SF Dreaming and Scheming (Page 2): The Golden Gate Headlands. Just head across the Golden Gate Bridge, take the first exit (not Vista Point) and turn left under the freeway. You'll...

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

The Golden Gate Headlands. Just head across the Golden Gate Bridge, take the first exit (not Vista Point) and turn left under the freeway. You'll climb up the hill overlooking the bridge and the city. It's an iconic photo, used in lots of car commercials. Parking may be difficult but not impossible. Best times are at dawn, as the sun rises over the East Bay and you can see the Bay Bridge and downtown SF. Sometimes the fog comes in perfectly just at the same height as the bridge's roadway and snuggles in between the towers. Unfortunately, sometimes the whole bridge is invisible because of too much fog and you can't see anything. But if the weather cooperates, you'll have a wonderful photo.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

Frank1 wrote:

I'm heading out to Downtown San Francisco for about a week of photography, reading, relaxing, site seeing etc. Would like to know the basics of where and what to expect. Plan on taking 28,50,and 75-300 lenses w/A77 Sony. I'm interested in people shots, sites, and architecture as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. Yes, I am now retired and trying to fill in my time enjoying life.

Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Best park in the world, Climate is pretty much the same year around. Hopefully you will get some fog. Half Moon Bay is cold pretty and awesome. Napa Valley is close and go to Thomas Keller's Restaurant if you can afford it.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

I forget the name of the square surrounded by the beautiful victorian houses.
It gets great late afternoon light showing off the distinctive bright paint colors.
I could find it on a map but i forget the name... acorn square maybe?

Luvtravlin' Loc: So. Oregon

deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park has a great observation tower that you don't have to pay museum admission to go up. California Academy of Sicences across the way (you can get great photos of the living roof from the observation tower) has a really great rainforest exhibit. not to mention all the other gorgeousness in GG Park - Have Fun!

JosephSF Loc: Sonoma County CA

steve49 wrote:

I forget the name of the square surrounded by the beautiful victorian houses.
It gets great late afternoon light showing off the distinctive bright paint colors.
I could find it on a map but i forget the name... acorn square maybe?

You might mean Alamo Square? That is a great place for sure. On your way to GG Park from downtown on Hayes. Good suggestion.

Robeng Loc: California

Frank1 wrote:

I'm heading out to Downtown San Francisco for about a week of photography, reading, relaxing, site seeing etc. Would like to know the basics of where and what to expect. Plan on taking 28,50,and 75-300 lenses w/A77 Sony. I'm interested in people shots, sites, and architecture as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. Yes, I am now retired and trying to fill in my time enjoying life.

Frank,

There's a whole bunch of places you can photograph in San Francisco. You can take pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge and its surrounding area or go to Treasure Island and photograph the Bay Bridge and San Francisco. There's a castle in Calistoga that's awesome. Feel free to check out my website and if you want to know where I took the image send me a message.

Frank1 Loc: Shorewood, MN

OMG I only have one week, thank you all again. I do believe in taking more left turns in life makes it all worth the effort, will be picking up a few extra gigs of memory, and of course extra batteries.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

One of my favorite architectural treasures - The V. C. Morris Gift Shop, located at 140 Maiden Lane, just east of Union Square - Frank Lloyd Wright's experiment with circular ramps later used at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Love the arched entry. Be sure to go inside....

http://www.xanadugallery.us/building.html

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Frank1 wrote:

I'm heading out to Downtown San Francisco for about a week of photography, reading, relaxing, site seeing etc. Would like to know the basics of where and what to expect. Plan on taking 28,50,and 75-300 lenses w/A77 Sony. I'm interested in people shots, sites, and architecture as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. Yes, I am now retired and trying to fill in my time enjoying life.

Funny you're coming here next week and I'm getting out of here and going to Yosemite for four days on Thursday. Looks like the weather will be changing and there may be some fresh snow to enhance my pictures.

anotherview Loc: California

Consider the ferry to Alcatraz Island for a visit there. Book your ferry tickets as much in advance as possible, because of the popularity of this attraction.

You could also take a ferry cruise of San Francisco Bay. It goes to the Golden Gate Bridge, and circles around Alcatraz Island. Lunch buffet style served aboard while underway. A highlight of my recent visit to SF.

Visit Golden Gate Park for another side of SF.

Yes, to Fisherman's Wharf, although very touristy.

Consider using public transportation, but use taxi cabs for convenience.

The Haight-Ashbury District harkens to the Hippie movement but has become a small retail store haven, too, for tourists.

Do some planning before you go. Decide on doing 2 or 3 things for sure while there. It is so easy to get distracted by this interesting city.

Enjoy.

Frank1 wrote:

I'm heading out to Downtown San Francisco for about a week of photography, reading, relaxing, site seeing etc. Would like to know the basics of where and what to expect. Plan on taking 28,50,and 75-300 lenses w/A77 Sony. I'm interested in people shots, sites, and architecture as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. Yes, I am now retired and trying to fill in my time enjoying life.

Golden Gate Bridge from Viewpoint

Alcatraz Island from Ferry

View from Restaurant, Fisherman's Wharf

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square. There are several museums, boat tours of the bay. Don't forget the Golden Gate bridge. Maybe Alcatraz too.
Public transportation is very good. There is an information number that you can call when you are in the city for quick easy directions to anywhere in the city. I visited San Francisco twice last year. Did anyone mention Coit Tower or Golden Gate Park?

Redmark

Great ideas here, thanks everyone, as I shall be visiting with my sister in Jun.Will have a car.
Can someone tell where the classic image of stately old homes with the city in the background is?
Is Oakland worth a visit for iconic photo?
Cheer for the post Frank.

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

Redmark wrote:

Great ideas here, thanks everyone, as I shall be visiting with my sister in Jun.Will have a car.
Can someone tell where the classic image of stately old homes with the city in the background is?
Is Oakland worth a visit for iconic photo?
Cheer for the post Frank.

Oakland can be a dangerous place, a lot of crime, gang violence.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

As a frequent visitor to CA and SF (family there), I absolutely LOVE heading over the Golden Gate, making the first turn off the bridge, and heading up into the hills to photograph the bridge with the city in the background. I can't get enough of this. Anytime of day can yield a wonderful shot. There is just so much to do and photograph in that city that you'll never run out of possibilities. One of those small pocket size travel books could just be very helpful to a new visitor to that city and are a small investment which will yield great ideas. Best of luck! (Wish I was going with you.)

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Earworms wrote:

Oakland can be a dangerous place, a lot of crime, gang violence.

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