Fisherman’s Wharf; More Than Just a Tourist Attraction

Fisherman's Wharf copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco houses things like the shopping area on Pier 39 and the famed Ghirardeli Chocolate Complex. Pier 39 is lined with tour kiosks, trinket sellers and restaurants which are mostly in the style of “fast food.” However, you only need to wander a bit on either side of Pier 39 to find some much more interesting areas; especially for photographers. There are of course, the obligatory Seals which have taken over a portion of Pier 39 which was once commercial fishing moorings. They offer a raucous form of entertainment in the mornings.

Seals, Pier 39; Fisherman's Wharf copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Immediately to the East of the tourist area of Pier 39 is the Fisherman’s Wharf Sailboat Harbor. On a clear, calm morning, the sailboats and their masts make a wonderfully colorful reflection photograph.

Fisherman's Wharf Sailboat Marina copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Just west of the main tourist area, the U.S. Navy has permanently moored the Jeremiah Obrien and the USS Pampanitoa. The morning sun lights them nicely.

Military Ships; Fisherman's Wharf copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Still further west near the edge of the tourist area, the commercial fishing boats are moored. They create a more rustic but just as colorful early morning photographic opportunity showing working fishing boats. The Street which skirts San Francisco Bay from Fisherman’s Wharf back around to the Ferry Terminal near the San Francisco Bay Bridge is known as the Embarcadero. I spent 4 mornings wandering along this street and still didn’t photograph everything that was there to see.

Fisherman's Wharf copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Minnesota’s “North Shore”

Split Rock Lighthouse - July, 2010

Some of you are thinking (mercifully) he’s finally done with the Alaska stuff.  I’m not.  Still some of the best to come, photographically.  But I thought it was time for a little intermission.

A few months back, I dedicated a Blog to a “farewell” to my good friend, compatriot, and fellow photographer, Rich.  Earlier still, I attempted to “wax philosophical” (I know, terrible grammar – but I think it’s a quote) about whether internet board acquaintances were really friends.  One of these folks is photographer, teacher and writer, and my good friend, Al Utzig.  Al’s work can be seen at GoldImages.

I “met” Al some 5 years ago on the Scenes of Vermont (SOV) foliage forums and we immediately found much common ground in things other than photography.  Over that period, we have been saying we need to get together for a shoot.  Well, we made that happen on the weekend of July 30, and as an added bonus, Rich joined us for a great photography weekend on the Minnesota North Shore.  It was a real pleasure for me to meet Al in person and spend some time shooting with him.

Al Utzig - July 2010

Rich had moved to the Twin Cities and Al already lives there.  We were looking at dates, and Al discovered that the Split Rock Light was celebrating its centennial this summer and was scheduled to be lit Saturday night, July 30.  So we planned around that.

Arriving Friday afternoon in a gray drizzle, we used the time to scout several proposed photo locations; most importantly, Split Rock State Park.  This light is particularly photogenic and can be shot from many different vantage points.  If you are like me, and don’t especially like people in the photo, that may be the only real challenge, photographically.

We arrived back in the park in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday morning, to more gray skies and overcast.  But photographers are eternally optimistic and we “hung around,” waiting for something to happen.  It did.  I got some really nice silhouettes, The unexpected, but very pleasing result was this starburst image.

Split Rock Light - July 2010

Later, we headed out for some breakfast and shooting some of the many North Shore waterfalls (more at a later date on those).  Returning to the park in the mid afternoon, we were surprised to find 12-15 tripods lined up on the beach south of the Light.  We met a number of photographers that afternoon and learned, to our delight, that not only would the light be lit at dusk, but fireworks were coming after dark.

What a “right time, right place” opportunity!

The afternoon light is nice from this vantage point and there is a rock island in the foreground with some wonderfully colored yellow-orange streaks.  The only thing that “marred” this afternoon was as the “golden light” developed, a rather ugly (think buccaneers) sailboat motored in and anchored right in the foreground of the shot.  Too bad, because the late afternoon light created some gorgeous reflections of the rock on the water.  But alas, for another time, I guess.

Split Rock Light

As dusk approached, the light was lit as advertised, to applause from viewers on the beach (by this time, the tripods numbered closer to 35-40!).

There’s an old, near-hackneyed– photographer’s saying: “f8 and be there.”  So, as darkness approached, I set my camera to manual, f8 and waited.  It was well worth the wait and couldn’t have more accurately underscored the saying!

Split Rock Fireworks Finale