San Francisco may be the most picturesque city in America and and one of the best in the world.  There are many photography opportunities.  It would be hard to get to all of the places in one trip or weekend, especially if you want to capture it all in the right light.  Here are some great places to shoot if you are staying in the city (we stayed in the Embarcadero).

The Golden Gate Bridge

There are so many ways to shoot the Golden Gate bridge.  We did not make it to the Marin side, where there is the iconic shot from the Marin Headlands.  We also shot from Fort Mason, but I think my favorite point of view is from Baker Beach.

The Bay Bridge

We had dinner at Gordon Biersch on the corner of Harrison and Embarcadero and then went across the street to shoot sunset under the Bay Bridge.  Mary also shot a sunrise at the same spot.

China Town

A walk through China town was visual chaos, but once you get used to it, you can look for little details that stand out.

Golden Gate Park

There are many many subjects in Golden Gate Park.  We drove to the western end to get the windmill.

The Embarcadero Shopping Mall

Mary found some architectural abstracts inside the Embarcadero emphasizing different shapes and textures.

Downtown

Here is a favorite early evening shot at the corner of Montgomery and Union Street.

This is my favorite shot in downtown of the of the Columbus Tower, also known as the Sentinel Building and the Transamerica Building.  These are commonly referred to as San Francisco’s first skyscrapers and its most famous ones.  The challenge getting this shot is you must stand in the middle of the busy intersection of Columbus and Broadway.  This is not an easy feat and you need a lookout.

Pier 1 1/2

Pier 1 1/2 is just east of Broadway and Lincoln Highway/Embarcadero.  It is a foot pier that has a couple of sitting areas.  It is a great place to shoot out towards the bay, the other piers, and back towards the city.  Here are a few of our favorite shots.

Here are two references we like: Photo Secrets of San Francisco and Thomas Hawk.  To see more of our photos and purchase these and others, go to www.pamphotography.com.