Washington Street, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Another view of the city of San Francisco and our summertime companion, fog, this one taken from a waterfront promenade in the midst of the industrial area of Oakland. This time we look past the Bay Bridge which was begun in 1933 and finished a few months BEFORE the Golden Gate Bridge. At its daily peak, this bridge carries 18,000 cars an hour. Those vehicles traveling west into San Francisco pay a toll of $3.00.

We are peering across the Bay directly up Washington Street immediately north of the Transamerica building, past the financial district, Chinatown and up toward the top of Nob Hill. You see the layer of fog above the hill extending toward the Pacific Ocean.

The channel beneath the 700 meter span of the bridge through which we gaze, is the main route for ships heading for Oakland's extensive waterfront industrial areas. Today all we see in the water are a few sailboats in front of the Ferry Building. The sun was coming toward the camera as I took this shot, adding brilliance to the water.

Galeota, Jeppe, carper, timotey, GrahamB, torben, Liora, Rinie_Hoff ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10352) 2004-07-21 3:06

Seems obvious that the San Francisco bay area is a place that I should visit urgently. This works very well in B&W. The game of light and shadows is surreal.

RGatward (20108) 2004-07-21 3:09

I agree with Gal, this is good in B&W, with the fog still visible behind the buildings. Does it ever go away?

Jeppe (18654) 2004-07-21 3:11

Nice to watch this Curtis - I like the way you captuted the sloopy road of San Francisco and in the same present that fine bridge the golden gate.

I have a little theme called a pair of shots with contrast - and Jack just posted a "simalar" shot from norway.
Theres world apart in this shots, not only the distance, but also the hectic life on this shot and the lack of same on Jacks.

carper (96) 2004-07-21 3:22

Very good view Curtis,
Great lines, great composition, very nice timed, great note, and great in black and white, very good job

timotey (119) 2004-07-21 3:56

A beautiful view of this gate with this desaturated aspect increasing light reflects and shapes distinctions. Another beautiful composition !

GrahamB (939) 2004-07-21 5:24

This works very well in B&W. The bright sea contrasting with the dark buildings , then the bright stripes of the roads leading up throught the dark areas - oh and a good silhouette of the bridge to top it all off. Nice!

torben (3100) 2004-07-21 12:09

While I didn't notice them until the second look the sunlit steep streets cutting through the city fabric are the really amazing feature of this photo. The foreground looks good. Although the texture of water is totally decayed into black or white pixels, the graphic expression is strong and pleasant to my eyes.

Burnham (2428) 2004-07-21 12:58

Didn't know this area colud be this intimidating, I think tis has that impending doom thing going on, because here the fog doesn't look like cotton, it looks like thick smoke covering the city, and that's great. I really think your PP is exellent here, even the pxellike water that Torben commented on.

Liora (1857) 2004-07-21 13:02

Another magnificent view of SF Curtis! I really like the grainy texture here, and the composition is stunning.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-07-22 9:25

Hi Curtis, beuatiful view on the bay, the fog is coming in like a wall behind the buildings, they almost look like some scenery in a scary movie. The water is excellent, the light on it is SO beautiful, reminds me a bit of my 'Immanuel'.

cmn210 (50) 2004-08-03 8:00

My favorite city! I have to say that I'm impressed that you could get the dock in the front to pop out as much as you did. I think it really gives the shot some depth. The contrast, especially in the case of the water, works really well (it makes it look like a fuzzy TV screen).