory (center), mountains, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 1600 | 15 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of star trails, Lick Observatory (center), mountains, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 34mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | 4 minutes 5 seconds

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

A night time long exposure of star trails, Lick Observatory (center), mountains, and State Route 130 (bottom). The photo was shot on the side of State Route 130 in Mt. Hamilton, CA.

EXIF Data: 14mm (28mm - Full Frame Equivalent) | f/3.5 | ISO 200 | 8 minutes

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

Now on to the most interesting part of our night trip. I can't really remember if this occurred while we were driving on Mines Road or State Route 130, but it was very dark in the mountains east of of the San Francisco Bay (at least parts of the road was, not the sky). For some reason my dad forgot to turn on the high beams, and we crashed into wild boars that were walking along the road. I had no idea those things even exist here in the San Francisco Bay Area, but apparently they did. My dad did not stop in time, and I'm pretty sure we crashed into the butt of one. The boar ran off really fast, so I guess it's ok. I'm pretty sure we hit the butt because there was poop on our vehicle's bumper. Take a look for yourself in the 2 cellphone photos I shot later that day once we got home! I think our bumper took some damage too as it was a pretty hard hit.

Boar poop on our vehicle bumper from the collision.

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

Boar poop on our vehicle bumper from the collision.

The photo was shot on 12 February 2024.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.