Shootin' on the left
It's been a week since I've been back and I'm still trying to blink and regain my senses from a great weekend the San Francisco Bay Area.
I love SF. Its natural allure was made even sweeter by the temptation of the Smugmug bash and seeing friends that I don't see but once or twice a year. How could I not go? I skipped some work, hopped a plane and landed right in the middle of it. There was some scary flight stuntwork on the way, but it was alright. I know a couple of pilots and they're still alive (I think).
The weekend was a blur, completely swirling with smiles and anxiety and great food and great hunger and private jokes and totally clueless moments, new faces and old faces. Time has surely never slipped by so quickly and I am even more smitten by the beautiful Californian scenery. Good memories are evil like that, tainting the already existing draw of looking up job openings and apartment listings!
There was very little that I came back with photographically. The Saturday after the big SmugEvent was reserved for shooting but I hardly ever hit the shutter. 1 PM at Fort Point, that was the Big Plan. I was kind of secretly thrilled, actually, because I loved it when Jimmy Stewart jumped for Kim Novak when she threw herself after those rose petals.
Down Under
There's no way I could make this scene look new but at least I have one for myself, now. Soon after I grumped about sea spray on my polarizer and inadvertently blocked Devbobo's shot I followed Andy into the old Fort. "I always thought this place looked cool!" Shizam said, "and I wondered if you could go in."
My response: "D00D, YOU LIVE HERE!" :lol3
Devbobo setting up. He's such a nice guy, he'll sit there and talk to you forever and never tell you that he's waiting for you to get the f&$% out of the way he can take the shot:
It was kind of weird being in a (technically) abandoned building with these guys because this is a very different sphere of my life. But it was also very cool. I couldn't stop to think or set up, and the ghosts in this place were long, long gone. It's clean, neat, tidy - amazingly tidy considering there is no roof and the proximity to the ocean. Historic monuments like this are always sterile and a bit sad. Safe. I missed the smell of animal and human refuse, actually, because in a way the scene was just slightly out of true without the full sense-o-matic experience of an abandoned building.
I loved the geometric shapes created by the arches across the courtyard. As I was shooting the shadows and sunspots this runner came through my shot. I'm glad she did.
Although this is the smallest section of the Golden Gate Bridge, it is enormous when you're standing right under it. I remembered just a few days before someone had posted a thread with these views - and funny enough as famous as Fort Point is, I had never seen or noticed this perspective until I saw their shots and it just clicked. Thank you, I love my fellow shooters on Dgrin!
Sunset was planned for somewhere on the Marin Headlands. Ian chose us a spot way high up and we climbed down the hill a ways to get away from the main gaggle of tourists. It was a good spot. The inevitable line o' cameras was set up and we sat to wait. And wait. And geek, and joke, and snarf cookies, and wait, and slide on our butts, and wait.... you get the picture (pun intended).
Everyone was taking panos (esp that guy Devbobo, geeze! He's a friggin' pano machine) and I felt very unproductive standing there hopping up and down in the cold and watching them all do the dirty work. I ended up taking a lot of double photos just like these...
... but I never seemed to like the 5 or 6 shots that were sandwiched between them. We watched the cargo ships sail in and out of the bay, bringing goods from across the ocean from mystic lands. To our right was the Pacific, and although this is my far the least dramatic photo I took that day it is my favorite of the entire weekend:
Sunset over the ocean. I have never seen this sight before. Looking at this photo even now is a very personal and moving experience. After we packed up and headed to dinner we drove through some of the most beautiful Californian neighborhoods with some of the largest houses I have ever laid eyes on... but all I could see were the lights coming on across the water, the sun sinking below the horizon and the silhouettes of the cypress trees. The world suddenly seemed so big, so endless and so powerful.
Photography, friends, and one of the best cities in the world. What else could anyone possibly ask for? Thank you to everyone who made it possible. Everyone!
I love SF. Its natural allure was made even sweeter by the temptation of the Smugmug bash and seeing friends that I don't see but once or twice a year. How could I not go? I skipped some work, hopped a plane and landed right in the middle of it. There was some scary flight stuntwork on the way, but it was alright. I know a couple of pilots and they're still alive (I think).
The weekend was a blur, completely swirling with smiles and anxiety and great food and great hunger and private jokes and totally clueless moments, new faces and old faces. Time has surely never slipped by so quickly and I am even more smitten by the beautiful Californian scenery. Good memories are evil like that, tainting the already existing draw of looking up job openings and apartment listings!
There was very little that I came back with photographically. The Saturday after the big SmugEvent was reserved for shooting but I hardly ever hit the shutter. 1 PM at Fort Point, that was the Big Plan. I was kind of secretly thrilled, actually, because I loved it when Jimmy Stewart jumped for Kim Novak when she threw herself after those rose petals.
Down Under
There's no way I could make this scene look new but at least I have one for myself, now. Soon after I grumped about sea spray on my polarizer and inadvertently blocked Devbobo's shot I followed Andy into the old Fort. "I always thought this place looked cool!" Shizam said, "and I wondered if you could go in."
My response: "D00D, YOU LIVE HERE!" :lol3
Devbobo setting up. He's such a nice guy, he'll sit there and talk to you forever and never tell you that he's waiting for you to get the f&$% out of the way he can take the shot:
It was kind of weird being in a (technically) abandoned building with these guys because this is a very different sphere of my life. But it was also very cool. I couldn't stop to think or set up, and the ghosts in this place were long, long gone. It's clean, neat, tidy - amazingly tidy considering there is no roof and the proximity to the ocean. Historic monuments like this are always sterile and a bit sad. Safe. I missed the smell of animal and human refuse, actually, because in a way the scene was just slightly out of true without the full sense-o-matic experience of an abandoned building.
I loved the geometric shapes created by the arches across the courtyard. As I was shooting the shadows and sunspots this runner came through my shot. I'm glad she did.
Although this is the smallest section of the Golden Gate Bridge, it is enormous when you're standing right under it. I remembered just a few days before someone had posted a thread with these views - and funny enough as famous as Fort Point is, I had never seen or noticed this perspective until I saw their shots and it just clicked. Thank you, I love my fellow shooters on Dgrin!
Sunset was planned for somewhere on the Marin Headlands. Ian chose us a spot way high up and we climbed down the hill a ways to get away from the main gaggle of tourists. It was a good spot. The inevitable line o' cameras was set up and we sat to wait. And wait. And geek, and joke, and snarf cookies, and wait, and slide on our butts, and wait.... you get the picture (pun intended).
Everyone was taking panos (esp that guy Devbobo, geeze! He's a friggin' pano machine) and I felt very unproductive standing there hopping up and down in the cold and watching them all do the dirty work. I ended up taking a lot of double photos just like these...
... but I never seemed to like the 5 or 6 shots that were sandwiched between them. We watched the cargo ships sail in and out of the bay, bringing goods from across the ocean from mystic lands. To our right was the Pacific, and although this is my far the least dramatic photo I took that day it is my favorite of the entire weekend:
Sunset over the ocean. I have never seen this sight before. Looking at this photo even now is a very personal and moving experience. After we packed up and headed to dinner we drove through some of the most beautiful Californian neighborhoods with some of the largest houses I have ever laid eyes on... but all I could see were the lights coming on across the water, the sun sinking below the horizon and the silhouettes of the cypress trees. The world suddenly seemed so big, so endless and so powerful.
Photography, friends, and one of the best cities in the world. What else could anyone possibly ask for? Thank you to everyone who made it possible. Everyone!
0
Comments
and thanks for the story.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
SmugMug Technical Account Manager
Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
nickwphoto
Comments and constructive critique always welcome!
Elaine Heasley Photography
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
Just let the fingers flow from the heart, Nick.
Thanks guys!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
(If it's two of us though we might have to stop by Borrowlenses first. Fortunately they're local
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
And you must come back soon! And we'll find more beautiful things for you to shoot!
That's a date!
leaforte asked about sunrises over the water and come to think of it I don't think I've seen that either but purely because I've always been too lazy to get up for it when I'm at the beach. The idea that I could one day not be geographically located to catch it if I wanted never even occurred to me.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
The Story here goes so well with the pictures, the OP should write for a magazine!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
I cannot believe that you missed the 'smells' of truely abandonded buildings
(I actually still don't believe you go exploring those places - fascinating),
or that you were cold in San Fran! (I was once - at a game at the baseball park on the bay - the fog rolled in in the most fascinating way and residents knew to wear toques and parkas).
ann
My Galleries My Photography BLOG
Ramblings About Me
Schmoo, you seem like a SF type. You should just get it over with
and move here! You do the city proud with your photos.
I'm a transplant from Southern CA and love living here. Just wish
I could shoot more and work less.
I live outside of SF and it still feels like I'm on vacation whenever
I visit The City.
Fort Point is one of my favorite SF locations and I also have
visions of Veritigo whenever I'm there.
Since I was a kid, I've always loved the movie Vertigo and with
the advent of Google Maps, I made a Vertigo Google Map.
Look forward to see more of your photos.
Alvin
Fremont, CA
SmugMug Gallery
Those are some gorgeous shots. I especially like that last one
Looks like a landscape shot across the hips of a female.......
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
All thanks to you, friend!
Thank you guys, and Alvin what a great map! The highlight of my school days was getting to see Vertigo on the big screen... in 3D!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
Drawbridge was a one time vacation destination.
Not much left of the old town. You can find some interesting stuff here.
Yes, that's the place. I didn't know it has a name. I always wondered why there were dilapidated wooden structures in the slough. It seems that there are a couple ways to get there (or close to there). One way is to bike and walk on dirt paths from the west side of Fremont. These paths end prematurely and it's not clear how to get closer. An alternative way is to bike on dirt trails and walk along the railroad track from Alviso Wildlife Refuse. However, many trains go through at high speed and there are spots with little room off the track.
Oooooooo, very nice!
That's on my list the next time I'm out your way.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
From what I've read, access to Drawbridge is restricted due safety
concerns with regards to train traffic. From reading and looking
at Google Maps, you have to walk along the railroad right of way
and also cross over a rail bridge to get to the island.
Drawbridge is part of the San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge.
Looking at Google Maps, you could start at the SFBNWR visitor
center, walk along the levees until you get to the RR right of way.
I've always wondered if a group trip could be arranged with SFBNWR
to visit the island, or if it could be accessed via kayak.
Anyone out there have a contact with the National Park Service?
Otherwise, visit at your own risk.
Alvin
Fremont, CA
SmugMug Gallery
I Live at http://www.alaskamountainforum.com
Let us know when you get into town!!
I sincerely hope you do! And it's hilly enough maybe for your mountain legs, so you don't feel too unbalanced.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography