Xiaofeng Liu, PhD

Photo Stories

I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the most brilliant researchers.

A persistent effort of reading, thinking, doing, and collaborating concentrated

in these articles. Presenting them is, however, a complete other world.

Photography
A Crash Tutorial on the HDR Photo Effect
This mini tutorial introduces HDR photography using RAW images and Photomatix Pro, guiding you step-by-step through exposure blending, tone mapping, and post-processing to create vivid, detail-rich images.
Halloween
Why did pumpkin become the protagonist of Halloween?
A sunlit visit to a Solvang pumpkin patch reveals the charm of Halloween through painted gourds, festive legends, and golden fields—where every pumpkin awaits its turn to become a story.
California, Halloween
The Scarecrow Competition in Solvang
A festive autumn day in Solvang blends Danish charm, whimsical scarecrows, and pumpkin delights. Strolling past fairy-tale shops and golden leaves, the town feels like a storybook come to life.
California
Biggest Bacon Veggie Roll Ever
Red Rock Canyon surprises with vibrant cliffs, tilting rock layers, and playful geology—where desert silence, “bleeding” stones, and bacon-like formations reveal nature’s art and a sense of humor in stone.
California
Experience the old American West
Lone Pine, wrapped in Old West charm and mountain silence, offered warmth, nostalgia, and sweeping alpine views—where golden dawn met cowboy memories, and every quiet corner whispered, “You’ll want to return.”
California
Nature’s color artist and air quality expert: Lichen
In the quiet corners of Fossil Falls and Mount Whitney, lichens bloom like living brushstrokes—tiny symbiotic artists painting stone with resilience, color, and life in Earth’s most forgotten places.
California
A date between volcanic magma and glacial meltwater
Fossil Falls is a sculpted desert relic—where ancient glacial meltwater shaped volcanic basalt into surreal forms. Once a lush river valley, it now echoes quiet stories of time, erosion, and transformation.
California, New Year
New Year’s Eve Street Party
Downtown Long Beach rang in 2012 with music, lights, and festive chaos—where chilly fog, dancing crowds, and neon-lit streets created a vivid, unforgettable New Year’s Eve street party experience.
California
The small-town atmosphere on Christmas Eve
On a quiet Christmas Eve in Santa Barbara, festive lights and silent streets framed a peaceful walk—where glowing trees and empty plazas whispered warmth, solitude, and the gentle beauty of stillness.