Mike Fletcher asked me about shooting the Golden Gate Bridge because he is coming up here soon.
I was shocked to find I haven’t processed any photos of it, even though I drive over it on my way to hikes in the north. In fact, I only took photos of it on one day, and not the best of conditions: morning instead of evening, and in the late afternoon haze instead of a foggy day.
Still after a little work, they came out pretty well:
Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G
(3 exposures, 1/400-1/25sec) @ f/9, iso 200, 12mm (18mm)
Here is a stitch that didn’t turn out as well, but at least you can see the city in this one:
Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G
(9 exposures, 1/500-1/15sec) @ f/9, iso 200, 12mm (18mm)
Just before this, as I walked across the bridge, I stole this vantage point from Caitlin.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G
5 secs @ f/8, iso 200, 12mm (18mm)
When I got to the San Francisco side, I took one last stereotypical photo looking back, it’s still morning but you can see the haze is already starting up.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR
1/250 sec @ f/9, iso 200, 75mm (112mm)
This one was taken from Angel Island, later that day. The haze was pretty bad, but I was able to work with it a little with a lucky crop (Thanks, Caitlin):
Angel Island, San Francisco Bay, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR
1/500sec @ f/11, iso 200, 70mm (105mm)
Taken around the same time, this was an experiment in close cropping the image. I used a long lens to make the tower of Golden Gate closer to the same size as the structure of the pier.
Angel Island, San Francisco Bay, California
Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR
1/800sec @ f/2.8, iso 200, 70mm (105mm)
Your Golden Gate Bridge pictures are very good! I guess it’s a good thing I asked you about where to take good pictures of the bridge because it made you take the time to post these.
I’m surprised you haven’t taken more pictures of this San Francisco icon since you live so close to it. Well, I guess for that matter, I haven’t taken that many Los Angeles or San Diego shots even though I live in Southern California. It’s funny how we often overlook taking pictures of wonderful things near where we live. I guess we tend to take them for granted and assume we can do it anytime, but then don’t get around to it. I’ll have to make it a point to take more local shots when I get back from San Francisco.