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The marine layer was thin, so the fog was low and patchy on this day. I decided to create a landscape image where the bridge was just part of the scenery. There is so much more to the beauty of this place than just this bridge. However, people often just point the camera at the bridge and snap away. While at least 15 other photographers with tripods (many with large view cameras) were down in the fog on the road below where the path drops out of sight, I hiked up the crumbly and unstable path to this point. The air was warm on this spot, while everybody was shivering in the fog just a few hundred feet away.
I took my shots and headed down the hill to find the other photographers milling about in the fog. I don't think that had any clear shots despite how it looks from this vantage point!
The only thing I had to 'time' was the flow of the fog across the hilltop. I wanted the 50 foot Eucalyptus tree near the bridge to stand out, as though standing up to the fog. It takes quite a beating at times! And this is not just mist, it is moving at about 30 miles per hour from right to left. It can blow you off your feet! But it was nearly calm at this spot while the fog whipped by just a short distance away.
I've updated my website (www.patricksmithphotography.com), so feel free to have a look. And I have a new page (called 'Methods') with some thoughts on making landscapes. If you have any trouble with the links, or any suggestions, let me know.
0.3 second exposure @F22 with ND grad 0.6
| Title: | The Headlands |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 18 Sep 2006 - 3:42 PM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @19 |
| Recording media: | RAW ISO 50 |
| Tags: | General, Golden gate marin fog, Landscape / travel |
| Votes: | 155 |
Comments
California!
i went on a ride in disney that flew over california and i can remeber seing this!
very good shot, Well Done
Megan
Great composition Patrick, superb light and colours
Malcolm
Certainly worth the hike, I have to say I was one of those you refer to in your description, (sorry) Your shot is by far better than any I've seen. I agree It is nice to see more of the view than just the bridge.
Ruth.
stunning landscape, beautifully composed and the lighting is just right
John
Beautiful shot again Patrick,excellent lighting and composition,the fog looks great,lovely shot.
Mo.
I should have guessed it was you - lol! Stunning shot Patrick, wonderful light and composition, love the mood the low lying mist gives the shot.
Tracy
superb, my friend! Just superb AGAIN!
You never fail!
Love that mist...
Jouko
Im having trouble with the links on your home page Patrick... the first 2 work but, 'contact, news, methods and images' are not.
PS, Like the image by the way
Ange
Thanks for looking in! Lots of uploads today, this was off the front page in 13 minutes!
LOL - Megan, but there is nothing like the real thing!
That's okay Ruth, timing is everything and you can still get decent shots from the roadside pullouts. But the view is better up here. And I would not suggest people climb the rather unstable cliffside above the road to get up here, unless they had good hiking boots on.
That is not mist Tracy and Jouko, that is a small tornado of fog down there. You would have to be here to understand!
Thanks Ange. I wonder why? The main menu is just straight HTML until you get to the gallery page. And I see it fine at work. What browser are you using.
Patrick
A beautiful image and I just love seeing the city in the background there....well thought out and executed Patrick.
Jeanie
I have the picture of this bridge on a book cover Patrick, but this is way better, great atmosphere with the mist, excellent composition, impressive shot,Adrian
Fantastic composition and view of the Bridge.Absolutely stunning.
Tom.
Patrick -- a VERY creative and very different view of the bridge. I am anxious to check out your new page with your "methods" section. You are always so generous with the technical specifications, providing excellent instruction for free. Thank you, Patrick. -=Walter
30th Click and a stunnning view of the Golden Gate Bridge from higher ground, Superb.
Yogendra
A wonderful view, I bet you had a smug grin when you went back down again!! Well captured.
Good to see the overall view for once. So much to view, love it.
Super image Patrick, your composition/timing spot on....as usual.
Have taken a quick peek at your revamped website, but none of the links work for me (using Firefox 1.5.0.7) but work fine by switching the rendering engine to IE.
Gwyn
EDIT...and how about changing the way you've typed the link to ePhotoZine on your home page to ePHOTOzine...clumsy fingers I assume!!!
Thanks for your comments!
I'm honoured Adrian!
Let me know what you think, Welter. Or if you have any problems seein it.
Thanks Gwyn. I just changed the EPZ part. I always write it that way, but your way is how it is used here. I've been having trouble with FireFox. But the HTML is very standard on those first level pages, so I don't know what could be wrong. Still, I'll have to fix it somehow.
I'll still be writing back.
Patrick
Disney must have some great rides now! Who needs to go back to the wonderful SF?
Hi Patrick,i love the little eucalypus tree and how it is bending neath the fog and the pounding that is coming over that hill,love the mist,detail,textures,wonderful vista from coast to coast,amazing colour/tones,lighting,bridge,exposure and an exquisite composition.Love it.Take care.Ann
Ok,Patrick...realism?
It's OK...the FG is scrappy although the path is nice, the image actually works better cropped clean across the centre in a mock panoramic fashion. Having a FG is good, as you yourself have pointed out, but when it takes up two thirds of the shot, it needs to be a good FG with some visual value.
You know me....when it's really good, I'll say so.
beautiful viewpoint and composition with lovely light, colour and detail
Well I am definitely not Keithh so I like it and the fog part is what makes it good, just to have dash off fog as a teaser
Peter
Good composition Patrick, its good to see one of the bridge again!
gill
enjoyed visiting your web site too!
Thanks for looking!
LOL Julia (preciousload) I'll have to check out that ride.
I know you will Keith! Funny you should mention about the pano crop. I do have it cropped for a 2x5 panorama and it does look better. For the first time, I took this one with a pano in mind. The good stuff is in the middle so I didn't have as much barrel distortion to worry about. Not that it is such a big deal. But for EPZ, I just left it alone and uploaded it. From now on, if I have a pano, I'll upload it that way I think. I also have a version where the flowering low bush is in front. Maybe I'll upload that one next. I did several different versions. This will be my shot to compare with the other versions.
This is encouraging me to do some real panoramas!
Thanks Peter. It is true that if I crop off the top and bottom, I don't lose much. And you can still see the path.
Gill, you will be seeing more bridge shots, as I want higher res versions of what I already have. Hopefully with a little more imagination but still.....
Patrick
Always worth the effort Patrick, knew it was yours straight away great image super work
Brian........
Got to agree with Keith on the foreground,and maybe i`d crop out the pathto the right.The path gives a second lead into the image.
Keep them comeing,your works inspirational.
Thanks for your very informative comments!
That's it then Kim, I know which one to upload next. You will see....
Patrick
Excellent shot - I agree that the path is a little distracting but I like the compositional balance given by the amount of foreground - it puts the bridge and distant city in context. How about cloning out the path rather than cropping (which I feel would spoil the composition)? Just a thought All the best. Bruce
Do you have a mist machine Patrick?? LOL You always manage to get some atmospheric mist in your shots, a corker of an image
Mari
Thanks for looking!
Bruce (dodo_returns), I rarely clone anything out. It is probably better to have a different composition than clone, and it will look more natural. I'll be uploading at least one other version of this, so we will see what happens.
LOL Mari, actually this is like a giant mist machine. It is extremely local. You can actually walk to the weather you want! But I do try to get something extra in every image.
Patrick
Patrick, this image is 'average' when compared to the very high standard you have shown elsewhere here and especially so on your website, which is just excellent in my opinion (allowing wallpaper downloads is a real plus too).
Very well done & all the very best!
Tommy
Great shot! Very well captured and well worth the hike.
Ted
Bit late for me to start adding comments now when it's all been said! I'll just give you my click of agreement!!
Your website is looking great Patrick - I particularly liked your "Methods" page - I wish there had been more of these around when I first started out!!
Debbie
A delightfully 'different' view of a very familiar place. Beautiful work.
Dave
This has to rate among your best work Patrick, beautiful colours and a superb composition, making the bridge part of the larger picture is a great idea, it really stands out against the fauna, and like you say, most people simply ignore the surroundings and fill the frame with the bridge.
Beautifully & skillfully composed Patrick.Lovely light capture & that touch of fog is fabulous.Stunning view.
Janet
Thanks for looking. I'm really busy today, but I'll be back soon.
I'm glad you like the wallpaper Tommy!
I know what you mean Debbie. I wish I had the EPZ book too.
True Terry, I'm going to be hiking these hills looking for good landscape photos. They are everywhere but even I want to point at the bridge and shoot!
Patrick
Excellent work as always, might be out your way soon. Still on the road at present, hoping things slow down soon myself. Spot on! Click!!!
Greg
First class shot as usual Patrick. Certainly pays to carefully chose your viewpoint
Geoff
Patrick the view looking down on the golden gate is stunnig captured perfectly with depth and attention to detail!
stay well
tonymarq
I really don't know what to say. I'd like to live in your city just to have the possibility to go out sometimes for taking pictures!
Leandro
Beautiful picture and a wonderful story with it very expressive - both!!!
Hello Patrick.
Great shot from this famous bridge. Perfect landscape scene.
Jan
Website looks much better than before Patrick. All the links work for me, I would consider changing the methods section a little so you dont have to scroll so much and it doesnt take as long to load, maybe split it into 4 seperate sections.
russ
Think you did the right thing Patrick, you have come away with a very different and effective variation on that bridge. A first rate image
Hawk
Patrick - have just found the time to check out your website - very interesting and some very helpful method tips. Well done. All the best. Bruce
Nice shot! Gosh, I wish I lived closer, I'd visit the Marin Headlands all the time, then! I like the warm yellow light and how the fog just obscures the hill where the bunkers are. Cool.
Wow, what a view of the Golden Gate. Makes a fantastic landscape image. If I ever get back to Frisco I'll ask you to tell me how to get there.
Antonio
Thanks for looking in! I'll be back on EPZ more in October when we start getting a few clouds.
Yes Russ (LeCCy), I may split it up eventually and add more to it.
Patrick
Patrick, excellent shot of this subject. I like the light/shade, colours and detail in the fg. From your description of the fog, I think I can get a feel for what it is doing. It certainly looks like it is streaming over that lower hillock.
Nigel
A superb view and composition, nice capture of the fog.
Pete.
Just had a look at your web site Patrick and found it very interesting, especially the methods section. Great site.
A superb view of the bridge and hilltop and great capture of the fog
I like the minimalism of the fog here, Patrick. Looks almost like plumes of smoke.
Jim
I really like this shot, Patrick...Gives an overview of the entire bay area...Very Nice!
I think you may have even captured some of that great lighting on the hills as well.....
Cheers and have a nice Sunday....Suze
What a great vantage point, and showing the bridge in a different view. Not sure I like that bit of mist hiding the bridge though.
Hope you are well across the water.
Teresa.
I'd have to agree with Mr 'H' about cropping the fg out, but everthing else is superb as usual, including the view.
Mark.
You have so many first class images of the GG, Patrick.This adds yet another different perspective. Good work.
Colin
Hi Patrick,exceptional work as usual,thought that was a wave from the thumb.now have i really been away that long????just looking at your pf photo...you aint half changed you know;O)
great shot
julie
Your website works fine in Firefox now Patrick...hope sorting it out didn't give you too much grief!
Gwyn
I'm coming to San Fransico in October 2007...Hope to make the same quality of pictures as you
Another fine shot of the bridge.That moving mist sounds awesome.Nice one.
Am I missing something about the 50ft Eucalyptus tree -I can't see it ?????
PS.Just quickly checked out your website,looks good, going back when I have more time.
Brian.
Thanks for looking!
Glad you liked it Pete (pegon)
May have Suzie?? LOL...
Yes Mark, the Panoramic crop across the middle looks good.
LOL Julie!
Thanks Gwynn, it did take a while. Firefox is very picky about the size of defined areas and the clickable areas nearby.
Jan (hedgehog), you can. If you want to know where to go, let me know.
Brian, the 50ft. Eucalyptus is sticking out of the fog just to the left of the left tower. Thanks for checking out the website!
Patrick
Well worth the hike up the path Patrick, the composition is stunning along with the colours and view.
Richard
i have seen so many images of the bridge but this is the all time favorite, like the fantastic view and the perspective . Excellent again.
alex
Man, this view and capture is just stunning!!
Another beauty taken by the Gand Poobahh of Photos, himself!!!
Great shot!!
Thomas
Marvelous to see a shot of the bridge set in the context of the surrounding landscape Patrick. This will keep me going till I hopefully see it for myself!
Bill
Seems I've missed a few of your shots Patirck but mt commnent should be making a return over the next week or so. This is beautifully composed image, love the viewpoint that lead in line formed by the path to the right of the frame.
Ben
Quality photography Patrick, your command of the medium is beyond question. Masterful work.
Rg Tony
You have an impressive portfolio!
Superb shot, the compositon is great!
And thank you for your comments!!
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