Photographing San Francisco: Digital Field Guide

Photographing San Francisco: Digital Field Guide

Released March 2010
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470586846

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Book description

A compact, full-color companion guide to photographing San Francisco!

Whether using a full-featured compact camera or a high-end dSLR, this companion guide provides you with detailed information for taking stunning shots of beautiful San Francisco. Whether you aim to capture breathtaking photos of the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, crooked Lombard Street, infamous Alcatraz, or unique Victorian homes, this portable resource goes where you go and walks you through valuable tips and techniques for taking the best shot possible.

You'll discover suggested locations for taking photos, recommended equipment, what camera settings to use, best times of day to photograph specific attractions, how to handle weather challenges, and more. In addition, lovely images of San Francisco's most breathtaking attractions and recognizable landmarks serve to both inspire and assist you as you embark on an amazing photographic adventure!

  • Elevates your photography skills to a new level with photography secrets from professional photographer Bruce Sawle

  • Presents clear, understandable tips and techniques that span all skill levels, using all types of digital cameras, from compacts to high end DSLRs

  • Features San Fransisco's main attractions in alphabetical order as well as thumb tabs on the pages so you can quickly and easily access the information you are looking for

  • Shares detailed information and insight on critical topics, such as ideal locations to photograph from, the best time of day to shoot, camera equipment to have handy, weather conditions, and optimal camera settings to consider

Whether you're a local familiar with the territory or a visitor seeing San Francisco for the first time, this handy guide will help you capture fantastic photos!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
  6. 1. Alcatraz
    1. 1.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 1.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 1.2.1. Hyde Street and Lombard Street
      2. 1.2.2. St. Francis Yacht Club
      3. 1.2.3. Treasure Island
    3. 1.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 1.3.1. Equipment
        1. 1.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 1.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 1.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 1.3.3. Exposure
        1. 1.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 1.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 1.3.3.3. Getting creative
  7. 2. California Academy of Sciences
    1. 2.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 2.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 2.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 2.3.1. Equipment
        1. 2.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 2.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 2.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 2.3.3. Exposure
        1. 2.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 2.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  8. 3. California Palace of the Legion of Honor
    1. 3.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 3.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 3.2.1. Lincoln Park
    3. 3.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 3.3.1. Equipment
        1. 3.3.1.2. Lenses
        2. 3.3.1.2. Filters
      2. 3.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 3.3.3. Exposure
        1. 3.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 3.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 3.3.3.3. Getting creative
  9. 4. Chinatown
    1. 4.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 4.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 4.2.1. Grant Avenue and Bush Street
      2. 4.2.2. Grant Avenue and Sacramento Street
    3. 4.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 4.3.1. Equipment
      2. 4.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 4.3.3. Exposure
        1. 4.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 4.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  10. 5. Coit Tower
    1. 5.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 5.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 5.2.1. Lombard Street
      2. 5.2.2. Embarcadero Piers
      3. 5.2.3. Fisherman's Wharf
    3. 5.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 5.3.1. Equipment
        1. 5.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 5.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 5.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 5.3.3. Exposure
        1. 5.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 5.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  11. 6. Conservatory of Flowers
    1. 6.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 6.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 6.2.1. Inside the conservatory
      2. 6.2.2. John F Kennedy Drive
    3. 6.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 6.3.1. Equipment
        1. 6.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 6.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 6.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 6.3.3. Exposure
        1. 6.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 6.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  12. 7. Downtown
    1. 7.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 7.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 7.2.1. Market Street and Beale Street
      2. 7.2.2. Sacramento Street and Battery Street
      3. 7.2.3. Treasure Island
      4. 7.2.4. Twin Peaks
      5. 7.2.5. Randall Museum
      6. 7.2.6. Golden Gate Bridge Vista Parking Lot
    3. 7.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 7.3.1. Equipment
        1. 7.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 7.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 7.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 7.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 7.3.3. Exposure
        1. 7.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 7.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 7.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
  13. 8. Dutch Windmill
    1. 8.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 8.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 8.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 8.3.1. Equipment
        1. 8.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 8.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 8.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 8.3.3. Exposure
        1. 8.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 8.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  14. 9. Embarcadero
    1. 9.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 9.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 9.2.1. Embarcadero Ferry Building
      2. 9.2.2. Embarcadero between Mission Street and Howard Street
    3. 9.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 9.3.1. Equipment
        1. 9.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 9.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 9.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 9.3.3. Exposure
        1. 9.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 9.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  15. 10. Fisherman's Wharf
    1. 10.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 10.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 10.2.1. Jefferson Street between Powell Street and Hyde Street
    3. 10.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 10.3.1. Equipment
        1. 10.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 10.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 10.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 10.3.3. Exposure
        1. 10.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 10.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  16. 11. Golden Gate Bridge
    1. 11.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 11.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 11.2.1. Marin Headlands
      2. 11.2.2. Baker Beach
      3. 11.2.3. Crissy Field
      4. 11.2.4. Fort Point
      5. 11.2.5. North Vista Point
      6. 11.2.6. Visitor Center
      7. 11.2.7. Conzelman Road Headlands
    3. 11.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 11.3.1. Equipment
        1. 11.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 11.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 11.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 11.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 11.3.3. Exposure
        1. 11.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 11.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 11.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
        4. 11.3.3.4. Getting creative
  17. 12. Grace Cathedral
    1. 12.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 12.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 12.2.1. California Street
    3. 12.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 12.3.1. Equipment
        1. 12.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 12.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 12.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 12.3.3. Exposure
        1. 12.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 12.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  18. 13. Japanese Tea Garden
    1. 13.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 13.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 13.2.1. Tea Garden Drive
    3. 13.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 13.3.1. Equipment
        1. 13.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 13.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 13.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 13.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 13.3.3. Exposure
        1. 13.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 13.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  19. 14. Lombard Street
    1. 14.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 14.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 14.2.1. Lombard Street at Hyde Street
      2. 14.2.2. Lombard Street and Grant Street
      3. 14.2.3. Lombard Street at Leavenworth Street
    3. 14.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 14.3.1. Equipment
        1. 14.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 14.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 14.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 14.3.3. Exposure
        1. 14.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 14.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  20. 15. Marina Green
    1. 15.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 15.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 15.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 15.3.1. Equipment
        1. 15.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 15.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 15.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 15.3.3. Exposure
        1. 15.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 15.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  21. 16. M.H. de Young Museum
    1. 16.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 16.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 16.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 16.3.1. Equipment
        1. 16.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 16.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 16.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 16.3.3. Exposure
        1. 16.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 16.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  22. 17. North Beach
    1. 17.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 17.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 17.2.1. Columbus Street between Filbert Street and Washington Street
    3. 17.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 17.3.1. Equipment
      2. 17.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 17.3.3. Exposure
        1. 17.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 17.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  23. 18. Ocean Beach
    1. 18.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 18.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 18.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 18.3.1. Equipment
        1. 18.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 18.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 18.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 18.3.2. Camera Settings
      3. 18.3.3. Exposure
        1. 18.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 18.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 18.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
        4. 18.3.3.4. Getting creative
  24. 19. Painted Ladies/Postcard Row
    1. 19.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 19.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 19.2.1. Alamo Square
    3. 19.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 19.3.1. Equipment
        1. 19.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 19.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 19.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 19.3.3. Exposure
        1. 19.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 19.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 19.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
  25. 20. Palace of Fine Arts
    1. 20.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 20.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 20.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 20.3.1. Equipment
        1. 20.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 20.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 20.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 20.3.3. Exposure
        1. 20.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 20.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 20.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
  26. 21. Presidio of San Francisco
    1. 21.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 21.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 21.2.1. Inside the Presidio
      2. 21.2.2. Presidio Victorians
      3. 21.2.3. Infantry Row
      4. 21.2.4. Eucalyptus trees
      5. 21.2.5. San Francisco National Cemetery
      6. 21.2.6. Crissy Field
    3. 21.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 21.3.1. Equipment
        1. 21.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 21.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 21.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 21.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 21.3.3. Exposure
        1. 21.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 21.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 21.3.3.3. Getting creative
  27. 22. Rodeo Beach/Marin Headlands
    1. 22.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 22.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 22.2.1. Rodeo Beach
      2. 22.2.2. Bunkers
      3. 22.2.3. Point Bonita Lighthouse
    3. 22.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 22.3.1. Equipment
        1. 22.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 22.3.1.2. Filters
        3. 22.3.1.3. Extras
      2. 22.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 22.3.3. Exposure
        1. 22.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 22.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  28. 23. Saints Peter and Paul Church
    1. 23.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 23.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 23.2.1. Washington Square
    3. 23.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 23.3.1. Equipment
        1. 23.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 23.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 23.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 23.3.3. Exposure
        1. 23.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 23.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  29. 24. San Francisco Botanical Garden
    1. 24.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 24.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 24.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 24.3.1. Equipment
        1. 24.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 24.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 24.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 24.3.3. Exposure
        1. 24.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 24.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 24.3.3.3. Getting creative
  30. 25. San Francisco Cable Cars
    1. 25.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 25.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 25.2.1. Hyde Street between Chestnut Street and Francisco Street
      2. 25.2.2. California Street between Mason Street and Powell Street
      3. 25.2.3. Cable Car Museum
    3. 25.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 25.3.1. Equipment
      2. 25.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 25.3.3. Exposure
        1. 25.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 25.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 25.3.3.3. Getting creative
  31. 26. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
    1. 26.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 26.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 26.2.1. Embarcadero
      2. 26.2.2. Treasure Island
      3. 26.2.3. Yerba Buena Island
      4. 26.2.4. Under the Bay Bridge
      5. 26.2.5. Union Street and Montgomery Street
    3. 26.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 26.3.1. Equipment
        1. 26.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 26.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 26.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 26.3.3. Exposure
        1. 26.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 26.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 26.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
        4. 26.3.3.4. Getting creative
  32. 27. San Francisco Zoo
    1. 27.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 27.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
    3. 27.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 27.3.1. Equipment
        1. 27.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 27.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 27.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 27.3.3. Exposure
        1. 27.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 27.3.3.2. Working around the weather
  33. 28. Transamerica Pyramid
    1. 28.1. Why It's Worth a Photograph
    2. 28.2. Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 28.2.1. Pier 7 Embarcadero
      2. 28.2.2. Columbus Street at Broadway Street
      3. 28.2.3. Montgomery Street at Green Street
      4. 28.2.4. Montgomery Street between Clay Street and Washington Street
      5. 28.2.5. Coit Tower
    3. 28.3. How Can I Get the Best Shot?
      1. 28.3.1. Equipment
        1. 28.3.1.1. Lenses
        2. 28.3.1.2. Extras
      2. 28.3.2. Camera settings
      3. 28.3.3. Exposure
        1. 28.3.3.1. Ideal time to shoot
        2. 28.3.3.2. Working around the weather
        3. 28.3.3.3. Low-light and night options
        4. 28.3.3.4. Getting creative

Product information

  • Title: Photographing San Francisco: Digital Field Guide
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: March 2010
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470586846