Golden Gate Bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

What are the most photographed places in the world?

The Taj Mahal?
The Tower of London?
Niagara Falls?

Surely, the Golden Gate Bridge would rank on a list of "most photographed" places. And there are plenty of photographs of this bridge in the Trek Earth files.

So why another one?

(1) It is so often photographed because it is a stunning sight.
(2) The conditions of weather, sun angle, and point of view are infinitely variable.
(3) I'm from Northern California and wanted a shot of the bridge in my gallery. Call it local pride.

I set out yesterday with my camera on my bike, starting from the Embarcadero (at the northeastern corner of San Francisco). I cycled along the coast of the bay to the southern end of the bridge and then across the bridge to the Marin County side on the north. This photo was taken from above the remnants of an old military installation, called "Battery Spencer," which is part of the Marin Headlands National Recreation Area.

Here is the story of Battery Spencer, quoted from a sign at the site: "For over half a century, this was one of the most strategically important sites guarding the Golden Gate. Completed in 1897, the battery was named for Joseph Spencer, who had been a major general in the army during the American Revolution. It was armed with 3 rifled guns having 12" (= 30.5 cm) diameter barrels. The fortification saw continuous service until 1943, when it was declared obsolete and its guns scrapped."

A few facts about the Golden Gate Bridge (data culled from Wikipedia, which has an extensive article and unusually good photographs on the bridge).
- It was completed in 1937 and at that time had the world's longest suspension bridge span at 1.28 km. (It is now the 9th longest.)
- Total length is 2.74 km
- Height = 227 m (it is a bit scary crossing it on a bike because of the height and the commonly strong winds)
- It was a very controversial project and it took about a decade from the official decision to go ahead with the project (in 1923) and the start of construction (in 1933)
- Eleven men were killed in falls during the construction.
- The project cost $35 million.
- The bridge authority employs 38 painters to continuously maintain the orange vermillion coat, to protect the bridge against corrosion.
- The auto toll to cross the bridge is US$6; pedestrians and cyclists can cross without charge.

By the way, I don't know who the woman is in this photo. She had ignored posted signs against crossing a boundary railing to get a closer look. Shortly after I took this picture, she was joined by a male companion.

saxo042, johnmcc, worldcitizen, BWJ, swiatopelk777 ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

erdna (5356) 2009-07-27 7:42

A beautiful shot of this bridge. Despite all the other photos, the fog that adds atmosphere to this bridge is always different.

Andre'

saxo042 (15850) 2009-07-27 7:52

Hi William,
A remarkable picture of half a bridge! The well saturated red colour stands well against the blue-green sean. The addition of a person brings the necessary life into this excellent composition!
Kind regards
Gunnar

baba_flies (8025) 2009-07-27 7:59

Hello William! So much SF, the wind, the fog bank, and the sun. Love the inclusion of the girl, she shows what we all feel somehow. You never get tired of this, it is too beautiful. I have just my friends here who live in San Jose and many times we came up to this place with them. Great shot, love it!!! Best regards, Barbara.

npecanhuk (14126) 2009-07-27 8:55

Hello William!
Classical but always wonderful view!
Sharpness, exposure, depth of field and natural colors are all excellent!
The pov was quite well chosen and it's truly privileged! The moment was the best with those low clouds in the background!
The composition is wonderful and the inclusion of the lady there added beauty to the image!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

johnmcc (126) 2009-07-27 9:28

Hi William,

I'm so glad you got this shot. About the time of your picture, I was in one of those cars passing toward the stream of fog and San Francisco, wishing I could be on the same hill taking a picture. Great compostion and colors. Thanks.

John

manojtnair (427) 2009-07-27 9:59

hi william,
superb shot. sun, fog, water with good pov. the inclusion of the girl with grass increases the value of the photograph. good note. tfs.

worldcitizen (2265) 2009-07-27 13:54

Hello William,
Your POV and composition are really great, and they make your presentation of this famous bridge stand out. The inclusion of the woman adds a contemplative mood, and the fog in the distance is nice, too. This is a perfect mix of people, architecture, and nature, all in one shot. I hope that woman was careful when she stood up...it looks like one wrong step and she could end up in the bay!!!

Waylim (10909) 2009-07-29 0:07

Hi Bill,
Such a classic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, it doesn't matter how often I see it and from whichever POV or angle, it always worth seeing and photographing over and over again. I like this with the thick fog moving in yet still a big part of it clearly visible, the inclusio of the girl sitting there is a good idea, it make us identify with her or put us in her place to sit there relax and taking in the beath taking view. Technical quality is all fine, compsition is also good. Color and light naturally and adequately saturated and contrast. Thanks for you comments and for sharing this image.
Way

jrj (34779) 2009-07-30 6:13

I like this capture of the famous bridge William. The fog makes for an interesting effect as the bridge and distant landscape just seems to disappear in the back. Good idea to thave the person included there.

BWJ (1773) 2009-07-31 19:05

Hello William,
This classic view of the Golden Gate Bridge is a wonderful addition to your already very fine gallery. You chose a perfect POV. Details, color contrast and light are superb. I like the inclusion of the girl. Thank you for the excellent note.
Kind regards,
Betty

sacavem (8331) 2009-08-04 9:14

Olá William,

Good shot and Good work to capture this image.
Excellent composition, very nice colours.
Regards,
Filipe

swiatopelk777 (8702) 2009-08-11 2:46

Hi William!
Very fine bridge, famous bridge, wonderful girl. Original long perspective. Good focus.
Greetings from Warszawa!

Longroute (9489) 2009-09-17 9:55

Sometimes we neglect just the most obvious things...
and this photo is obviously very fine.

I hadn't read your note before and reading it now I had a feeling of dejavu... I wonder now if you wrote it after or before my comment to your other photo of the GG. Anyway I agree with what you say and I may add to your three points a fourth one: to take it as a challenge, to see if we are able to capture it at the same level as those great photographers...

And before reading your note I had thought: it's likely the girl is his daughter! (:-)
(I have a friend who is an appraised member of TE and he often sets his little daughter in the right place of his compositions... maybe with a red garment... smart! isn't it?)

Now to come to your photo, we must notice that the bridge forms a perfect diagonal and that is lit by a wonderful light which enhance its gay colour (is "gay" still used in its original sense in the USA? if not please accept my apologize not being indigenous there).
That and the really nice colour of the ocean (so different from our sea) plus the fog in the distance allows us to state that you matched the level of those big guys.
....Oh! I forgot the girl!

Best regards,
Donato (:-)

(Sorry if I may seem to exaggerate sometimes with my comments, but it's so boring to write/read the usual stuff...)

Dyerco (9126) 2009-09-23 7:50

Hi William
If you had to have one shot of the GG this would be a good choice. Nicely exposed with the mood set by the fog. Including the young lady was a good idea and works well in this composition. Her blue sweater compliments the sky.
Phil