Bob Krist writes the 'Photography' column for National Geographic Traveler. His photographs regularly appear in National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Travel/Holiday and Islands. Back to PhotoSecrets San Francisco and Northern California

A great travel photograph, like a great news photograph, requires you to be in the right place at the right time to capture that special moment on film. Professional photographers have a short-hand phrase for that uncanny ability to be in just the right spot when it counts, "F8 and be there." There are countless books that can help you with photographic technique, the "F8" portion of that equation. But until now, there's been no help available for the other, more critical portion of that equation, the "be there" part. To find the right spot, you had to expend lots of time and shoe leather to essentially re-invent the wheel. In my career as a professional travel photographer, well over half my time on location is spent seeking out the good angles. It's time consuming, dull, and very frustrating. Andrew Hudson's PhotoSecrets does all that legwork for you, so you can spend your time photographing instead of wandering about. It's like having a professional location scout in your camera bag. Hudson has thoroughly scoured the city like only a resident can and will tell you where and when to go to get the best pictures of San Francisco and the environs. I wish I had one of these books for every city I photograph on assignment. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in North America and PhotoSecrets can help you capture that beauty on film with a minimum of hassle and a maximum of enjoyment.