“Morning Mist at Coit Tower”, photograph on Pearl Paper, 2022, 20˝x32˝, framed 24˝x36˝
About the Image
I never imagined that the view from 400 feet above would be so breathtaking that morning, especially since it was so foggy on the ground. Yet I had the urge in my heart to give it a try. So with only a few percent left on the battery, I flew my drone through the thick fog. The view suddenly changed around 300 feet when the drone emerged above the fog blanket; the light broke through and I was overjoyed! That moment taught me a valuable lesson: our perspective is limited, but the Almighty sees beyond what we can see. All we need is faith and the willingness to do our part, even when the path isn’t clear.
Biography
Martin is a licensed civil / construction engineer with a deep passion for photography, especially in construction and aerial photography. Originally from Indonesia, he arrived in Alabama as an exchange student and later moved to California to pursue career opportunities and graduate studies. It was during college that he developed an interest in photography and began working in the dark room and as a photographer. After earning a Master's degree from UC Berkeley, Martin contributed to the construction of the new Bay Bridge from inception to completion. Throughout the project, he documented the bridge's development with his DSLR camera, capturing the process of building this iconic structure.
His photographs had been featured in exhibitions at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and garnered awards in contests hosted by ENR magazine (2010, 2012, 2013) and the ASCE Bridge Photo Contest (2020, 2021, 2022). Most recently, Martin served as a judge for the ENR Magazine's photo contest in 2024. Beyond his engineering and photography pursuits, Martin enjoys travelling, playing badminton, and spending time with his wife and two children. He currently works on BART projects and, naturally, documents many of its construction projects.
Website: www.martinchandrawinata.com