Albertdebruijn.com

Archive for the ‘San Francisco’ Category

The Marin Headlands make up the area just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. There is a road that turns off Hwy 101 and leads into the Marin Headlands from where you can get fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge. In fact, many of the shots you have ever seen of the bridge were most likely taken from there.

What a lot of people do not know is that there are many other photo opportunities to be found when you continue down that road (most people shoot the bridge, then turn around and go back). Below is one of those opportunities that present themselves. This is the Point Bonita Lighthouse, built on this rocky outcrop in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The lighthouse is still in active use today and is maintained by the US Coast Guard and is open to visitors (although the bridge is being replaced at time of writing this making the lighthouse inaccessible until spring 2012).

Hide Sites

You gotta love this place! I know do – probably because I love the HDR results one can get from shooting these brick walled corridors. I find the way that HDR can pull out the details just wonderful. Subjects like brick walls, cobblestone streets and wood grain textures just come alive when given the HDR treatment. Add to that the multiple exposures which lets you capture that wide dynamic range and not hard to conclude that HDR photography can be a real treat for indoor scenes.

So here is another HDR of Fort Point for your enjoyment. It looks like the place was deserted, it wasn’t. It’s all about patience, just waiting for people to pass and quickly make your shots. Sometimes I get lucky.

Hide Sites

The magnificent Fort Point is located right under the Golden Gate Bridge, on the South side. It was built to protect San Francisco harbor from Confederate and foreign attach during the and after the US Civil War.

While its many arched walkways are considered to be a great showcase for the art of master brick masonry, it is also great for some powerful photography.

Here is a great example of the “feel” of this place. I just LOVE these corridors that disappear into the distance, no distractions or decorations other than the brickwork, arches, faded colors and those wonderful lines. This is agreat place for a weekend visit (the place is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). There are superb views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the rooftop, which is easily accessible.

This is a 3-shot HDR, each shot is 2 stops apart.

Hide Sites

Spent the afternoon on Alcatraz with a group of photographers. It was a lot of fun. I had been there about 8 years ago and for some reason remember it as being bigger. Not that that really mattered, there are some interesting shots to be made on the island. It was rather cool though. While it was middle of July, it was a only 60 degrees Fahrenheit (about 15 Celsius) so sweaters and layers were in order. 

I’ll post some pictures from Alcatraz soon, but wanted to share this one of the Golden Gate Bridge first. After returning from the island, four of us decided to go to the Marin Headlands and see what kind of sunset we’d get. On the way there it started to rain and the sky turned into a really interesting display, a rainbow and awesome colors as you can see here. A beautiful glow above the city, interesting clouds and the red color of the bridge rewarded our detour after the visit to Alcatraz.

Hide Sites

She had just passed under the Golden Gate Bridge was sailing towards the setting sun. Who is she? Where is she going? I will never know.
Those were the thoughts that went through my mind when I took this picture. She formed a perfect focal point. Personally, I love shots where the colors of sky and sea just run together. It was a beautiful November evening but quite chilly.

Hide Sites

Trying something different here. Using a textured image to blend into the background, adding some drama and interest to the sky and water. Also toned the background to get this golden glow.

Hide Sites

Fort Point lies right underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, on the SFO side. It’s open to the public and offers some great views of the Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. Inside though, new photographic opportunities open up. This is one I really like.

Hide Sites