Chapter 25. San Francisco Cable Cars
A view of a San Francisco cable car on California Street taken on a clear summer morning. Taken at ISO 800, f/4, 1/1000 second with a 70–200mm lens.
Why It's Worth a Photograph
The San Francisco cable car system is the last functioning manually operated cable car system in the world. Operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, the cars are housed and maintained at the car barn located directly above the Cable Car Museum. The cable car is an icon of San Francisco and a form of transportation from cities past. And it was a San Franciscan, Andrew Smith Hallidie, who patented the first cable car and ultimately spared many horses the excruciating work of moving people over some of the steepest hills in the country. A cable car ride beats any other form of transportation I have ever taken. You are in the open air with the wind blowing on your face, and the movements are all authentic — bumpy and rickety. Aside from being a great transportation experience, the combination of the old-style cable cars, steep hills, and modern buildings make the cable car a wonderfully unique photo opportunity.
Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
There are just a few places around San Francisco you can photograph a cable car. The two most popular and my favorites are located on a strip of Hyde Street between Chestnut Street and Francisco Street, and California Street between ...
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