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Have you ever wondered what happens after the lights go out down in San Francisco’s streets? We have! We also know that the city can be a daunting place to explore at night so we set out with a big group of photographers to search for great shots after dark.
Joe and I met up with our students just before sunset and had a short orientation to put names to our twelve new friends. After everyone was acquainted and buzzing with enough caffeine to kill a grown elephant we set out to our first location. The Palace of Fine Arts is a wonderful place as the sun goes down and the sky mutates into a deep blue. Before getting started I went through some of the basics to get everyone on the same page. We still had plenty of time so the group fired off some practice rounds while we waited for the “blue hour” and Joe and I popped in to assist when needed. When the true blue hour begins the contrast softens and the camera is able to capture both the bright yellow lights of the Palace and the deep blue sky behind it in one exposure, creating a match made in heaven (at least for a photographer.)
After milling around the palace and trying some different angles we were ready to press on. We all jumped into the ultra-hip ApCab and zipped on up to Lombard Street. Lombard Street is a section of road with eight sharp turns assembled with gorgeous red brick. The name of the game here is long exposures. We set up the tripods and waited for our first victim. Joe and I gave the students some advice on where to start so that they were ready when the first line of cars came screeching down the turn. After everyone got a few headlight shots we hiked back up the hill to a new vantage point. From this location we were able to capture the streaking taillights as the cars drove down and the city beyond.
After a short break it was time for stop three, which took us down to the waters edge near the Bay Bridge. Although it often takes second fiddle to the Golden Gate the Bay Bridge is still a beautiful structure to photograph, especially in the wee hours! First off we gathered everyone together for a group shot and then let them loose on the unfolding scene. The blue and yellow lights reflect in the water below rippling in the foreground and the bridge stands strong creating a powerful subject in the upper third of the frame. Joe and I went around and helped some of the students with composition and gave ideas for other shots. After about an hour here we got back into the ApCab and headed back over the bridge for our last shot of the night.
Since the Hawk hill section of the Headlands were closed Joe and I decided to head down to Fort Baker instead. This area offers equally impressive views of the Golden Gate Bridge. After a final lesson on color temperature and composition we packed it up and headed back to Sausalito to return our jazzed but tired group of photographers back to their cars for the night.
Until next time,
Phil, Joe and the rest of the Aperture Academy Team
P.S. If you'd like to join us at one of our workshops, you can find the schedule/sign up here. (More photos below the comments.)
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