
I took my mom out to Chino Hills State Park to get her away from the house and enjoy some fresh air. I kept my gear simple and light — just the Canon R5 II with a 35mm f/1.8 STM — since we planned to walk a lot. The famous yellow wildflowers weren’t in full bloom yet, but we still found patches here and there. More than anything, it was just a great day being out together, soaking up the quiet and sharing time in nature.











When it comes to hiking, it’s easy to overpack camera gear. For this trip, I challenged myself to bring just one lens—the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 STM. Shooting with a single prime can be limiting, but also really fun.
Personally, I think 35mm is the perfect all-around focal length: not too wide, not too tight. While I prefer 28mm for everyday use, 35mm works better on the trail since I have room to move and frame shots. A 50mm would have felt too restrictive for landscapes. The bonus with this lens is its semi-macro function, which came in handy for some close-up wildflower shots.


