Golden Gate Bridge

During the past year, I have visited San Francisco on 3 separate trips for both business and pleasure.  The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed architecture marvels in the US.  At first this was one of those “tourist” spots that you had to photograph.  Over the course of the year, I visited different locations at the predawn hours and throughout the evenings.  What I found most interesting is how different the photographs are.  It was hard to narrow down, but I believe I’ve selected 12 of my favorites that I feel show the character and beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge.

November 22, 2010 - 7:09 AM

F/16 - 1/10 Sec - ISO 100

November 22, 2010 - 6:27 AM

f/11 - 10 Sec - ISO 100

November 6, 2010 - 8:50 PM

f/14 - 77 Sec - ISO 200

November 8, 2010 - 7:30 AM

f/22 - 1/8 Sec - ISO 100

November 4, 2010 - 10:42 AM

3 Exposure HDR - f/16

1/400 - 1/100 Sec - ISO 100

November 8, 2010 - 6:22 AM

f/16 - 6 Sec - ISO 200

July 11, 2010 - 6:48 AM

f/14 - 0.3 Sec - ISO 100

November 4, 2010 - 10:57 AM

f/16 - 1/60 Sec - ISO 200

 November 8, 2010 - 7:03 AM

3 Exposure HDR - f/11

1/25 - 1/15 Sec - ISO 100

November 22, 2004 - 6:57 AM

f/14 - 1/5 Sec - ISO 100

November 4, 2010 - 11:05 AM

3 Exposure HDR - f/16

1/200 - 1/50 Sec - ISO 200

July 11, 2010 - 6:10 AM

f/16 - 1.6 Sec - ISO 200

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Golden Gate Bridge is actually surrounded by National Park area - called the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  I woke up early one morning to photograph the sunrise at Golden Gate.  Driving across the bridge to the Marine Headlands...I was a little nervous when the fog was so thick I couldn't see the bridge in front of me.  When I arrived at my location before first light....the fog was so thick I couldn't see a thing.  I honestly wasn't too pleased with my results from that day - but I made the best of the conditions and converted everything to black and white.  

My favorite picture of the bridge was actually one that my 11 year old daughter ended up taking later in the trip (below).

 I waited at the area I scouted for a few hours and was able to capture some clear shots of the bridge, whiles others were more like this video.

The image below was probably one of my favorites that I captured of the bridge.

Anna Claire and I visited the Muir Woods National Monument to see the Redwood trees (will be posted later).  On the way back, we stopped at the Marine Headlands to see if the view would be different.