Tag Archives: Marin Headlands

Full on rain at the Gate

It’s storming in the Bay Area this week. Today, for kicks, I decided to go all the way to the top turnout on the Headlands and grab some images of the bridge in rainy weather. Well, the rain was there too. I managed to take three quick shots. This was the second. The third showed too many raindrop splotches.

Golden Gate Bridge from the upper Headlands in the rain

Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm at 24mm. 1/125 second at f/8, ISO 100.

Canon T2i getting wet.

Freighter entering the gate

Despite a rain shower or two over the past month, the warm, windless, hazy days continue around the Bay Area. I had my 70-300mm lens with me today so, ignoring the haze, I drove up to the Marin Headlands hoping to grab a few good shots with the longer focal lengths. I now know that longer zooms actually magnify haze making it look more pronounced. Live and learn! I settled on this shot because the whiter haze along the immediate coast looks more natural than the smog over the city.

Giant freighter entering the Golden Gate

BTW, the freighter was massive!

Giant freighter passing under the Golden Gate

Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm IS USM.
Top photo: lens at 70mm. 1/80 second at f/11, ISO 100.
Bottom photo: lens at 240mm. 1/100 second at f/11, ISO 100.

Canon T2i cutting through the haze.

Coming to port

Summer ends in the Bay Area and then it gets hot. It was a toasty commute home today so I just plowed through. This image is from yesterday’s 20 minute shoot up on the Marin Headlands just above the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve started to develop a thing about shooting into bright light and it’s working for my aesthetic.

Tanker heading towards the Golden Gate

Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm at 85mm. 1/1600 second at f/11, ISO 200. 1/1600 second? Yes, I know. But realize I’m running around hand holding my camera grabbing shots like a mad man all the while thinking, “half way home, time to go, traffic is going to suck.”

Canon T2i facing the light.

And then the fog rolled in

After a lengthy heat spell here in the SF Bay Area, the summer fog finally began rolling back in–not great for the city people, but for us living away from the bay it means cooler days are coming. As I emerged from the fog while crossing the bridge, I could tell that a jaunt up to the Marin Headlands would make for a good photo stop. And it was. This image of the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge poking out of the fog was my fave of the 18 shots I took.

Golden Gate Bridge, south tower in fog zoomed in

For perspective, here’s a wider angle shot of the same scene.

Golden Gate Bridge, south tower in fog long shot

Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm
First photo: Lens at 85mm. 1/640 second at f/11, ISO 200.
Second photo: Lens at 42mm. 1/400 second at f/11, ISO 200.

Canon T2i above the fog.