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Tianshu Huang / Photography

I'm an amateur photographer who mostly takes travel photos; recently, I've also been dabbling in events and other research-related work. I started (somewhat) seriously trying to learn photography in 2022; this page documents my best work so far.

Equipment

I started on the Sony E (APS-C) system, mostly using the Sony 18-135mm, 55-210mm, and Sigma 30mm f/1.4 after upgrading from the kit pancake lens. In early 2025, I upgraded to full frame (A7Cii) with roughly equivalent lenses — the Tamron 28-200 and Sony 35mm GM. Some photos also feature borrowed kit, including the 24mm GM, Sony 90mm Macro, and A7RV.

2025

Snow shower at Carnegie Mellon University.
Snow shower at Carnegie Mellon University.
Tamron 50-400 f/4.5-6.3   Sony A7Cii
San Mateo Bridge at night on approach to SFO.
San Mateo Bridge at night on approach to SFO.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
Sunrise over Lanikai Beach from the pillbox trail.
Sunrise over Lanikai Beach from the pillbox trail.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
The southernmost point of the United States is a windy plain which is unique from the rest of Hawaii.
The southernmost point of the United States is a windy plain which is unique from the rest of Hawaii.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
A crowd gathers to watch a rather underwhelming eruption.
A crowd gathers to watch a rather underwhelming eruption.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Sunrise at Kilauea, just prior to Episode 35.
Sunrise at Kilauea, just prior to Episode 35.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
Midnight at shoreline park in Mountain View.
Midnight at shoreline park in Mountain View.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
Sunrise over the San Francisco Bay from Skyline Blvd.
Sunrise over the San Francisco Bay from Skyline Blvd.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
First try at astrophotography at Cherry Springs State Park.
First try at astrophotography at Cherry Springs State Park.
Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7RV
The Freundschaftstempel in Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.
The Freundschaftstempel in Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
Paul-Löbe-Haus by the Spree.
Paul-Löbe-Haus by the Spree.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
This narrow stairwell up to the Jakob-Mierscheid-Steg is iconically backlit, especially on an overcast day.
This narrow stairwell up to the Jakob-Mierscheid-Steg is iconically backlit, especially on an overcast day.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
The Bardentreffen brings street musicians to all over Nuremberg, including its iconic castle.
The Bardentreffen brings street musicians to all over Nuremberg, including its iconic castle.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
A rainy Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
A rainy Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Despite the slogan, this hotel-restaurant is actually in Trier, not Bitburg.
Despite the slogan, this hotel-restaurant is actually in Trier, not Bitburg.
Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
Joshua Tree National Park is known not just for its namesake trees, but for unique rock formations which are great for climbing and scrambling.
Joshua Tree National Park is known not just for its namesake trees, but for unique rock formations which are great for climbing and scrambling.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
A bee pollinating flowers in Laguna Beach.
A bee pollinating flowers in Laguna Beach.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Idalp at Ischgl; despite being early April already, the snow quality above 2300m is surprisingly good.
Idalp at Ischgl; despite being early April already, the snow quality above 2300m is surprisingly good.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
The cafe is closed, but the sign is definitely not.
The cafe is closed, but the sign is definitely not.
Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM   Sony A7Cii
An abstract scuplture at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
An abstract scuplture at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro   Sony A7Cii
An alien landscape at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
An alien landscape at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro   Sony A7Cii
Macro shot at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.
Macro shot at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro   Sony A7Cii
A level crossing in the South Side of Pittsburgh.
A level crossing in the South Side of Pittsburgh.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
A snowy evening on Flagstaff Hill.
A snowy evening on Flagstaff Hill.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100

2024

Jumping from rock to rock at Ohiopyle in the Fall.
Jumping from rock to rock at Ohiopyle in the Fall.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
Bakery Square in Pittsburgh.
Bakery Square in Pittsburgh.
Telephoto (112mm f/11 35mm-equivalent)   Pixel 8 Pro
A "macro" shot of a leaf and some flowers shot with a telephoto lens.
A "macro" shot of a leaf and some flowers shot with a telephoto lens.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
A mossy tree in the pacific northwest.
A mossy tree in the pacific northwest.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
A late sunset in Seattle.
A late sunset in Seattle.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
Reflection from the roof of the Summit building at the Seattle convention senter.
Reflection from the roof of the Summit building at the Seattle convention senter.
Main Lens (25mm f/6 35mm-equivalent)   Pixel 8 Pro
Seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam; the dutch have some interesting taste...
Seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam; the dutch have some interesting taste...
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
The "Graffiti Bridge" in Amsterdam.
The "Graffiti Bridge" in Amsterdam.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
Van Gogh-esque photo of a Canal in Amsterdam at twilight.
Van Gogh-esque photo of a Canal in Amsterdam at twilight.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
Deutsche Bahn building in Frankfurt is one of the most "evil" buildings in Germany.
Deutsche Bahn building in Frankfurt is one of the most "evil" buildings in Germany.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
Telephoto of elevators in the Eiffel Tower.
Telephoto of elevators in the Eiffel Tower.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
Side staircases in the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart.
Side staircases in the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
Shilin night market in Taipei with steam coming from a stall.
Shilin night market in Taipei with steam coming from a stall.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
A seedy Hong Kong crime thriller, complete with sketchy characters sitting in the shadows.
A seedy Hong Kong crime thriller, complete with sketchy characters sitting in the shadows.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
Riding the Hong Kong tram at night; the ride is quite shaky, especially on the upper deck, replicating Hong Kong's signature blurry look.
Riding the Hong Kong tram at night; the ride is quite shaky, especially on the upper deck, replicating Hong Kong's signature blurry look.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
Sharetea in Honk Kong.
Sharetea in Honk Kong.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100

2023

Large panorama of the Shenzhen Futian CBD at sunset from the Deng XiaoPing monument in Lianhuashan.
Large panorama of the Shenzhen Futian CBD at sunset from the Deng XiaoPing monument in Lianhuashan.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
A ferry on the lake in Zhaoqing.
A ferry on the lake in Zhaoqing.
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3   Nikon D5600
A small side street in the "Beijing Road" district in Guangzhou.
A small side street in the "Beijing Road" district in Guangzhou.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
The Nanshan District in Shenzhen is one of the "newest" districts; just about everywhere seems to be under construction.
The Nanshan District in Shenzhen is one of the "newest" districts; just about everywhere seems to be under construction.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
A cat and its ball in the newly-built MixC shopping mall in Shenzhen.
A cat and its ball in the newly-built MixC shopping mall in Shenzhen.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
San Bruno caltrain station taken while landing at SFO; the distortion caused by the window and engine exhaust happens to create a tilt shift-like effect.
San Bruno caltrain station taken while landing at SFO; the distortion caused by the window and engine exhaust happens to create a tilt shift-like effect.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
A panorama of Oakland from Flagstaff Hill in Pittsburgh.
A panorama of Oakland from Flagstaff Hill in Pittsburgh.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
The iconic bridge of Lisbon - which looks suspiciously like the Golden Gate Bridge.
The iconic bridge of Lisbon - which looks suspiciously like the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
View from the Miradouro Da Graca in Lisbon.
View from the Miradouro Da Graca in Lisbon.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
View of Madrid from the roof of the Riu Espana.
View of Madrid from the roof of the Riu Espana.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4   Sony A6100
Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest is the 2nd largest beer festival, rivaling Oktoberfest in Munich.
Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest is the 2nd largest beer festival, rivaling Oktoberfest in Munich.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
The Amtrak Surfliner in Torrey Pines from the bridge on Torrey Pines Rd.
The Amtrak Surfliner in Torrey Pines from the bridge on Torrey Pines Rd.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
Potato Chip Rock in San Diego being used as intended.
Potato Chip Rock in San Diego being used as intended.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
USS America (LHA-6) performing airlift exercises off the coast between San Diego and LA, taken while stuck in traffic.
USS America (LHA-6) performing airlift exercises off the coast between San Diego and LA, taken while stuck in traffic.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100

2022

A camper parked by the side of the road in Big Bend National Park.
A camper parked by the side of the road in Big Bend National Park.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
Panorama of the Chisos Mountains from Persimmon Gap in Big Bend National Park.
Panorama of the Chisos Mountains from Persimmon Gap in Big Bend National Park.
Sony PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100
View of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay from Chestnut & Hyde.
View of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay from Chestnut & Hyde.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
View of the California Aqueduct from above, taken on final approach to SFO.
View of the California Aqueduct from above, taken on final approach to SFO.
Sony 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3   Sony A6100
A conversation in Lake Erie viewed from a distance in Presque Isle State Park.
A conversation in Lake Erie viewed from a distance in Presque Isle State Park.
Sony PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100

Events & Research

Akhil Padmanabha @ PhD Defense.
Akhil Padmanabha @ PhD Defense.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Real-time Volumetric Compression; paper in review.
Real-time Volumetric Compression; paper in review.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Daiyaan Arfeen @ MLSys 2025.
Daiyaan Arfeen @ MLSys 2025.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Anthony Rowe @ CPS-IoT Debate at CPS-IoT Week 2025.
Anthony Rowe @ CPS-IoT Debate at CPS-IoT Week 2025.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
HCI Study Paper on Mixed-Reality Art; paper in review.
HCI Study Paper on Mixed-Reality Art; paper in review.
Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6   Sony A7Cii
Towards Foundational Models for Single-Chip Radar, Appendix A.
Towards Foundational Models for Single-Chip Radar, Appendix A.
Zeiss 24-70mm f/4   Sony A7RV
Bosch Collaboration @ Bosch Research, Renningen.
Bosch Collaboration @ Bosch Research, Renningen.
Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6   Sony A6100