Taken from:PhotoSecrets San Francisco and Northern California: The Best Sights and How To Photograph Them.
(ISBN: 0-9653087-1-5)
Also read the Foreword by Bob Krist.
PhotoSecrets San Francisco and Northern California: The Best Sights and How To Photograph Them.
(ISBN: 0-9653087-1-5)
Also read the Foreword by Bob Krist.
There are probably as many opinions about the Top Ten "Best" sights of San Francisco as there are visitors or residents. Some people rave about the museums, others champion the wealth of arts and restaurants, many relish the quaint districts and shops. San Francisco is a varied, cosmopolitan city and there is a Top Ten for every taste.
My selection - the PhotoSecrets "Best" sights- is considered from the viewpoint of the camera. What are the most iconographic, unique, and visually stunning places? I looked for photographs that would make a viewer say: "Wow! Where's that? I want to go there!". I included the sights that are the most rewarding for an amateur travel photographer to explore, at any time of year.This criteria excluded most of San Francisco's excellent museums, as indoor shots are more demanding than outdoor ones, and the many festivals are relegated to the back of the book as they are seasonal events.
That said, let's review my Top Ten "Best" sights.
At number one is the most widely recognized symbol of San Francisco - the Golden Gate Bridge. Claimed to be the most photographed bridge in the world, this graceful structure makes a great photograph from almost any angle, at any time of day. You can get a great shot from the north or south, east or west, a high viewpoint or low, on a clear day or in fog, at sunrise or sunset. There are seven different viewpoints to explore and I show each one.
The next four slots are taken by other enduring emblems unique to San Francisco: the roving Cable Cars (the country's only moving national monument), the hydrangea-lined 'crooked' Lombard Street, the distinctive Transamerica Pyramid, Telegraph Hill's firehouse-shaped Coit Tower, and the Victorian 'painted ladies' of Alamo Square. They make great backgrounds behind your companions for those "we are here!" shots. Start by copying our classic 'postcard' views, then branch off for a fresh approach by changing the angle or composition. For a twist, combine two icons, such as Coit Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid from Pier 39, or a Cable Car at the top of Lombard Street.The book pauses at this point for a short digression on the Queen Ann Victorian residences. Dotted around the city, these ornate, elegant and colorful houses warrant a book to themselves.
Sight number seven is the "indescribeably beautiful" Palace of Fine Arts. As the New York Times said: "it gives you a choky feeling in your throat as you look at it". This is the most romantic structure in a romantic city. Wander through the corinthian columns, exercise the swan-graced reflecting lagoon, and introduce your audience to this little-known oasis.
The eighth sight is the popular Fisherman's Wharf. 84% of visitors to San Francisco come here so you probably will too. Regularly chastized for being tacky and brash, this area of growing attractions offers a wealth of people shots, as well as howling sea lions, dungeness crabs, ships, a submarine, and an aquarium.
At nine is Alcatraz. More than one columnist has remarked that, in such a vibrant city, it's a waste of half a day to visit a deserted prison. But hey, where else can you see such a legendary dungeon? Explore abandoned buildings, and the contrast the dull, drab landscape with the lively city, only one mile away. Alcatraz has a unique, if limited, appeal.
Rounding out the top ten is Golden Gate Park. The park may be smaller, and less central, than it's progenitor, New York's Central Park, but it is certainly more varied. Windmills, lakes, waterfalls, an English garden, a Japanese garden, a botanical garden, two major museums, and numerous sporting activities create a world within a world.
To simplify the many remaining sights, I have grouped them under 'Skylines', 'Districts', 'Places of Worship', 'Architecture', etc. Additional space is given for bustling Chinatown as this is a highlight for many visitors (there are few 'sights' but it's a great area) .
No American city has more varied and fascinating surroundings than San Francisco. Discover towering redwoods, rolling meadows, the rugged, plunging coastline of Big Sur, pristine Lake Tahoe, and the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. Visit the artistic colonies of Carmel and Mendocino, resort towns of Santa Cruz and Monterey, the future-forming Silicon Valley, historically rich Gold Country and palate-tempting Wine Country. Tour aesthetically-bizarre millionaire's mansions like Winchester Mystery House and Hearst Castle. Explore the hexagonal basalt columns of Devil's Postpile National Monument, the strange tufa formations of Mono Lake, or 1,200-foot-high spires of Pinnacles National Monument. Design a trip visiting the numerous lighthouses, Spanish Missions or steam trains. And marvel at California's crowning glory, Yosemite National Park - a photographer's paradise.Whereas a week is sufficient for San Francisco, three to four weeks are needed for all of Northern California. If you're not a vacationing student, teacher, or lottery-winner, concentrate on one area rather than everything. To help, in the book we have grouped sights by their direction from San Francisco - north, south or east, in increasing distances, up to about 200 miles radius (a half-days drive).
At the back of the book is a brief selection of practical information. In order to focus on photography, and since it is so well covered in other books, I have not included any general travel information such as recommended hotels or restaurants. For this, you will still need a general travel book, such as Fodor's, Frommer's, Loneley Planet, the Automobile Association, Eyewitness Guides, etc.
I highlight all the colorful events and festivals, and compare the seasons so that, if you can choose, you can pick the best dates. Also included is a review of tips and techniques to improve your photography. Lastly a how-to section on making an album or journal to remember your trip.
The greatest effect on your photographs will be the weather. Blue skies usually give the most rosy views but don't be disheartened if it's not sunny. The low-contrast light of overcast days is better for green foliage. Rain is great for moods (many of Ansel Adams shots were taken before or after a storm), and fog adds atmosphere, particularly to the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods.
Travel is fun because things always change. Please treat this book as good-intentioned advice rather than gospel. You'll probably find some sights that are new or that I've overlooked.
