- This guy decided to take his lunch here I guess. I waited and waited, but he wouldn't move!
- watch the tide if you come here... One way in, one way out.
- These look awesome in Large! - HisAndHerPhotographs.com
- Unbelievable! - JaveFoto
- View the full frame here
- Love the sky colour here =] - EmilyBeuken
Robert TurtixTurta Robert Marian
Untitled
San Francisco & The Bay Bridge, Yerba Buena Island, California
Last December I made a trip over to the Bay Bridge to try and find a fresh perspective of this bridge with the San Francisco skyline. Later that evening I came away with a image of the bridge and city that I really liked, but later realized that the image would have looked better if I had made it down to that spot for blue hour. I had planed on making another trip down for a sunset, but time got the best of me and I before I knew it, the Christmas lights on the Embarcadero Center had been shut off for the year, and I focused my attention on other things.
A year had past, and my contact Matt contacted me to see about making the trip back over to the bridge for a second round. We had made plans to meet up on a Thursday evening as one storm passed and another made its way in. The next afternoon, I received a email from Jim Patterson inquiring about the location, so instead of trying to map everything out, I just invited him and Kendra to meet up with Matt and I.
That evening, everyone came away with images that they were happy
with, but I felt like mine were nothing different than what I had from
a year before. After a second trip to this spot a week later, I was
still not happy with the dark sky and I now started to develop
thoughts of a whole new composition. The city framed by the bridge is
perfect in my opinion. It's like they were made to fit together, but
I really wanted something new. After bouncing ideas back and forth
with Jim, he showed me a image that had been made from down on the
beach with the city perfectly framed by the bridge without the towers
cutting any part of the city off. I then decided that this was the
composition that I wanted.
I started doing my research of the tides, and possible ways to make it down to the beach.... (Thanks Rob for that info) After seeing that the lowest tides of the month coincided with the sunset, I made plans to headed down sometime this week. I continued doing research on the area, and found out that it was a popular spot for Harbor Seals to haul out for a rest. I read some interesting information about how these seals will abandon a haul out spot if they encounter too much disturbance from humans. I was a bit worried because Jim mentioned that the photographer of the images I liked so much almost tripped over a seal while out on the beach. I wanted to get my own images from that spot, but was not willing to disturb nature to get it.
So...... Tuesday afternoon I picked up my brother and we made our hike up the road and down the insane hillside to the beach. We walked around for a few minutes, looking for a good spot, but found that the Harbor Seals were exactly where I needed to be. instead of causing a disturbance, we turned around and started looking for a new spot. We kept climbing, and slipping on the green wet rocks until we found ourselves directly under the bridge. It was amazing being under this giant structure, but we kept moving on. More climbing, and even more slipping, we finally made it to this north side spot. I like the rocky foreground and the unique composition of the bridge on the left, so we planted ourselves here and waited out the scattered showers that came on and off.
As the sun slowly set, we sat here and watched the bridge and city light up. A world class view if I had ever seen one. Even if the rain continued, and I was unable to make any images, it still would have been an amazing evening.
So here is one of my first images from this spot...... A lot of hard climbing, and slipping, but it was worth it.
Thank you for your views and comments!
View my stream on black here
Canon 5D Mark II
Exposure: 161
Aperture: f/13.0
Focal Length: 19 mm
ISO Speed: 50
Lens: EF 17-40 f/4L
Lee .9 hard edge ND grad
Comments and faves
JaveFoto, Shahriar Erfanian, Joserra Irusta, stammberger13, and 374 other people added this photo to their favorites.
JaveFoto (41 months ago | reply)
Holy MOLLY this is OUTSTANDING! This angle I have never seen.
Dustin Prickett (.sunglow.) (41 months ago | reply)
I can honestly say I have never see this angle, nice job on your research
stammberger13 (41 months ago | reply)
you need to get used to the foreground here but other than that its a masterpiece the colors and tones just incredible, well even the foreground has very nice light/tones-one of the best bay bridge shots Ive seen so far-be carefully with all the climbing one day you will slip-I wanted to go last week to the spot where patrick smith took his gg bridge pic near the bunkers but decided not to risk my life...not yet:)
Lightvision [光視覺] (41 months ago | reply)
sweet shot. love the fresh perspective
Darren White Photography (41 months ago | reply)
I like how you included the rocks in the foreground....nice use of layers here......excellent shot
glassjudah (41 months ago | reply)
okay, I definately need to check out that spot.
joe defao (41 months ago | reply)
Awesome work Steve. Your effort really paid off! I love the fact that you keep the glowing Coit Tower in the frame too!
HisAndHerPhotographs.com (41 months ago | reply)
Great shot!! 161 seconds! Amazing so clear with such long exposure! Wow!
A Sutanto (41 months ago | reply)
Well done....this is a fresh perspective indeed. The colors are great as well.
Dante Laurini Jr (41 months ago | reply)
Love the composition here!
Sayran [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Fantastic composition and exposure,.
Russ Barnes [ www.russbarnes.co.uk ] [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Sweet view man - great execution!
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Seen in my contacts' photos. ( ?² )
Joe Franklin Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Right on the money!
wilson_ng (41 months ago | reply)
WOW! This is the first time I have seen this bridge in this view. Great work, Steve!
Noel Clegg (41 months ago | reply)
Your photography is going from strength to strength... this is absolutely fantastic and the clarity throughout the image is just sublime... just excellent!!!
Rich Capture (41 months ago | reply)
Great shot here bro. Way to keep pushing your boundries. I love that you are always looking for new perspectives for all of us to copy :-) Now I'm sure to visit this place soon. :-) Seriously, Awesome capture here. Job well done. We'll hook up some time again. Tahoe is nice with the snow this week. I probally come up here next week. If you can get some time off work, let me know. Talk to you soon.
Late
hillsee (41 months ago | reply)
Wow, what a great story, and you did get a great image and a unique comp....so proud of you to respect the seals and understand the importance of leaving them undisturbed. Wish those that venture to Antarctica would have the same understanding ( even small disturbances to the wildlife there can be ultimately life-threatening). Have a wonderful New Year, Steve :~)
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Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)
Ted Rivera (41 months ago | reply)
Awesome shot Steve,and definitely worth the effort.
Have a great New Year!!!
.w i l l. (41 months ago | reply)
this is a stunning shot. Happy New Year.
Justin Balog (41 months ago | reply)
Well done Max! This is a stunning image. I am planning a trip to SF and possibly attending the Aperture Academy Marin headlands workshop. What is a good time of year to come out weather wise.
Also, do you mind giving some detail about what you did in post with this image?
Thanks again Max, this is an amazing one!
Skyline-Photo (41 months ago | reply)
This one is outstanding ! What a view ! Good job !
Rob Overcash Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Outstanding. I like how this perspective makes the Bridge seem immense relative the city, which is somewhat fitting since it is an icon for the area. Beautifully done.
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Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Della Huff Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Always love seeing new vantage points of the bridge. Another beauty. Love the color!
M. Shaw (41 months ago | reply)
This is Fantastic! Ever since I have seen your shot from the other side of the bridge I have wanted to get that shot for myself, but I agree with you I think I like this composition a little better. The foreground is a nice touch.
Chip Shotz (41 months ago | reply)
Simply incredible man! The breadth of this shot and the foreground makes this stand out. This inspires me. Thanks for sharing. It is world class.
Philerooski (41 months ago | reply)
Wow, this is like Patrick Smith status. Maybe even better!
Meshari Meshaal (41 months ago | reply)
fabulous photo
good exposure
clay.wells (41 months ago | reply)
stunningly beautiful. plain and simple. excellent line, excellent colors and reflections. gorgeous image.
fave.
Deborah (polarcollision) (41 months ago | reply)
The light spilling from the bridge out into the water and then dropping into the skyline is gorgeous! Any chance a sea lion would pose in the foreground for you? :-)
Jeff J....... (41 months ago | reply)
Stunning!!!!!
Dante Laurini Jr (41 months ago | reply)
Happy New Year, Steve!!!!!
Keithm1 (41 months ago | reply)
Tremendous shot - you show again that your outstanding work follows a lot of research & preparation - really well done.
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Seen on your photo stream. ( ?² )
Adam Hardy (41 months ago | reply)
wow man, nice work indeed! happy new year steve - hope it's a great one for you!
DavidFrutos (41 months ago | reply)
Only...Wow!!!
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Vista en las fotos de mis contactos. (Yo también quiero esto)
mm767cap (41 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous. I'm needing to hit these spots some time. Those cityscapes are just fantastic. Happy New Year!!
louie imaging (41 months ago | reply)
this is indeed an interesting low perspective of the city steve! love the blue swoosh of sky near the bridge! hope you will have an awesome new year and am looking forward to some exciting work from you!=)
i didn't head out the headlands this morning not being sure about the haze towards that direction so i chose to document an area closer to home.
Jason's Travel Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot!
kenny mccartney (41 months ago | reply)
Unbelievable. I will try to convey my thoughts, although they will not do justice to the description this photo deserves. This shot is stunning: definitely the absolute best I have seen from this location, and it is often photographed. Your long exposure and capture of the sea, rocks, bridge, and cityscape is an excellent combination. Everything is in perfect clarity: I can only imagine the original resolution is astounding.
This is my first introduction to your photostream, which I will now be following regularly. Very impressive work - a simple fave and trite comment is certainly not enough, but I hope you get the idea.
-Your newest fan.
Matt Granz Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Last night I was looking at trying to traverse the ledge above to get a picture from that vantage point for a sort of inverted version of the pics we've already taken. I decided that I would much prefer to wend my way past the sheer drops during daylight however. I also thought about working my way to the bottom there a bit more to the right of where you are in this… but wasn't in the mood for it and the beacon was about to be turned off. I really like this vantage spot you found and might have to try slipping and sliding to it myself soon. Have a great new years celebration and a fantastic 2010! Hope to shoot with you again in the new year.
Raymond's Glass Eye (41 months ago | reply)
Happy New Year!
Ayman T. Al-Shehab (41 months ago | reply)
wonderful shot
happy new year to u and ur family
PhotosTakenbyAnthony (41 months ago | reply)
amazing!!!
david.richter (41 months ago | reply)
Happy New Year Steve! Dedication definitely paid off here... great view over the city and the placement of the bridge is just about perfect! San Fransisco is truly an amazing city and I suppose not only for some great images...
Justin Smith - Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Great smooth colors, nice location you found here!
Misheta (41 months ago | reply)
Que toma....
Felicidades.
Hark Lee Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Steve, you did a fantastic job on this! Love the new and very original composition and great balance of light! I was planning to improve my own version taken on the other side, but didn't get the chance. I guess I have to wait another year to get the the holiday lights. ;-) Happy new year!
- Hark
Lewosky (41 months ago | reply)
What a fantastic long exposure. Good job.
Chee Seong (41 months ago | reply)
You are a perfectionist! and this is another masterpiece from you mate.
Saurabh Deoras Photography (41 months ago | reply)
happy new year steve. i was in and out of town during break and have bit of a catching up to do on flickr.
this certainly is a fresh perspective. been to this location several times but always thought angle of the bridge was not good with city skyline... you managed to capture it so well though. awesome.
Lianne Verkooijen (41 months ago | reply)
Love the way the bridge "enters" the frame and "dives" towards the city.
Excellent work, well done!