Tamales Bay

Tamales Bay

Taken just before Sunset at Tamales Bay. Took a drive up there after work to check out a BBQ place. It was beautiful. This photo is a panorama stichted together from three images.
d70, 50mm, iso200

Golden Gate in the Morning

Golden Gate in the Morning

Taken from Golden Gate vista point at 5:30am. Another early morning with another friend. This time we went to the Golden Gate bridge. Except for this one, shot with a borrowed wide angle lens, I have not yet processed any other photos. I also spent the evening on Treasure Island, so there'll be lots more to come soon. Check back tomorrow or day after for the rest.
d70, 10mm, iso200, f/8, 1sec

Bay Bridge in the Morning

Bay Bridge in the Morning

Taken at 5:40am from the Embarcadero. I got up really early with a friend of mine to shoot photos of the bay before sunrise. We really lucked out, it was an amazing sunrise. I am still processing the photos, but the first few are already for show: #1, #2, and #3.
d70, 18mm, iso200, f/22, 2sec

North Beach Church II

North Beach Church II

Taken at 9am from Vontu office. A re-shot of the church shown 6/13, but this time with the 70-300mm lens of a co-worker and at better weather.
d70, 300mm, iso200, f/5.6, 1/1000sec

Waiting for the Bus

Waiting for the Bus

Taken on Sansome at 6pm. Had a good day and shot quite a few photos while running errands. Here are the other ones from today: #1, #2, #3, and #4.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

California Bank & Trust

California Bank & Trust

Taken at 6pm on California Street. Even though they were closing, they let me in to take a few snapshots of this entrance hall. They must have just cleaned the floor with those reflections.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/125sec

North Beach Church

North Beach Church

Taken at 5pm from the Vontu office. This church is a landmark in San Francisco's North Beach district and our office has a great view on it. Today I finally remembered to bring in my telezoom lens. Unfortunatelly the light wasn't quite ideal - I had hoped for more sunshine. But I'll bring the lens in during the next few days again, maybe I can get some more good shots from up here.
d70, 200mm, iso200, f/2.8, 1/2000sec

Ferry Building

Ferry Building

Taken at 7pm into the sunset. I took a walk with Jen to the Ferry Building. The sky behind the Ferry Building was so bright from the setting sun, it turned the image into almost pure black and white. Another photo from a little later shows some more color. Other photos from today: #1, #2, #3, and #4.
d70, 200mm, iso200, f/16, 1/125sec

San Francisco in the Morning

San Francisco in the Morning

Taken at 6am from Treasure Island. Got up early today to get some long exposure photos of San Francisco. I like how the long exposure makes the bay look like it is frozen over. More photos from this photo shoot: #1, #2 and #3.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/22, 20sec, + polarizer, ND, and ND grad filters

At the Bookstore

At the Bookstore

Taken at 10:50pm at Border's bookstore in Union Square. Was out with a friend and we stopped by Border's. The red shirt with the red background just begged for a photo.
d70, 50mm, iso800, f/1.8, 1/45sec

Isul Kim Live

Isul Kim Live

Taken at 8pm at the Orchad Valley Cafe in Campbell, CA. This is singer/song-writer Isul Kim at todays coffee house show. I had a very hard time deciding between the photos from the day. I ended up picking this one, but close second is a concrete honeycomb shot (can you guess where this is?) and a cigarette break street photo.
d70, 50mm, iso800, f/1.8, 1/60sec

Shape

Shape

Taken on Sansome at 6pm. I decided to play around with massive grain by shooting at virtual iso 12800 (shoot at iso1600, under-expose by 3 stops). I got the grain alright, but I am not too happy with the way the photos turned out. I have to see if I want to continue in this direction. Here's another grainy photo from today.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/22, 1/180sec

Call Me

Call Me

Taken on 2nd and Market at 6:30pm. I saw this guy making a call and liked the background of the columns of the store. Somehow this photo just wasn't any good in b/w. The high contrast between the blue shade and the almost orange skin worked much better. There is also another photo from today in the usual b/w.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/1500sec

Blue Flowers

Blue Flowers

Taken at home at 11:30pm. I realized I had not taken a photo of the day and had to get creative. After some searching I found that these flowers made an interesting photo if placed in front of our room light.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/750sec

Cigarette Break

Cigarette Break

Taken at 1pm on Sansome Street. Was walking back from lunch and saw this woman taking a cigarette break while sitting on this wonderfully textured stone. Another photo from today shows this bizarre blob inside a building on second street. A photo I have been meaning to take for a long time.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/1500sec

Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice

Taken at 7pm at some Jamba Juice in Livermore. This is Tet, whose patience with being model for my daily photo is slowly running out. Nevertheless I got this photo while we were on a pit stop on the way back from a great birthday BBQ (not mine) with some good friends.
d70, 50mm, iso800, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

The Mark Hopkins Hotel

The Mark Hopkins Hotel

(summer project, part 1)

Taken on Nob Hill at 6pm. I started a little summer weekend project that will require me to take photos of 10 different locations and sites in San Francisco. Check in every once in a while to see what those sites are.
d70, 80mm, iso200, f/6.7, 1/1000sec

Color Painting

Color Painting

Taken at 5:30pm inside an entrance hall on 2nd street. I liked the lines of the window frames on the colorful painting.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/2.4, 1/6000sec

ME

ME

Taken on Sansome at 6pm. I like this one for two reason: the cool cut-out looking shape in the woman - it is actually a coincident to get this, as the round shape consists of a low hanging back, a flying jacket and her legs in the right shape. The other reason is the loud "me" of the Sansome street sign. Other photos from today: #1, #2 and #3.
d70, 50mm, iso800, f/1.8, 1/6000sec

Hallway

Hallway

Taken on Sansome Street at 6:30pm. I pass by this entrance to some building everyday and thought it is worth a photo. Especially with the painting in the back.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/125sec

Black and White

Black and White

Taken at 6pm on Sansome Street. I was walking home and saw the shadow of the traffic light. I just had to wait a little longer for the right person to pass by at the right spot. Other photos from the day: #1 and #2.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

At the Corner

At the Corner

Taken at 2nd and Bryant at 6pm. I saw the lines bending around the corner and wanted to take a photo.... and almost got run over by a cab for doing so. I had not paid enough attention to the street lights. Fortunatelly Jen saved me from my doom.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/3.3, 1/8000sec

The Swing

The Swing

Taken in South Park between 2nd and 3rd street at 1pm. Jen couldn't resist the swings. I liked the American Eagle advertisement look of the photo - incidentally Jen is also wearing American Eagle Jeans. I also have a b/w version and I cannot decide which one I like better.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/3.3, 1/500sec

Uncomfortable

Uncomfortable

Taken at 3pm on Market Street. This woman was walking in front of me and just by the way she walked you could tell her shoes were not comfortable. At a red light I took the opportunity to snap a photo of them. I think it even comes across in the image. It was a windy day today, so I also have a photo of hair flying.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

At the Pier

At the Pier

Taken at the Embarcadero at 6pm. I took a longer walk home and saw the guy on the left reading. As I composed my shot I saw the woman approaching so I waited until she was at the other end of the frame and shot. I also have a few more abstract photos from today: #1 and #2.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/22, 1/1000sec

Red, Black, and White

Red, Black and White

Taken at noon on Kearny Street. Went to lunch with my co-workers near Chinatown and saw this guy cleaning the beautiful red windows. Had to take a *gasp* color photo.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/2.8, 1/3000sec

Jen Reflection

Jen Reflection

Taken at home at 10pm. I liked the look of the shot from 5/20 and wanted to re-shoot it, but my model was not really in the mood and I ended up with only two shots of which this is the better one. I'll retry some other day.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/2.8, 1/45sec

Blue Dagger

Blue Dagger

Taken at 3pm in some side street near the Transamerica Tower. Wow, two color photos within a week! Saw this iron work on a wall while taking a break from work and exploring the neighborhood of the new office building. Other photos from the walk: #1, #2 and #3.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

Dark Sky

Dark Sky

Taken at 7:30pm on Hw 280. My photo classes are over and I am taking it a little easier with my daily photos. I am trying to take a step back from the heavily narrative photos and go into some more formal elements. Maybe that's why I am so attracted to this photo and the other photo from today. Unlike my initial photos there is no human element in these photos. Let's see where this leads....
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

Wet Stairs

Wet Stairs

Taken after sunset at around 8:30 on 3rd street. It had been raining again and the concret had turned extremely dark. Contrasted with the bright white lines and accented with person in the background I saw another photo opportunity.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

Mask

Mask

Shot late in the evening at home. I was playing around with reflections and got Jen to model for this photo. It has not been digitally manipulated (beyond the basic b/w and tonal adjustments that is). I liked the mask-like effect of the reflection.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/250sec

For Sale

For Sale

Taken on 2nd street at 9am. This used to be an art gallery. Now it is all empty and only a lonely plastic on a bench holding a "For Sale" sign is all that is left. Depressing somehow.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/2000sec

Leaf

Leaf

Taken at the Maya Restaurant on 2nd street at 6:30pm. I thought it was about time to post another color photo. I have been passing by this place many times and could never really figure out how to take a photo of the iron works on the wall. Since it was an overcast day today, which is good for color photos, I took the opportunity and shot this photo. Being a contrast man, the colors are over-emphasized, but I think it supports the feel I am trying to bring across. Call it artistic freedom.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/60sec

Stars, Stripes and Triangles

Stars, Stripes and Triangles

Shot somewhere downtown at 1pm. As I was walking past I saw the triangular shadows on the columns and I liked how they related to the stars and stripes in the flag.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

No Walking

No Walking

Taken on my way home at 7pm on 2nd street. This gigantic house wall always has some United poster advertising the extra leg space and this one finally offered itself for an interesting photo.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/1000sec

Breakfast

Breakfast

Taken at 9am near Market street. This is part of a court yard of a Citibank building. This guy was reading newspaper and having some breakfast while some Greek goddess watched over him.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/1.8, 1/750sec

Beauty

Beauty

Shot at 11pm in the Garage. It was late night and I had not yet shot a photo for the day, so I decided to explore the garage of our apartment building for a bit. I came across this scene and liked the gritty concrete in contrast with the smooth line of the motorcycle.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/125sec

City Tooth

City Tooth

Taken on 3rd near the Moscone Center after sunset. Something about the shape of the whatever it was attracted me. It reminds me of a tooth or a dagger. But let your imagination go and there are many more interpretations possible.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/8000sec

Down the Stairs

Down the Stairs

Taken at the Embarcadero Center at noon. I was meeting a friend for lunch and had a little bit of time, so I was taking a few detours here and there and found some interesting photos: #1, #2, #3 and #4.
d70, 18mm, iso1600, f/5.6, 1/350sec

Dad

Dad

Taken at 8pm during dinner. My parents are in town, and my dad got volunteered to model for the daily photo.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/45sec

Transamerica Tower

Transamerica Tower

Taken at the base of the Transamerica Tower at 2pm. Was on the way to meet my class and passed by the Transamerica Tower. The concrete base was, photographically speaking, very appealing. Other shots from today: #1 and #2.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/2.4, 1/3000sec

In Between Darkness

In Between Darkness

Taken at the Embarcadero Center at 1pm. This guy was sitting in on the stairs iluminated by a tiny bit of light shining through somewhere. It really looked like this. I only underexposed the image a little. Two more shots from today: #1 and #2.
d70, 70mm, iso200, f/4.5, 1/125sec

Four Waiting

Four Waiting

Shot at Sacramento and Sansome at 6:30pm. It was a busy day as the company I worked for has just moved offices. I only had time to shoot a few frames. However, the new environment around the new office looks promising, so hopefully there'll be some more good photos of this area coming up.
d70, 60mm, iso200, f/4.5, 1/60sec

At the Cross

At the Cross

Taken at 11am at St. Mary's Cathedral. I was still hunting for Lucien Herve like images. My dad and I had visited this cathedral yesterday, but the sun just wouldn't yield any good photos. So we stopped by the next morning on the way to Sonoma. The result was much better.
d70, 34mm, iso200, f/11, 1/250sec

J

J

Taken at the Civic Center at around 7pm. My dad and I spent the day taking photos that were supposed to look like the photos of Lucien Herve. It was a lot of fun. We were moderately successful and some of the images turned out quite beautiful. Here are some more: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6. We also visited Point Bonita and took photos there.
d70, 70mm, iso200, f/22, 1/350sec

At the Cliffhouse

At the Cliffhouse

Taken near the Cliffhouse at 2pm. It's been a cloudy day. My parents are in town and they wanted to see the famous Cliffhouse, after having seen Michael Schwab's poster. This photo shows the Cliffhouse in the back and the ruins of the Sutro Baths in the front.
d70, 18mm, iso200, f/22, 1/90sec

Support

Support

Taken near the Bay Bridge at 3pm. I have been meaning to get an interesting shot of the arrow and bow near the bay bridge. Today was the day I passed by and just gave it a shot. I am not sure how successful it is, though.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/2.4, 1/8000sec

Another Street Walker

Another Street Walker

Taken at 4:30pm on California Street. Once again I was intrigued by the hard shadows of people on the side walk.
d70, 50mm, iso200, f/2.4, 1/4000sec

Andrew

Andrew

Shot at 9pm at ChaChaCha restaurant in the Mission. This is Jen's brother Andrew who is currently visiting with his girlfriend, Ashley. Jen is that blob on the left.
d70, 50mm, iso1600, f/1.8, 1/15sec

I haven't heard it

I haven't heard it

Taken near Market and Stockton at 8pm. It was an exciting day: First there was a big rally to fight for immigrant rights and from my office building I had a prime view: #1 and #2. Later I had time to walk around town a little and shoot some more after hour shots: #3, #4, #5 and #6.
(camera details to come)