Rob Dweck - The Photographer’s Guide to the Golden Gate Bridge (Mark Gipsons Library)

Rob Dweck

The Photographers Guide to the Golden Gate Bridge

Rob Dweck

Peachpit Press
www.peachpit.com

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Peachpit Press is a division of Pearson Education

Copyright 2013 by Rob Dweck
All photography Rob Dweck

Editor: Ted Waitt
Production Editor: Lisa Brazieal
Interior Design: Rob Dweck
Cover Design: Rob Dweck
Cover Image: Rob Dweck

Notice of Rights

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information on getting permission reprints and excerpts, contact .

Notice of Liability

The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.

Trademarks

All Canon products are trademarks or registered trademarks of Canon Inc.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Peachpit was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other product names and services identified throughout this book are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

ISBN-13 978-0-133-37289-2
ISBN-10 0-133-37289-8

Special thanks to Debbie Gibbs-Dweck, AnaBelle Ramos-Dweck, Trudy Gannon, and Karl Freter

Rob Dweck is an award winning photographer whose photographs have appeared in books and magazines. After spending most of his life on the east coast, he fulfilled his dream of moving to California in 2000 and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rob soon developed an interest in photography, which quickly became a passion and an ongoing fascination with light.

You can see more of his work at robdweck.com

If theres one landmark that symbolizes San Francisco in most peoples minds, its the Golden Gate Bridge. It is photographed thousands of times daily as the most popular site in an area that is full of world-class attractions such as Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods and Fishermans Wharf. More than just a thoroughfare for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians traveling between San Francisco and Marin County, the bridge inspires amateur and professional photographers alike who want to create memorable images.

Most of these photographers are unaware of the multitude of locations and perspectives from which the bridge can be photographed. My intention with this book is to show you where, when and how to create great photographs of the bridge. Sure, you can pull up to one of the viewpoints, pull out your camera phone and take a quick snapshot of your family in front of the bridge for your photo album. If thats your goal, then this book is probably not for you. However, if youre interested in making compelling photographs of the bridge, from the best vantage points, in the best light, then read on.

What you wont find in this book is a list of every single location that has a view of the bridge. There are so many places in and around San Francisco that offer glimpses of the bridge, that including all of them would be impractical and wouldnt assist you in getting the best possible photographs. I included only those locations that offer outstanding opportunities for you to create beautiful images.

GPS coordinates are included for most locations and clicking on the coordinates opens a map of the location. All web addresses shown in the book are links and will open the URL when clicked.

Two factors make the bridge a premier destination for photographers and non-photographers. First is the setting. Overlooking the San Francisco Bay and connecting one of the most scenic cities in the world with the beautiful hills of the Marin Headlands, the bridge is situated in an awe-inspiring landscape. Second is the bridge itself. Unconventionally painted orangeHow often do you see a bridge of this scale painted any color other than gray?and artfully designed to fit in with the surroundings, its difficult to imagine the bridge not being there.

While it can be photographed from all directions, the two main approaches to the bridge are from San Francisco to the south and Marin County to the north. Much of the land along the water on both sides is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is open to the public.

Conzelman Road: Sunrise above the North tower. Canon 5D mark II, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6, 1/2000 sec, f/11, ISO 100, 400mm

The bridge and surrounding areas are beautiful year round at any time of day. That said, the best outdoor photos are made during the best light. The best light generally happens twice a day: around sunrise and sunset. Unlike wilderness areas where the light is gone when the sun is down, the lights on the bridge make the twilight hours before sunrise and after sunset some of the best times to get exceptional images. (You may notice that many of the images in this book were shot during those times.)

Plan on arriving at your location at least 45 minutes before sunrise. This will give you time to set up and photograph the lights of the bridge contrasting beautifully against the deep blue sky. As the time gets closer to sunrise, clear skies take on a yellow or orange glow, and if youre fortunate enough to have clouds, they may take on various shades of orange, red and purple.

When the sun appears over the horizon it casts a strong golden glow that fades as it rises higher. Depending on the weather conditions, you could have a very short window of time to capture that great light so work as quickly as you comfortably can to get your shots.

Arrive at your chosen location an hour before sunset, even earlier if its a large area and you want to scout the best vantage points. The sun is low on the horizon during this golden hour before sunset and if you are shooting from locations west of the bridge and facing east, the bridge and city skyline will take on a beautiful glow that builds in intensity until the sun drops below the horizon.

At that time, you will likely see other photographers in the area pack up and leave. Dont follow their lead. Stick around another 30-60 minutes and watch the second part of the show. As the sky gets darker, the bridge lights appear to glow brighter and usually between 20 to 40 minutes after sunset the balance between the artificial light and the fading natural light will make for stunning images.