It's a beautiful city: Mediterranean colors, picturesque hills, beautiful water, interesting architecture. On her first visit, writer Gail Sheehy exclaimed "Oh God, I was afraid it would be this beautiful!" A photographer's dream. But photographing San Francisco is not without its challenges. In the summer (May through September), it's foggy in the morning and evening - a lot. Sunsets are seldom spectacular and it can be hard to figure out where that beautiful professional photo was taken. With the tips below, you can make the best of your visit and go home with postcard-perfect pictures.
Cable Cars:
- You can photograph the cable cars on any of the three cable car lines.
- You can catch a cable car and Chinese architecture together at Grant and California in Chinatown
- The best cable car and Alcatraz shot is from Hyde Street above Ghirardelli Square. Use a long lens to flatten the photo and bring the island nearer. Be very careful if you're photographing at the top of Lombard Street. There's a lot of traffic and people are distracted by the view.
- For photos of the cable cars being turned around (done by the driver getting out and pushing), go to the end of any of the lines. Taylor and Bay has a nice uncluttered background and it's easy to move around.
Golden Gate Bridge:
- A long, low shot from Fort Point is particularly dramatic when the waves are high. A wide angle lens will make the bridge look even longer, like it's disappearing in the distance.
- From the Marin Headlands:
- Battery Spencer (first pullout on the left) is best for photos of the city through the bridge, and it's fantastic in the fog.
- At the Kirby Cove pullout about 1/4 mile up the road (there's a tree and a bench) you can frame the Transamerica Building in the bridge if you have a 300mm telephoto lens. This is also a good spot for sunset photos. The sun will be behind you, but you can get the pastel colors in the sky over the city.
- At the top of the road at Hawk Hill, try a panorama shot. If you don't have a panorama camera, take a regular photo, get it enlarged to 8 x 10 and then cut off top and bottom.
- You can get great photos of the "other" side of the bridge from Lincoln Boulevard and Baker Beach (just be careful you don't get a stray nudist in your photo).
Chinatown:
- Waverly Place (painted balconies) is best in the mornings.
- The Chinatown gate always seems to be in the shade, but it makes a good "you are there" photo. Street scenes can be difficult because they're always full of cars. Try for details instead.
- Don't miss the street lights!
Fisherman's Wharf: A dramatic area, but hard to take photos (too many people).
- Taking a photo of people in front of the boats is almost impossible unless you're willing to actively stop pedestrian traffic for a moment.
- For the best pictures of the fishing boats, get off the main street. Go through the double doors between Alioto's and Fisherman's Grotto on Taylor Street (says Passage Way to the boats) and walk around to find your favorite shot.
- The Fisherman's Wharf sign makes a nice "I was there" photo.
