• I made sure to time it so that the fog is between the two ridges to show depth. Otherwise it would just look like one black rock!
  • The waves were crashing below. I show them on my blog but it was too foggy at this moment.
  • The sunset district, glowing under a low blanket of fog!
  • The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. 105 million cars pass over it each year!
  • The fog was right at bridge deck level, 300 feet above the ocean. Official deck clearance at mid-span, 220 feet. Just perfect for that orange glow!
  • You want some blue in the sky to show of the orange tower. Too little light and the bridge lights are too harsh.
  • Rarely are there really clouds in the sky while there is fog below, so I was happy about this! It was in the forecast too.
  • Yes, I had to go to the very edge of the cliff for this open view. Be careful here, especially in the dark!!!
  • the detail in here is amazing - sdosick
  • Love this fog .. wow amazing colours ! - kamran baig

Fog at the Golden Gate #1 - San Francisco

The fog settled on the bridge deck just before sunrise! No HDR. See my Flickr profile profile page (link below) for my blog entry on the events of the morning and how I did this. I have more Hawaii photos but I'll show them later.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/504427056...

---------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @19
2-minute exposure @F8
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
The Story
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------

September and October are great months for capturing low fog at the Golden Gate. The inversion is weaker but still there and the fog is often not as deep. So I got up at 2 hours before sunrise, checked the weather and headed out. You need to get here before sunrise to capture the best light. As I left the hillside after sunrise, a bunch of other photographer were setting up their tripods but the light was already harsh and bright because the high clouds were thin. Too bad I was alone to see this!

I have lots more information about this sunrise on my blog including some extra pictures, so stop on by and have a look! See the link above to go to my Flickr profile and then my Blog.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    betuwefotograaf, Massimiliano Marrazzo, Eric 5D Mark III, Misael Lacasta, and 1849 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. betuwefotograaf (32 months ago | reply)

    This is so cool..............instant Fave,,,,,,,,,,,

  3. Eric 5D Mark III (32 months ago | reply)

    amazing golden gate bridge image..... breathtaking!!!!

  4. dogsy (32 months ago | reply)

    Top notch shot.

  5. Nuno Serrão (32 months ago | reply)

    Very nice photo, well done!

  6. paddsen (32 months ago | reply)

    Amazing scenery! Fav!

  7. Misael Lacasta (32 months ago | reply)

    capolavoro!!!!

  8. Madeleine Duquenne (32 months ago | reply)

    Awesome shot. Great

  9. mr.alsultan (32 months ago | reply)

    Amazing!!

  10. Baloulumix (32 months ago | reply)

    Magnifique photo !

  11. amillionwalks (32 months ago | reply)

    This is amazing. Wonderful Patrick!!!

  12. Ve3rtigo (32 months ago | reply)

    Excellent work!

  13. midlander1231 (32 months ago | reply)

    Stunning work Patrick.

    Tony

  14. Wytchwood (32 months ago | reply)

    Shows the value of knowing your subject/location inside out.. A stunning result. I was reading this morning that Joe Cornish (UK) has produced a book of 100 images of the same small hill at different times and angles. It's easy to forget that location if just a part of the cake with time of day, light and weather all being in the mix too. Best photo blog on the web! All the best.

  15. Max:S (32 months ago | reply)

    Stunning shot!!! Love it!

  16. seryani (32 months ago | reply)

    Simply extraordinary, a wonderful shot! I love your photo stream, thanks for sharing your superb captures!!!

  17. Matt Granz Photography (32 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful.

  18. alexandros9 (32 months ago | reply)

    superb!!!

  19. antoninodias13 (32 months ago | reply)

    Impressive shot!!!!!!

  20. Kevin_Mitchell (32 months ago | reply)

    awesome shot! the fog is amazing!

  21. AGrinberg (32 months ago | reply)

    Nice! The fog has been great lately.

  22. JaveFoto (32 months ago | reply)

    Awesome work Patrick!

  23. vanessawoz (32 months ago | reply)

    so brilliant! love it!

  24. ~JustJayne~ (32 months ago | reply)

    Breathtaking!

  25. Alessandro S. Alba (32 months ago | reply)

    just a fantastic work!

  26. PatrickSmithPhotography (32 months ago | reply)

    Thanks for your comments.

    Yes, maybe I'll do a '100 views' sort of book too! Joe Cornish is a real master.

    Patrick

  27. Jim Purscelley (32 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful picture to wake to. Love the detail in all aspects of this photo.

  28. Dorron (32 months ago | reply)

    Fantastic!

  29. Sean Raymond Photography aka ShutterKrazy (32 months ago | reply)

    This was a great morning, I was at the next turn off, higher up the hill from where you were, but it was a really wonderful morning for sure, beautiful shots really liked your explanations and descriptions on your blog!!!
    Morning Burn

  30. AlpineZonePhotography (32 months ago | reply)

    beautiful capture

  31. Gary Ngo | Photography (32 months ago | reply)

    Excellent shot Patrick! I wish it had that kinda weather when I was there.....

    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

  32. FZ 7 (32 months ago | reply)

    Amazing!!!

  33. Fionn Luk (32 months ago | reply)

    Wow lovely view! I love the fog, very nice. Awesome capture Patrick

  34. Yannick Lefevre || Photography (32 months ago | reply)

    delicious fog on this view of famous bridge :-)))
    regards

  35. Mauro Taini (32 months ago | reply)

    wow, fantastic shot ( ?² )

  36. MarsW (32 months ago | reply)

    Spectacular image Patrick.
    You are such a Natural - your landscape photography is awesome.

  37. gkitch22 (32 months ago | reply)

    This is a really great capture Patrick. I wonder how many other exposures you made; I imagine that the conditions were changing quite rapidly.

  38. tubblesnap (32 months ago | reply)

    Brilliant. Well planned and executed.

  39. :: Igor Borisenko Photography :: (32 months ago | reply)

    This is so perfect buddy!

  40. Ivan Sohrakoff (32 months ago | reply)

    Nice capture, Patrick. I like the fact that you had a nice clear view of the city above that fog!

  41. ladydipim (32 months ago | reply)

    wonderful image

  42. Paul in Japan (32 months ago | reply)

    perfect capture Patrick

  43. GS Photostream (32 months ago | reply)

    Great image. Love the mist and compo

  44. Rio Aragon (32 months ago | reply)

    Muy buena foto

  45. Chanceb737 (32 months ago | reply)

    What a capture! Awesome.

  46. Pixel Boy128 (32 months ago | reply)

    Bravo!!!

  47. ChristopherTaylor (32 months ago | reply)

    Absolutely amazing!

  48. alan guido (32 months ago | reply)

    awesome capture

  49. Philippe Doucet ツ Photography (32 months ago | reply)

    Réellement splendide!!!

  50. Sabinche (32 months ago | reply)

    wow, what an impressive shot!

    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)

  51. sminky_pinky100 (In and Out) (32 months ago | reply)

    Absolutely magical!

← prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(457 comments)
keyboard shortcuts: ← previous photo → next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts