When they were all readily available, I had all the reasons not to take a close look at this world-famed city. But photography has changed my mind after 20 years. More so than Seattle, it is one place where there are endless photography opportunities: architecture, landscape, street, close-ups, and even wildlife is quite different from the Northwest.
Lombard Street is famous for its steep brick street with eight tight turns for vehicles. People who live in this street have already lots of practice, but not the tourists like us. Driving up and down needs extra precaution. There are cars parked in front of all the houses and there is a perpetual traffic flow. The only place where I can take a picture is one street down, but then, the electric wires are in the way. This street needs an aerial view and our bird buddies have the advantage that we don’t have. Looking into their eyes, I think this is exactly what they are chatting about.
Then, check out the elevation difference between where you are standing and where the end of the street, the waterfront, is.
Anyone else would have a better bridge shot than mine. It is just like SpaceNeedle in Seattle. Everyone is shooting it, and so am I. There are 5 recommended locations to shoot this bridge from different angles. Sunrise light does not last long and I only tried one of them. The bridge in Astoria is my first attempt to shoot a bridge and this is the second one. There have been too many good shots taken by countless photographers. I am posting one because Golden Gate Bridge is the most renowned landmark in San Francisco.
In the past, I did not pay much attention to Painted Ladies. Standing in front of them, I was not too impressed by them. But after the photos were loaded, I found the colors of the houses are really quite beautiful and the architectural details are very classy. Blue sky and modern buildings are the backdrops while the foreground green grass and trees give a natural touch and balance. As a whole, the colors are stunning. I am glad that I take the picture, not just walked by.
I used my wide-angle lens for this one and the one below. The monster and majestic structure make me feel incapable, but I gave it a shot anyway.
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don’t care
My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me
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