• SF: Bridges and Beyond - 3/13/20
• SF: Bridges and Beyond - 3/15/19

We love to explore San Francisco with our clients, and we're so excited to take our groups around for another adventure!

DAY 1

Our first day begins with an orientation to acquaint the group with your instructors for the weekend. All of our instructors have been guiding in the city for a long time, and their knowledge of the best places to go allows them to have plenty of options to take you to places where you'll have the best chance at capturing something magical.

Our first night we will make the hike down to Marshall Beach. This little nugget has amazing shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and plenty of rocky foregrounds and wave action to capture a dynamic image that gives the image pop from front to back.

After sunset we'll head back into the North Bay, Here we'll grab a late meal, and get a good night's rest for our first full day of shooting.

DAY 2

We'll get up nice and early and start our hike down to Kirby cove. The hike alone keeps most folks out of this location but we'll arrive nice and early so we can set up on the beach. Though we're only a couple of miles outside the city, it feels like being on a secluded island. Once we've hiked out of Kirby Cove, we'll grab a couple hour break back at the hotel then set off for Chinatown and the Financial District. Street photography is always fun, and we'll break up into smaller groups, and explore a few of the little nooks and crannies of this wonderful neighborhood looking to capture the mood and feel of the place through the story of photography. Enjoy lunch with your new friends while we're exploring!

That night for sunset we'll capture the Golden Gate Bridge from one of the numerous vantage points within the city! We'll also make sure we get a good night shot of the bridge in there as well!

DAY 3

Our 3rd morning will begin with a trip to the waterfront to photograph the Bay Bridge at sunrise. We've shown a lot of folks this place at night, but it's also beautiful in the morning! After our sunrise shoot, we'll walk down to Pier 7 to get another shot of the city from a different vantage point before grabbing a quick breakfast at the Ferry Building.

After our morning shoot, we'll head back to the hotel for a break and give some time for our instructors to work with the group on post-processing their images so that they look their best. Our afternoon we'll head to Fort Point for a couple of hours of exploration in this civil war era fortress conveniently located at the base of the Golden Gate. Then we'll head down the coast to have dinner in Pacifica and grab some long exposures of the waves crashing against the Pacifica Pier. We'll conclude our evening with a sunset shoot of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, arguably one of the most beautiful and iconic lighthouses in the bay!

Important FAQs

:: Is the itinerary set? ::

The planned itinerary is listed above, but weather, and unforeseen events can sometimes change locations for a planned shoot. We will always try our best to make sure we cover all the spots in the itinerary, but we do have backup locations in case of special circumstances.

:: What is meant by 'extreme' ? ::

This means we'll be doing a lot of walking. Plan on walking 6-7 miles a day on Day 2 and 3. A couple of these hikes are up steep hills, and can take some time. Our first sunset shoot at Marshall beach can have some uneven ground as well, please make sure to wear sturdy, comfortable shoes.

:: Is transportation provided? ::

Each student is responsible for their own transportation during the workshop.

:: Can a non-photographer friend or spouse attend the workshop? ::

Non-photographer friends and or spouses are welcome to attend but will be liable for their transportation. For more information, please contact the Aperture Academy staff.

Other spots we might possibly visit...

• Point Bonita
• Financial District
• Castro District
• Sutro Baths/Lands End
• Nob Hill/Powell Street
• Pier 7