Golden Gate Bridge (at night)

Killjoy · **Golden Gate Bridge (at night) -** 04-27-2009, 09:11 AM

The Meet Up at Golden Gate Park went a little long for some of us.

I got to the park just after sunrise.
We shot for a while, and then gathered later for some food and to chat a while.
Some folks had to go home.

Some of us stayed out a little bit later to play.

I think it was worth the effort.

Exif data (for those of you who want to know).

Canon 50D
24-105 f/4.0 lens at 24mm
ISO100
f/6.3
25 seconds
Bogen Tripod.

RochinPhotography · 04-27-2009, 09:19 AM

Nice shot Alan!

Killjoy · 04-27-2009, 09:36 AM

Thank you Jonathan.

A guy at work saw the image, and asked if I would send it to him.
I asked him why, and he said he wanted to print it out and give it to his wife.

I told him no, he can't have the image, but he can certainly buy one from the site.

Abel · 04-27-2009, 09:45 AM

there you go... it cost money to get that shot.. and you suffered thru the cold and wind. hehee.

i cant wait to edit my versions tonight...

Killjoy · 04-27-2009, 09:47 AM

I'm certainly curious as to how yours are going to turn out as well.

Other than sharpening, that's SOOC (straight out of camera).

Abel · 04-27-2009, 10:34 AM

it still looks good...

im gonna try to edit a couple of different versions and maybe send a few to print tonight..

RogerAylstock · 04-27-2009, 11:29 AM

Alan, that's a really great shot. I'd like to come out sometime and just shoot the bridge at night (and that other spot on Treasure Island). Maybe when you don't need a parka.

Killjoy · 04-27-2009, 11:45 AM

No problem Roger.

Maybe we can make a detour and just swing through there on our way back from Mossbrea Falls?

Killjoy · 04-27-2009, 11:46 AM

In all seriousness, I would love to go back and do it again.
I also want to try to shoot from the end of the pier. I didn't make it that far down there.
Shannon, Mario and Steve did. But I haven't seen their images yet.

I would also like to shoot from the other side of the bridge at night, and get the light trails from the cars on the bridge.
Shooting into San Francisco with all the city lights.

Abel · 04-27-2009, 12:04 PM

funny you mention that alan.. i too was just thinking the same thing. maybe we should have walked down to the end. ugh!

id recommend doing it again and showing up a little earlier.. i know the blue sky at dusk was amazing!

RaceImages · 04-27-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

In all seriousness, I would love to go back and do it again.
I also want to try to shoot from the end of the pier. I didn't make it that far down there.
Shannon, Mario and Steve did. But I haven't seen their images yet.

You won't see mine. Everything I took from that end was just too grainy. I literally was taking a picture, changing a setting, taking a picture for about 20 minutes out at the end of the pier. I really want to get back there again soon and try out some other things. May even rent a couple lenses just for that instance (can't let you see the new ones in my bag you know...lol)

I'm looking forward to trying a couple things I learned from you guys when I go back to Indianapolis next month.

Killjoy · 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abel

funny you mention that alan.. i too was just thinking the same thing. maybe we should have walked down to the end. ugh!

id recommend doing it again and showing up a little earlier.. i know the blue sky at dusk was amazing!

Come on back. We'll have another get together.
We'll do a different section of the park this time.
Or we'll even go check out that little gazebo you were talking about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaceImages

You won't see mine. Everything I took from that end was just too grainy. I literally was taking a picture, changing a setting, taking a picture for about 20 minutes out at the end of the pier. I really want to get back there again soon and try out some other things. May even rent a couple lenses just for that instance (can't let you see the new ones in my bag you know...lol)

I'm looking forward to trying a couple things I learned from you guys when I go back to Indianapolis next month.

Steve, what ISO did you have your camera set at when you took the shots?
And WHAT could you possible have learned from ME???

Oh! I know! Remember to turn off your IS when you mount the camera on a tripod.
Because I keep forgetting to.

All my shots from the North side of the bridge are fuzzy.

Killjoy · 04-27-2009, 12:56 PM

You can see what IS does when mounted on a tripod if you look at this thread.

I posted that about eight months ago.

RaceImages · 04-27-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Steve, what ISO did you have your camera set at when you took the shots?

(

I was just messing around with settings, ended up between 1000 and 1600.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

And WHAT could you possible have learned from ME???

(

Well maybe it wasn't so much you as it was Roger and Abel....lol

Seriously, it was just good for me to get out of my normal arena and talk to people who just shoot something other than auto racing for a change. It forced me to look at things differently and gave me ideas for projects down the road.

I'm now also looking into taking some classes to further improve my skills and just try to improve my creativity. I shoot action shots, one of my biggest weaknesses has always been taking pictures as a bystander, shooting the subtleties of the sport. Thats one of my new focuses as I move forward this season

Bailey · 04-27-2009, 02:36 PM

wow. im so regretting the fact that i didnt make the trip...

isam250 · 04-28-2009, 12:25 AM

niceee i need to make a trip up there just to take a pic like urs

Killjoy · 04-28-2009, 11:34 AM

You should have been there Bailey.
Everyone had a great time.

Sam, if you want to make the trip, let me know.
I'll be happy to show you where we were.

And if it's not windy like it was, I'll show you a couple of other great spots that I couldn't take the other group to.

cmistretta1 · 05-03-2009, 10:32 AM

The Golden Gate Bridge is my favorite thing to shoot....I love it...but, as a beginner photographer, my shots are not so great...I'm planning a couple of days in SF this summer from sun up to sun down, just taking pictures of the city...trying hard to figure out my new camera...Nikon D80...Your shot of the Golden Gate Bridge is totally awesome...and like you, I like to take pictures from every possible angle...anyway, happy shooting....

Killjoy · 05-03-2009, 10:49 AM

Thanks Colleen, and welcome to the forum.

Well folks, it looks like I may get that chance to shoot it again.

There is another photographer in town for a few days for a business trip.
I told him if he wants to extend his visit, I'd be happy to play tour guide.

He took me up on my offer, and Friday is the day. I'll be shooting in the city again.

Abel · 05-03-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Thanks Colleen, and welcome to the forum.

Well folks, it looks like I may get that chance to shoot it again.

There is another photographer in town for a few days for a business trip.
I told him if he wants to extend his visit, I'd be happy to play tour guide.

He took me up on my offer, and Friday is the day. I'll be shooting in the city again.

im jealous.. i wanna go shoot again!

RogerAylstock · 05-03-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmistretta1

The Golden Gate Bridge is my favorite thing to shoot....I love it...but, as a beginner photographer, my shots are not so great...I'm planning a couple of days in SF this summer from sun up to sun down, just taking pictures of the city...trying hard to figure out my new camera...Nikon D80...Your shot of the Golden Gate Bridge is totally awesome...and like you, I like to take pictures from every possible angle...anyway, happy shooting....

Colleen,
Pick up the book Photo Secrets of San Francisco before you come. Well worth the few bucks to get some classic SF shots.

RogerAylstock · 05-03-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

He took me up on my offer, and Friday is the day. I'll be shooting in the city again.

Hummm, take half day off, drive in from Sacto and meet you guys by the bridge......thinking.....

Killjoy · 05-03-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerAylstock

Hummm, take half day off, drive in from Sacto and meet you guys by the bridge......thinking.....

And turn around and drive to Mossbrea Falls from there?

Killjoy · 05-03-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abel

im jealous.. i wanna go shoot again!

Buy another ticket?

Didn't you say that you had to attend a couple of local meets there in Texas?
Or the guys there would just give you so much *&%#......

stephenoachs · 05-20-2009, 01:40 PM

This is nicely done Killjoy. For as much as this bridge is photographed there's always a new take on it and it's fun to see all the different interpretations and this one is great.

Killjoy · 05-20-2009, 01:48 PM

Thank you. I'm still game on going back and trying other angles.

stephenoachs · 05-20-2009, 01:55 PM

There are so many too...Baker Beach is a classic vantage point, so is Fort Point but this version of yours is far less seen. There's another really great spot with some great foreground near where you were but it requires a -1 foot tide to access. I've yet to get a good shot from there but when the conditions are right, and the tide is low it will be a sweet spot.

I set out last summer to find a new vantage point and with some help from Google Maps found Kirby Cove, which I proceeded to hike down to at 11pm at night (scary). I took a pano from that location. I'd love to get back down there this Christmas when the embarcadero lights are on (and transamerica star) to add even more lights to the city in the distance.

http://stephenoachs.com/gallery-kirby-cove-pano.php

Killjoy · 05-20-2009, 04:00 PM

That's a gorgeous shot!

As for Baker Beach, I was out there a week and a half ago.
As I was trying to get a decent shot of the bridge with the rocks in the foreground, all the naked sunbathers (all guys) kept walking over to the rocks and standing there facing us.

I don't know if they were trying to expose themselves and get into the shot, or if they were just trying to ruin our shot as if to say "This is our beach, and you can't take any photos here!"

Yeah, I didn't take any photos.

stephenoachs · 05-25-2009, 06:19 PM

Oh yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I do workshops in the city and we always start at Baker Beach and it never fails that we get down near the bridge and out come the naked dudes posing. They DO pose too and it always makes the students laugh.

I always kick off the class with the warning, in case anyone is offended by nudity and to-date, no one has ever said they didnt want to start on the beach and every class always has a good laugh after the fact.

Abel · 05-25-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenoachs

Oh yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I do workshops in the city and we always start at Baker Beach and it never fails that we get down near the bridge and out come the naked dudes posing. They DO pose too and it always makes the students laugh.

I always kick off the class with the warning, in case anyone is offended by nudity and to-date, no one has ever said they didnt want to start on the beach and every class always has a good laugh after the fact.

id be like... "im ok with nudity.. as long as she's hot... "

hehee jk.