Streets of San Francisco

Nob Hill overlooking San Francisco Bay copyright 2011 Andy Richards

When I hear this phrase, I think of Carl Malden and car chases. San Francisco, with its steep hills, may have the most famous “streets” in the U.S. Sure, there are other cities with steep hills, but none that have the cache of San Francisco.

Those hills are real. I know; I walked some of them. During the first 4 days of my stay in San Francisco, I estimated that I walked about 35 miles. Some of those miles were uphill, up some of those streets, including the “summit” of the famed “Nob Hill.” On the way up, I was reminded of my age. But once at the top, it was exhilarating to look downhill in all 4 directions and see San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge and the city skyline.

Cable Car copyright 2011 Andy Richards

It is easy to see why the cable cars made living on these hills possible. Because of the hills, most of the streets do not continue all the way from one side of the city to the other. They end. They jog. The most famous of them all is Lombard Street, which zig-zags with tight switch-backs. Unfortunately, I did not get to Lombard Street this trip (but it is on the “bucket list” for the next trip).

Only one street continues in a straight line throughout the city: Market Street, which can be plainly seen from the view up on Twin Peaks.

Market Street from Twin Peaks copyright 2011 Andy Richards

And of course, the Embarcadero, which skirts San Francisco Bay from near the Bay Bridge all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf, may be one of the city’s most famous streets and perhaps most interesting.

The Embarcadero copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Alcatraz Island began as a military fort, guarding the entrance to San Francisco Bay through the Golden Gate. It later became a military prison, and—finally—a U.S. Prison. Because it is essentially a large rock outcropping in San Francisco Bay, surrounded by water, it was virtually impossible to escape and served as the prison for some of history’s more violent and problematic prisoners.

Alcatraz copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Today, Alcatraz is part of the U. S. National Park system. As a historical destination, it has a fascinating history, told by the park employees there. As a photographic subject, it is engaging; particularly at night, with interesting architecture which is in various states of deterioration, and includes a full, working lighthouse.

Alcatraz Island copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Unlike modern U.S. Prisons, there is no wall or razor wire and there is one Guard Tower which gives a commanding view of the exterior of the entire facility.

Alcatraz Island copyright 2011 Andy Richards

San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show

Blue Angels San Francisco Fleet Week copyright 2011 Andy Richards

October is a month in which I usually plan a trip somewhere related to photography. That October coincides with our anniversary often means that my wife (who is not an avid photographer, but is often a very patient participant) and plan a trip together. This year our daughter moved to San Francisco from the Mid-west and we had not been out to see her, or her new home. Indeed, I had never set foot in the state of California (though my wife was born and spent her youth in Southern California). We planned a week in and around the San Francisco area. When we planned our trip, we were unaware (until later) that the end of our week was also “Fleet Week.” This meant there were lots of people in town. It also meant an unexpected, but fun opportunity: the Fleet Week Air Show.

The highlight of any U.S. Military show, of course, has got to be the famed “Blue Angels.” But to “warm up the crowd,” we had several other participants, including The Canadian Air Force and several other U.S. Military Planes.

Canadian Air Force; San Francisco Fleet Week copyright 2011 Andy Richards

A couple weeks back, I blogged about knowing your equipment, and preparing for a shoot. This was a case of “do as I say, not as I do.” I haven’t ever thought about shooting an air show and my planned shooting involved basically static landscape images. So I was concerned with depth of field, creating opportunities for composite images, light direction and conditions, and proper location for perspective. I was prepared to try to expose for fog, which is supposed to be a staple for San Francisco.

This was a case of “do as I say, not as I do.”

Iusually use my “custom setting 1″ on my camera, which sets the AF actuation on the back button and not on the main shutter button. I generally shoot in Aperture Priority mode for 90% of my landscape images. I don’t worry about technological aspects like “focus tracking.” I am more interested in where those little brackets are for exposure purposes (after attaining sharp focus, of course).

Blue Angels; San Francisco Fleet Week copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Fortunately, my “default” “custom setting 2″ puts the AF actuation back on the shutter button. I think I have focus tracking set (but cannot be sure, and didn’t really have time to fool with it, as the air show opportunity arose as a surprise). As well, my 28-300VR f3.5-5.6 was probably not the best piece of equipment for this task. I shot it with full, active VR at its (nominal) 300mm length and did my best to track and focus. In hundreds of tries, I got a few sharp images and a few just marginally sharp images.

Fleet Week Air Show; San Francisco copyright 2011 Andy Richards

True pros have this stuff down. This is not to say that Ansel Adams, with his view camera, would have been any better prepared than I was. But most journeyman, working pros today would almost instinctively know how to get the best out of the equipment they were carrying and capture the important images. For me, it gives me something to continue to strive toward. In the meantime, I don’t plan to become an aviation photographer, and this trip allowed me to capture some lifetime memories.

Blue Angels; San Francisco Fleet Week copyright 2011 Andy Richards

San Francisco Skyline

Like a number of American Cities, San Francisco has a remarkable skyline. Unlike many American cities, however, the skyline can be viewed (and photographed) from a number of different perspectives.

San Francisco Night Skyline; Alcatraz Island copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Because San Francisco Bay wraps around the peninsula of the City, the skyline can be viewed from a different perspectives on the water. I have read that the ferry to Oakland creates a nice view of the skyline, as does Treasure Island (an island between the two spans of the Bay Bridge). Another view of the skyline is from Alcatraz Island.

San Francisco Skyline; Twin Peaks copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Still another can be viewed from the highest point in the City; Twin Peaks.

San Francisco Skyline from Marin Headlands with Golden Gate Bridge in foreground copyright 2011 Andy Richards

Yet another view that is occasionally clear enough is from the Marin Headlands, across the Golden Gate and to the North of the City.

Nob Hill copyright 2011 Andy Richards

These each yield a grand and expansive view of the city skyline. But there are also other, more intimate views of city skyline from various points in the city. The numerous hills in the city provide partial views from high up.  There are also “intimate” shots which normally are made from buildings.  Some reader, will note, for example, that the Transamerica Building, which is an icon in downtown and often seen in photographs of the city, does not figure in a significant way in any of the images here.  I did not have the opportunity to get to one of the building-vantage points this trip.  I hope to do that in the future.

San Francisco Skyline from Embarcadero, Pier 14 copyright 2011 Andy Richards

There are also partial views from the various piers along the Embarcadero.  Because of the rather unique geography of San Francisco, “seeing” and photographing the the city itself has apparently endless opportunities.  I spent 4 mornings wandering around parts of the city and I am sure, only scratched the surface.