19 replies to this topic

[Art Cooler]

I was priviledged to visit San Francisco and Northern California over the holidays. Weather wasn't always agreeable, but when it was I managed to get out and do some photography. Thought I'd include a few snaps here for the forum's perusal:









Marin County Civic Center, by Frank Lloyd Wright:






Interior of Marin County Civic Center:






Rainy night in San Francisco. Shot made from my motel window:







The California Bar sign in Auburn, CA:






Concrete sculpture in Auburn, CA, backdropped by approaching Pacific storm clouds:

[John S.]

Nice photos! There is so much to photograph in the Bay area and Northern California-nature, architecture, people, you name it. It is difficult to describe the visual diversity to anyone who has not been there before. California is a land of contrasts. I worked and lived there in 2006-2007 and will always have a soft spot in my heart for the Golden State. On the other hand, its a pretty pricey place to live.

[Art Cooler]

Nice photos! There is so much to photograph in the Bay area and Northern California-nature, architecture, people, you name it. It is difficult to describe the visual diversity to anyone who has not been there before. California is a land of contrasts. I worked and lived there in 2006-2007 and will always have a soft spot in my heart for the Golden State. On the other hand, its a pretty pricey place to live.

Thanks for your kind words.

You summed up my feelings about the Golden State quite well. I lived there from 1983 - 1995; the variety you speak of is inexhaustible. Unfortunately my income was not; very expensive to live there, at least prior to the housing market crash.

I have a few more photos I'll try to post later on. I really could have spent a whole week in San Francisco by itself vs. just the day and a half I actually had; overall...it's a photographer's paradise.

[Keller Pirate]

I enjoyed the photo's. In the first two, it looks like there were a lot more people trying to get into the city than out. I have been by the Marin Center many times, but never inside, thanks for the views.

[Brandi Korte]

I love San Francisco. We visited in 2008. I'd love to go back. Thanks for sharing!

[Art Cooler]

Some more shots, and again thanks for the nice words!


Roof of Marin County Civic Center:






Early morning dawn in the city, just south of Lombard Street:







West facade of Marin County Civic Center:






From a cemetery in the Presidio:

[Brian Luenser]

Very nice pictures Art. I spent a week in San Francisco in 1975. Like when the Golden Gate Bridge was new and they were testing street cars.

Your last shot, of the cemetery is great. A very interesting view. Of course, a beautiful backdrop to the cemetery. Strange how close the graves are to the road. Mostly I pretty much think cemetery's should be in the ugliest spot in town, not the prettiest. It is a clear- cut case of waisting a view on people that can no longer see. I guess it is for the visitors.

I found a house for sale next to a cemetery here near downtown. Envisioned building a tall house with a great view. Was pretty surprised that the wife would have nothing to do with it. Personally, I can't think of better neighbors than the dead. No barking dogs, bad kids, poor decorating choices, people borrowing my tools, loud music etc... To me that greatly outweighs the bit of creepiness of living next to dead people. I did a little survey at work. (Was going to show my wife how silly she was). Of course they pretty much backed up her viewpoint. Few people I talked to would be willing to live next to a cemetery. Of course, a very old cemetery is preferable to a new cemetery. I agree that looking out your window at funerals would be a drag. The cemetery I was looking at is a very old one. I still am interested in that neighborhood.

[bburton]

Beautiful series of photos with bold golors and good contrast. Well done.

[ron4Life]

Those are really nice photos, and it adds icing to a cake on why I need to visit SF. I recently came across this article though on Yahoo! website "Threat of California 'superstorm' on the rise", now I hope it isn't as bad as they quote it to be. I mean I need to try Lombard Street, come oooooooonnnn. resource - http://tinyurl.com/6247xwd

[Art Cooler]

I visited California again this past June and got a few more shots to share:












Old Town Auburn, California






South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, just east of the California border






Old Town Auburn, after hours





San Francisco Bay







Man in gold, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

[Art Cooler]

And one more...a snap of a former sailor (yours truly) standing next to a perpetual one (The Lone Sailor sculpture, Marin side of Golden Gate Bridge):

[ramjet]

Nice pics. You can almost smell the eucalyptus wafting over the Golden Gate Bridge. Parts of California are so beautiful. It also looks very cool there. What I wouldn't give for a few 60 degree evenings here in the middle of a Texas summer. Looks like I'm going to have to go there myself. Thanks for sharing.

[ron4Life]

"Art Cooler" nice photos, and you're wearing a coat.. very unheard of

[Brian Luenser]

Very nice indeed, Art. The South Lake Tahoe shot my favorite.

Had an employee at work just come back from San Diego where he grew up. (He went to his Brother's Wedding in San Fransisco) His Dad has a convenience store and his Grandmother has a restaurant in the downtown area of San Diego. (Both small, contracting businesses that have been in the fam for decades.) This guy is a big California fan. Sure enough, the best weather, beauty etc... And the biggest question mark in the world, in my book, as to the direction it will take in the future. Between earthquake potential, an economic crisis and more illegal Mexicans than grains of sand on the beach, its future is a crap shoot at best. This workmate wants me to look at condos in San Diego as an investment. Like 40% off two years ago. Of course the only real question is if in 5 years they will be 20% off or 70% off. San Diego is way too close to Mexico for my blood. I have no use whatsoever for Mexico any more. Worse than I imagined HELL. As many people dying to drug gangs as in a similar time period in the Vietnam War. In fact I think it is ahead of Vietnam. Mexico becoming Hell has just got to effect border states and particularly border cities, like San Diego.

If I had any time on my hands I would love to drive around California to see more of it. (Have had only brief stays there) I might be too chicken to buy any real estate there but I bet it is a great time to visit. And sure enough, when it is 105° here may be the bet time.

[Art Cooler]

"Art Cooler" nice photos, and you're wearing a coat.. very unheard of

Mark Twain once remarked that the coldest summer he ever spent was in San Francisco.

We drove down that day from the Sierra foothills northeast of Sacramento, and then took a ferry into San Francisco from Vallejo. The high temp for Sac that day was around ninety. In Frisco it struggled to reach 70, with a stiff breeze off the ocean. When we arrived it was cloudy and temps in the 50's, breezy. Felt good to me but I still wanted a windbreaker.

That is one wonder about many areas of California...you can somewhat pick your climate. If you like it hot, live inland, or in the desert. If you like it cold, live in the mountains. If you like seasons, live anywhere else but Southern California.

[Art Cooler]

If I had any time on my hands I would love to drive around California to see more of it. (Have had only brief stays there) I might be too chicken to buy any real estate there but I bet it is a great time to visit. And sure enough, when it is 105° here may be the bet time.

If you want to see California by car, you must at some point drive the Pacific Coast Highway. If you start in LA, drive the 5 over the Grapevine and then cut over to San Onofre to pick up the PCH (see, I lived in California twelve years and still know how the locals refer to their roads...always a "the" in front of it, and make it an acronym whenever possible ). Head north from there with stops in San Simeon to see Hearst Castle. Then motor up to Monterey and whatever you do don't leave without seeing Point Lobos. From there it's a scenic drive on into San Francisco, and from there you can continue north to see Muir Woods, Armstrong Grove (redwood forest), and Bodega Bay, where Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Birds".

On the east side of the state, Yosemite is a must, as are the giant sequoia. On the far east, one of my favorite drives is Highway 395 from Reno, Nevada, to Lone Pine in California, with a definite stop at Mono Lake.

[ramjet]

I would add to your list Mendocino. Amazingly beautiful! Although traveling south from there on the PCH can give you the heemjays. The right side of the road borders straight drop off cliffs. No rails and no give. One text away from the fishes...

[Art Cooler]

Shasta Lake, Shasta Dam, Mount Shasta, Redding (Sundial Bridge over Sacramento River really worth seeing), Burney Falls, Lassen National Monument...man, you can go to California every year for vacation for quite some time and not run out of stuff to see and explore.

No way I'd go back there to live, however. Too expensive. And even when you want to "get out in the country", it never really feels like you're "in the country", not like around here. I know of some pretty remote places around here where you really feel you're in the sticks.

[Keller Pirate]

Two quick things. I'm glad Ramjet mentioned Mendocino, I have been going up there for ages and we have been spending a week there every year for the last 10. They have a store in town that sells Dublin Dr. Pepper.

Art mentioned that he worked in HVAC, what a wonderful occupational name you have Mr. Cooler.

[Art Cooler]

Two quick things. I'm glad Ramjet mentioned Mendocino, I have been going up there for ages and we have been spending a week there every year for the last 10. They have a store in town that sells Dublin Dr. Pepper.

Art mentioned that he worked in HVAC, what a wonderful occupational name you have Mr. Cooler.

"Art Cooler" is not my real name, but it is what I do for a living. I keep art cool (temperature and humidity-wise). That helps it stick around so your kids and grandkids can enjoy the same art we all can now. I like what I do.