The view from the run
For many of us, our morning jog is just about trying to get through the playlist, but for Derek Zhao, it’s a legit photo op. Zhao, a machine-learning engineer who moved to California from Texas last year, lives on Treasure Island—a human-made spot about an eight-minute ferry ride from the hustle of San Francisco.
Living there is a total vibe compared to the city noise. "I'm waking up to the sound of seagulls instead of car horns," Zhao shared.
The photo that ate
While his day job involves working at Disney California, Zhao doesn't always have his professional camera gear on him when he's hitting the pavement. Thankfully, phone cameras are lowkey elite these days.
Earlier this year, he stopped mid-run to snap a shot of the Salesforce Tower peeking out from the clouds. He captured the tower looking like a massive monolith rising above a marine layer of fog that wiped out the rest of the skyline. "I was mesmerised by how the fog... completely covered the rest of the skyline, leaving only the tower looking like a monolith," he said. It’s honestly giving main character energy.
Why it matters
In a world where we’re constantly glued to tech and that exhausting hustle culture, it’s a reminder to touch grass—or at least look up from your screen. Zhao realized that his favorite shots aren't from expensive trips, but from the quiet moments near home. Real talk: sometimes the best content is right in front of you when you’re least expecting it.
