San Francisco

[whosecameraisforpix]

Hi Friends! I will be making my first visit to the San Francisco area next month. Would appreciate

suggestions on:

1. Good vantage points for shooting the Golden gate

2. Any other suggestions on good shooting sites around the downtown SF area.

 

Thanks

[lake_photography]

There are so many great things to see and do in San Francisco. Try this site, I think it

will enjoy it and it is very inexpensive

 

www.urbanstrolls.com

 

have a great time in San Francisco.

[Charles_Webster]

One iconic view of GGB is to be had from the Lincoln Park golf course. The golf course entrance is at 34th Ave and Clement (or so).

 

Another is from beneath at Fort Point and Crissy Field.

 

Another is from the Marin Headlands on the north side of the bridge, looking south with the bridge and city. This one is absolutely best at sunrise, with the sun just illuminating the bridge and skyline. But don't count on many nice sunrises this time of year, the marine layer fog generally covers the city until 10AM or later.

 

Muir Woods in Marin County north of SF is great for the spectacular Redwood forest, but difficult to shoot in because of crowds.

 

Good luck, have fun

 

<Chas>

[Spearhead]

I prefer the non-iconic views. One spot that doesn't get used much because it involves some walking (down and then up) is Baker Beach. Very unpopulated despite being less than a mile from the crowds. Another spot that I like is Alcatraz Island. This was shot from there on an early morning trip.<p><center><img src="http://www.spirer.com/alcatraz/images/alc15.jpg"><br><i>Golden Gate Bridge, Copyright 2003 Jeff Spirer</i></center>

[jlineen]

I second Baker Beach as a good viewpoint. Nice lighting in the evenings, crashing waves in the foreground. Another view is from a small beach (can't remember the name) on the Marin side of the bridge. Walk or cycle across, then cross under the bridge on the walkway. Most people head uphill from here to reach the classic viewpoint (and I still would) but if you head down the trail to the left you will reach a small beach which is less crowded. It's a long walk back up though.....

Have a great time and post some results<div></div>

[jlineen]

One more thing.... The end of Baker Beach nearest the Bridge is 'clothing optional'.

[Carl Stone]

You're too late for Emperor Norton, or Herb Cain, but much good stuff remains in

Bagdad by The Bay.

 

If you find a unique image to capture, please post it here, and good luck.

[Monophoto]

Two choices for good views of the GGB -

1. Fort Point - a Civil War era fortification directly underneath the southern end of the GGB.

2. Battery Spenser - this fortification is in Marin Headlands on the northern side. Take the first exit off the 101 heading north, and look for Conzelman Road. There is a parking area on the left just after going under the bridge - you will have to walk about a quarter of a mile from the parking area to get to the fortification. That spot is ideal in late afternoon because the city will be behind/beyond the bridge.

 

There are lots of other interesting opportunities in Marin Headlands. I especially like Battery 128. Muir Woods is nice, but on a busy day you will need to walk pretty far down the trail to find places where crowds thin out. Land's End and Sutro Park (and the ruins of Sutro Baths) at the end of Geary Street. Golden Gate Park is nice - especially the Japanese Garden. Sausalito is nice but can be crowded in the summer. Napa and Sonoma are nice. Also Carmel and Monterey to the south.

[berg_na]

I agree that Baker Beach is a great place to view the Golden Gate bridge.<br>

<img src="http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6660/goldengatebridgeef2.jpg">

[carbon_dragon]

Don't miss the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. And despite the tourist nature of it, Alcatraz is worth seeing too (just reserve your place on the ferry a couple of days in advance). I also liked the cablecar museum. And the souvenier shop at the Golden Gate Bridge sells old bridge rivets painted international orange.

[andrew_cary]

GG Bridge..A shot I love but haven't taken is from the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley at Sunset. Another is from the old Military base to the NE of the bridge in Marin.

 

Other great photo locations in SF are:

Treasure/Yerba Buena Islands in the middle of the Oakland Bay Bridge,

Coit Tower.

Walk the Embarcadero.

The Great Highway/Ocean Beach

Cliff House/Seal Rock/Sutro Bath ruins.

The Palace of Fine Arts

Hyde Street Wharf/Aquatic Park Maritime Museum

USS Hornet (Aircraft Carrier Museum in Alameda)/

USS Pompanio (Submarine museum in SF)

USS Jerimiah O'Brien (sole surviving Liberty ship musuem)

Mission Dolores

UC Berkeley (Across the bay in Berkeley)

Stanford University in Palo Alto. (great free Rodin sculpture garden

(supposed to be the largest outside of France.

Mission San Jose in Fremont

Mission Santa Clara in Santa Clara

 

There are a number of beautiful redwood Groves in the SF Bay area- all are within a easy drive.

Portola State Park; Big Basin State Park, Henry Cowell State park, Austin Redwoods State Park. None of there are as swamped as Muir Woods...

 

Point Reyes and Tomales Bay

Fort Ross (restored 18th century outpost of Imperial Russia )

Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino Wine Country

Livermore Wine Country

[michaelchristensen]

Berg Na - excellent photo! Love that you included a person to show how big the rock formations are. Beautiful.

[bruce_stenman1]

Get the book Photo Secrets San Francisco and Northern California. The $16.95 cost is best investment in your photography you will ever make.

 

Tip: some of the best shots of SF are from Sausalito, Treasure Island, Angel Island, Alcatraz, etc. - you get the picture.

 

And bring a good warm jacket.

[whosecameraisforpix]

Thanks all for your very helpful suggestions. Hope to post pix next month after my

visit.

[whosecameraisforpix]

Was in SF recently, and enjoyed my visit to your beautiful city. I tried to capture the

essence of this really beautiful city, and present the evidence in a folder titled 'San

Fran' in my portfolio. Thanks again for your very helpful input.