Marin Headlands, a missed opportunity at Point Bonita Lighthouse, & Rodeo Beach

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of shooting in the Marin Headlands with fellow photographers, Kevin Ash, and Justin Chase. After photographing the Marin Civic Center the same day, we decided to shoot in the Marin Headlands.

Originally, we'd hoped to see the Point Bonita Lighthouse. It had been some time since I'd gone to the lighthouse and was hoping that we'd get some good shots there. However, the path to the lighthouse was closed off. FYI - The tunnel to the suspension bridge/lighthouse is open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 12:30–3:30 pm. However the lighthouse is not accessible due to the suspension bridge closure. Currently the bridge is due to be replaced and open to the public in the Spring of 2012.

Since we were unable to shoot the lighthouse, we shot towards the east in the direction of Hawk Hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, and some of the abandoned piers. It was not quite yet time for the sun to set, so I decided to shoot a few long exposures with my trusty Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter. The Vari-ND allowed me to slow down the shutter speed to get a 2 sec exposure on the photograph below. Kevin let me use his 70-200mm lens in order to get a bit more reach out of the scene. Thanks again, Kevin.



As sunset approached, we decided to drive down to Rodeo Beach. We shot from the footbridge. There was a nice light reflecting on the lagoon, and coming over the hillside. For the wide angle shot, I used both a 2, & 3-stop soft graduated neutral density filter. They worked like a charm and allowed me to capture the golden color illuminating the clouds.




While Kevin stayed on the footbridge a bit longer, Justin and I hauled it over to the coastline. Although the three sea stacks are shot all the time, the three of us decided that it was simply too good to pass up. At high tide, I'm not sure it would have been wise to go much further anyway. By this point, I found that the light at the horizon was a bit too harsh. The two shots below were shot utilizing a 2-stop reverse graduated neutral density filter to balance the foreground, and background light.

"The Mighty Task is Done" - Golden Gate Bridge

Joseph Strauss, chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge, wrote a poem that is now on the Golden Gate Bridge entitled "The Mighty Task is Done." The bridge opened on May 27, 1937. Celebrations lasted a full week. The day before vehicle traffic was allowed, 200,000 people crossed by foot and roller skate. Sounds like a fun event!

I have always been fascinated by this Modern Wonder of the world. There is no single thing that represents San Francisco, or California more effectively, in my opinion. I suppose that I have always felt this way, but that became even more true for me while living abroad. Movies, photography, commercials, and print ads featuring the bridge all reminded me of home and consistently brought a smile to my face.

Although I've taken photos of the Golden Gate Bridge many times, I never tire of it. Recently, I found occasion to take additional photos after returning to Marshall's Beach for the first time in over 20 years. This is another local treasure that seems to be constantly disrespected by locals and tourists alike who leave without cleaning up after themselves. I find this to be totally unacceptable! Some people don't seem to realize how lucky we are to have such beautiful sites so close to our doorstep. Despite all of this, it was such a great feeling to rediscover this little hidden gem.

Over the course of two days, I also shot from Battery Spencer, Fort Point, Crissy Field, and Fort Baker.

An Afternoon at the Marin Headlands

I took these photos last weekend. Sadly, the weather and light wasn't too friendly. I managed to walk away with a few images that were somewhat promising.