Boarding Pass: SFO (Downtown Go-Around)

San Francisco photo map. Click on image for interactive map.

The first one wasn’t totally free, but I was definitely hooked after my initial trip to San Francisco. I couldn’t get enough of its 360-degree views and distinct brand of quirk. I knew for sure I would be back, sooner rather than later. I took a stab at it in January, attempting to combine it with a quick jaunt through Palm Springs. Palm Springs happened, but San Francisco was thwarted by bad weather back home. But opportunity would rear its head just a few weeks later, and I was off.

Having stayed near Fisherman’s Wharf and the Presidio on my previous visit, I was looking for a different part of town. I chose a hotel smack in the middle of downtown, Hotel Zelos. This gave me close access to the Castro, Haight-Ashbury, the Mission District, and the Embarcadero. I was also at the nexus of more transit lines than you could shake a loaf of sourdough at, so a trip out west to Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park was not out of the question, either. So much San Francisco, so little time.

We had taken the early morning flight from the east coast, so we arrived early. We were treated to an early check-in, and headed out immediately for some late-morning shooting. The walk through the Tenderloin was uneventful but did require playing heads-up ball. After a coffee in the Mission District to help power through, we headed for the Castro. It was absolutely everything I had hoped. I got some fantastic shots of the iconic Castro Theatre (in the news recently as the site of the Matrix:Resurrections premiere), and of course paid homage to Castro Camera and its legendary proprietor, Harvey Milk. We kept moving toward the Haight, but made plans to end up back on Castro Street for a late lunch.

The morning sun shines on Castro Theatre.

There was a lot of walking up a lot of hills, not a complete surprise. Buena Vista Park offered some great vantage points across the city from altitude. I enjoyed seeing the famous architecture and establishments of the Haight-Ashbury district, but the shooting was more difficult due to proximity, trees, and crowds. Still worth the trip over, but I was ready to go when we left. An uncertain streetcar ride deposited us close enough to Castro Street to stagger to a sidewalk cafe for refreshment and shade. Duly revived, we set out for the photo location at the top of my list for this trip: Pier 7 at sunset.

You’ve definitely seen photos of Pier 7 at sunset. I had too, that’s why I wanted to take my turn at the benches with the circular armrests with a backlit Transamerica Building set perfectly at the western end of the pier. I didn’t use one of my usual travel lenses, but rather my Canon 85mm f/1.8. I knew the smaller field of view might be a challenge, but I wanted the sharpness and unique depth of field I knew this lens would deliver. The San Franciscans I met on the pier were very welcoming, and were completely unalarmed by the way I was laying on the pier to get my shots, splinters be damned. Throw in a very cooperative seagull who lent his silhouette to one of my favorite photos from that day and baby, you’ve got yourself a shoot.

A sihouetted seagull, and the shot that must be taken on Pier 7.

Sunset mission accomplished, it was time for a wardrobe and setting change, and off to dinner in Chinatown. Or so we thought. Turns out Lunar New Year means our favorite Chinatown restaurant was closed except for private parties, as was every other restaurant in Chinatown. But it was still Chinatown at night, and I was happy to revisit it for some lowlight shooting. My Canon 40mm f/2.8 afforded me some great close shots with nice bokeh. A walk under the Dragon Gate and a pair of veggie burgers later, we called it a night.

A little to the left in Chinatown.

As we planned to leave on the next night’s redeye home, we were up early to make the most of the day. A bus ride deposited us at Ocean Beach, near Sutro Baths and Land’s End Trail. We hiked up the trail to the Land’s End Labyrinth (which had been temporarily dismantled, but still offered some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the west), back down the trail to the Sutro Baths, then down the hill toward the Dutch Windmills of Golden Gate Park. Not a bad morning walk, which fortuitously ended at the Beach Chalet restaurant. We had an absolutely gorgeous brunch, then carried on through the park and back toward downtown.

San Francisco vibrates at a frequency that resonates with me on a fundamental level. I have found a few cities like this in my travels, and I am always on the lookout for the next one. Travel allows us as many true loves as we want. Your next urban boo could be a plane ride away.