Jassen Todorov, a concert violinist and photography professor from the United States, has earned high commendation in the prestigious 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for his stunning aerial photograph titled "Clouds of Gold." The image, which ranks as photograph 54 of 100 in the exhibition, captures the mesmerizing reflection of clouds in the salt ponds that span across San Francisco Bay during the golden hour at sunset.
Todorov, who serves as a Professor of Music at San Francisco State University, took the breathtaking photograph while piloting his single-engine Piper Warrior into San Francisco International Airport. As an active pilot and flight instructor who specializes in aerial photography, Todorov says he never tires of observing the constantly changing colors of the salt ponds from above. On this particular occasion, he described the light during the golden hour as absolutely magnificent.
The photograph was submitted to the "Wetlands: The Bigger Picture" category, which aims to communicate the vital role of freshwater ecosystems ranging from mountain-top bogs and peat uplands to rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains, marshes, and mangroves. This category specifically seeks images that can be powerful through their visual impact or natural beauty, or those that illustrate environmental or conservation stories revealing the importance of wetlands for both nature and people.
The salt ponds featured in Todorov's award-winning image carry significant historical and environmental importance. The process of salt collection in San Francisco Bay was industrialized during the 1800s, transforming the natural landscape for commercial purposes. However, since 2003, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project has been working to reverse this industrial impact by acquiring approximately 6,000 hectares, which equals nearly 15,000 acres of land.
The restoration project involves removing artificial dikes that were constructed during the industrial salt collection era to recreate natural tidal marsh habitat. This restoration effort is allowing salt-tolerant plants and wildlife species to flourish once more in their native environment, representing one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the United States.
Todorov captured his award-winning image using a Nikon D810 camera equipped with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens set at 70mm. The technical specifications include a shutter speed of 1/400 second at f2.8 aperture with an ISO setting of 280. The photograph was taken over San Francisco Bay in California, showcasing the unique intersection of industrial history and natural beauty that characterizes this iconic American landscape.
The accomplished photographer's work extends far beyond this single recognition, having been published by renowned media outlets including National Geographic, The Guardian, Figaro, Corriere della Sera, Dainik Bhaskar, China News Service, and Avenuel. His photography has been exhibited in prominent locations such as Chicago O'Hare and San Francisco airports, Somerset House, and the Scottish Parliament, demonstrating the international appeal of his artistic vision.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition invites visitors to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the natural world through images that celebrate nature's awe-inspiring beauty while urging viewers to protect it. The competition maintains that copyright in all photographs remains the property of the respective photographers, with strict guidelines regarding reproduction and republication of the images except as expressly permitted by copyright law.
