This page concentrates on the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, and the Palace of Fine Arts
in the San Francisco area, but there is quite a bit more. I’ve included a few scenes from around
San Francisco, of course, but I’ve also put in a few from Carmel and Highway 1, some shots from
the Monterey Aquarium and a few shots of wildlife from Monterey as well. This is a standard gallery.

click an image to open a larger version
Use your back button to return to this page
Composites will open in a second window.

Images on this page are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Gallery Collections page where a Gallery can be selected.

Images can be found in the following Gallery Collections (Direct Links):

San Francisco
Northern CA Scenery
Insect Macros K to S (Ladybugs)
Seals (2nd page)
Jellyfish (Monterey Aquarium)
Birds Gallery Collection (Cormorants, Pheasants)

Golden Gate Mist 1405

Transamerica Bldg 1546

Taken during a jaunt to Chinatown for some
local color, this is an icon of the SF skyline.

Chinatown Lantern 1588

Chinatown is a mixture of old buildings
and modern shops. It’s a magnet for shoppers.

Chinatown 1593

As you can see from this image, many of
the shops have nothing Chinese about them.

Chinatown Dragon Mural 1579

SF Marina Lighthouse X2683

The lighthouse with a view in the distance
of the infamous and foreboding Alcatraz Island.

Escape from Alcatraz 1376

Palace of Fine Arts

Created by architect Bernard Maybeck for the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915.
The structural theme was a Roman ruin, and it originally had eight of the domes you can
see below. There were originally colonnades linking each of these domed buildings, and
a few remain, but most were removed when the domes were. The Palace of Fine Arts was
one of two buildings not demolished after the Exposition, and it was refurbished in the 1960s.

The buildings were framed in wood and covered with Staff (a mixture of burlap fiber and plaster).
Exterior finishing techniques made the surfaces appear to be stone. The buildings were intended
to last for two years, but were in place for fifty years, and were essentially the Roman ruin that
Maybeck had intended them to resemble. The refurbishing replaced the original structures
with concrete, retaining only the original steel reinforcing. Before demolition, the column
capitals, urns, and figures were cast so the new versions would match the originals.

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0128

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0132

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0105

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0110

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0112

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0115

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0117

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0114

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0123

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS012

Palace of Fine Arts SF HS0100

Baker Beach

Baker Beach is below the Presidio, which used to be a military base until 1997.
It offers a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the west, but keep in mind
that it is a nude beach at the end closest to the bridge (more men than women).

Golden Gate Bridge Baker Beach X2616

Golden Gate Bridge Baker Beach X2624

Baker Beach Cypress X2630

Cypress trees covering the hillside and
lining the path up the hill to the Presidio.

Baker Beach Contemplation X2612

Golden Gate Bridge

Once the longest suspension bridge in the world (for 27 years after its opening in 1937),
the Bridge is a 1.7 mile Art Deco masterpiece that links San Francisco with Marin County.
In a way, it defines San Francisco, and it is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.

Below, I show views from the San Francisco side at Fort Point (below the Bridge) and from
Lombard Court, a short street leading to a parking area from the Presidio above the end
of Baker Beach. I also shot it from locations on the Marin Headlands and Bonito Point.

Golden Gate Bridge
from Fort Pt. X2469

Golden Gate Bridge
from Fort Pt. X2475

Golden Gate Bridge
from Fort Pt. X2476

Golden Gate Bridge
from Lombard Ct. X2718

Golden Gate Bridge
from Lombard Ct. X2687
(polarized 85/1.4)

Golden Gate Bridge
from Lombard Court X2705
(with Pelicans)

Golden Gate Bridge
from Lombard Court X2634

The sky was really interesting in this image

Golden Gate Bridge
from Lombard Court X2648

Golden Gate Bridge from
from Marin Headlands X2530

Golden Gate Bridge from
from Marin Headlands X2531

Golden Gate Bridge from
from Marin Headlands X2534

Bonito Point X2537

Golden Gate Bridge
from Bonito Point X2538

Golden Gate Bridge
from Bonito Point X2546

Golden Gate Bridge 10 views SXXXL

click for 1600 x 961 version
(a copyright block was added to the web version)

Available in an SXXXL version (14314 x 8600)

A truly enormous composite, capable of high-grade matte prints up to 8 feet wide,
and even larger on Fine Art, Watercolor, or Canvas media. Prints on Glossy media of
four to five feet (depending on type of printer/RIP used) are also easily achieved. Smaller
prints can of course be made as well. This composite is also available in a framed version.

Golden Gate Bridge 10 views framed SXXXL

click for 1575 x 1025 version

The SXXXL framed version is 16718 x 10878.

If you are interested in the Golden Gate Composites, contact Ron Reznick
(see the Ordering page or the bottom of this page for contact information).

Images on this page are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Gallery Collections page where a Gallery can be selected.

Images can be found in the following Gallery Collections (Direct Links):

San Francisco
Northern CA Scenery
Insect Macros K to S (Ladybugs)
Seals (2nd page)
Jellyfish (Monterey Aquarium)
Birds Gallery Collection (Cormorants, Pheasants)

Muir Woods

Located 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Mill Valley, CA,
Muir Woods is a primordial Redwood Forest, one of few surviving and
the only one in the Bay Area. It is also the only National Monument created
from land supplied by a private individual (Congressman William Kent, 1907).

The Muir Woods images are in the Northern CA Scenery Gallery on the Photoshelter website.

Muir Woods Trail X2563

Muir Woods Trail X2570

Muir Woods Mossy Arch
with Mushrooms X2509

Muir Woods Mossy Branch X2564
 

Muir Woods Sunburst X2523

Muir Woods Redwood Burls X2600

Muir Woods Still Life X2580

Muir Woods New Growth X2505

Muir Woods Leaf Closeup X2576

Muir Woods X2607

Muir Woods X2556

Muir Woods X2606

Muir Woods XXXL

click for 1600 x 961 version

Available in an XXXL version (10084 x 9000)

This composite can create high-grade matte prints up to 66” wide,
larger on Fine Art, Watercolor, or Canvas media. Prints on Glossy media of
36” to 42” (depending on type of printer and RIP used) are also easily achieved.

This composite is also available in a framed version.

Muir Woods XXXL
(framed)

click for 1200 x 1057 version

Available in an XXXL version (12118 x 10676)

The framed version will make high-grade matte prints up to 80”.
Depending on the type of media and the printer/RIP used, you can
make any print large, of course, but these huge, high-detail files will
yield large gallery-grade prints if set up correctly based on media type.

If you are interested in the Muir Woods Composites, contact Ron Reznick
(see the Ordering page or the bottom of this page for contact information).

Muir Woods Banana Slug X2499

These guys don’t move very fast, but a 1 sec. exposure did blur the head area a bit.
This fellow was about 8” to 9” long and is without a doubt the largest slug I’ve ever seen.

Banana Slugs are a bit disgusting to some folks, but they are vital to the forest
as they process organic material (leaves, dung, and dead plants) back into soil.

The Banana Slug image is in the Gallery with the Muir Woods shots.

Hibernating Ladybugs X2513

A thundering herd of ladybugs,
gathered on a rail to hibernate.

These were long exposures (2.5 & 6 sec.),
so ladybugs which were moving are blurred.

Hibernating Ladybugs X2513 detail

A close detail crop showing the “action”.
They weren’t moving fast, but 6 sec. is a long time.

Hibernating Ladybugs X2516

Hibernating Ladybugs X2516 detail

The Ladybugs were in Muir Woods, but they
are in the Insect Macro Photoshelter Gallery
(click this text link to go to the Gallery).

Harbor Seals

Harbor Seals X0281

This is a short story of young love...

He sees her. He acts nonchalant, but approaches. She turns away and heads for the beach.
He follows, and they land in the same area, approaching a colony resting on a Monterey beach.

Harbor Seal Female X0293 detail

She’s a cute young thing, isn’t she?

Harbor Seal Male X0293 detail

He checks her out, maintaining his nonchalant air.
Hmmm... she really is a nice-looking young seal.

Harbor Seal Male X0294 detail

The nonchalance is over.
He lets her know she’s attractive to him.
To see her reaction, take a look at the composite below.

Harbor Seals in Love SXL

click for 1544 x 945 version

Available in an SXL version (4068 x 3350)
(the SXL version is three panels, with the lower panel showing them rolling together)
Click this text link to see the SXL version.

Harbor Seals X0297

Harbor Seals X0298

Images on this page are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Gallery Collections page where a Gallery can be selected.

Images can be found in the following Gallery Collections (Direct Links):

San Francisco
Northern CA Scenery
Insect Macros K to S (Ladybugs)
Seals (2nd page)
Jellyfish (Monterey Aquarium)
Birds Gallery Collection (Cormorants, Pheasants)

Northern California Potpourri

Calaveras County Archives X2676

This building was the first restaurant in San Andreas.

San Andreas was founded during the Gold Rush of 1849 as a mining camp,
but gold from placer mining gave out after a few years. In 1853, gold was discovered
in an underground river channel and revitalized the camp. 1853 was the year Joseph Zwinge
built the first restaurant tent on this site, and after three fires lost him his buildings, he rebuilt in stone.

San Andreas gold was a major factor in the victory of the Union over the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Seabreeze Sculpture Sutter Creek X2654

Sutter Creek was named after John Sutter, who sent a timber party to the area in 1848. Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill by James Marshall, starting the 1849 California Gold Rush.

Seabreeze Sculpture Sutter Creek X2657

At the far end of a street in Sutter Creek is the studio of Thomas Baugh. Seabreeze Sculpture Studio creates these female faces from smooth stone, calling them “Earth Angels”.

Seabreeze Sculpture Sutter Creek X2663

The sculptures are popular in gardens
and nurseries in Northern California.

In case you will be in the Sutter Creek area,
you might want to call (number below).
SeaBreeze Sculpture Studio
(209) 267-5883

Seabreeze Sculpture Sutter Creek X2668

If you are interested in the photos of the
Seabreeze Sculptures, contact Ron Reznick
(contact information is at the bottom of this page)

Point Lobos X0270

The most beautiful State Park in California. Point Lobos, south of Carmel, is a very rich marine habitat, attracting many divers to the kelp forests where fish, sea otters, seals, whales, and other sorts of wildlife abound.

Point Lobos X0276

The inspiration for Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”, as well as paintings and other forms of art, Point Lobos has numerous tide pools, is a stopover for various birds, and sea lions can often be seen swimming just offshore.

Stone House Carmel Highlands X0245

The D. L. James House “Seaward”, a masterwork by Charles Greene on the cliffs at Carmel Highlands,
as viewed through the native pines just west of the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) south of Carmel.

Carmel Mission at dawn X0247

Cormorant Island Carmel X0325

Carmel Lone Cypress 0334

Probably the world’s most famous single tree.
The 250 year old Lone Cypress is the logo of the Pebble Beach Company.

Located on the famous 17-Mile Drive, which has some of the world’s most beautiful seascapes
and some fabulous houses, it is also  subject to inclement weather more often than not. It seems as if
every time I get to the area and take this drive, by the time I get to the tree the weather looks miserable.

Carmel Cypress 0188

Monterey Aquarium

I stopped in Monterey for lunch and visited the Aquarium primarily to view their famous
display of jellyfish and Sea Nettles, but added Grouper shots to allay suspicions of prejudice.

Grouper X0383

Grouper X0384

Spotted Jelly X0349

Moon Jellies X0413

Moon Jelly X0354

Moon Jelly X0356

Moon Jelly X0357

Crystal Jellies X0416

Sea Nettles X0341

Sea Nettles X0364

Sea Nettles X0365

Sea Nettles X0366

Images on this page are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Gallery Collections page where a Gallery can be selected.

Images can be found in the following Gallery Collections (Direct Links):

San Francisco
Northern CA Scenery
Insect Macros K to S (Ladybugs)
Seals (2nd page)
Jellyfish (Monterey Aquarium)
Birds Gallery Collection (Cormorants, Pheasants)

Before we get to the Coast Highway bridges, here are a few bird shots...

Cormorant Breeding Colors X0305

Cormorant X0310

Ring-Necked Pheasant HS0030

Ring-Necked Pheasant HS0049

Ring-Necked Pheasant HS0052

I took quite a few shots of this pheasant.
The color was spectacular... the long sunset
rays reflected from his feathers (as you can see).

Ring-Necked Pheasant HS0090

Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur

Highway 1 through Big Sur is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful
coastal drives in the world. Through this part of California south of Carmel, it is a
winding two-lane road that crosses some historic bridges, two of which are below.

A few of the images in this section are not on the Photoshelter website.
If you are interested in one of these images, contact Ron Reznick (info at bottom of page)

Big Creek Bridge Big Sur X0233

The completion of this double-arched bridge in 1937 opened Highway 1 through the Big Sur region.
The Big Creek Bridge is the gateway to Big Sur from the southern end of the Coast Highway.

Big Creek Bridge Big Sur X4402

Big Sur Bixby Creek Bridge X4424

In an even bigger way, the opening of the
Bixby Creek Bridge in 1932 opened up the
Big Sur area from the northern end of the road.

Bixby Creek Bridge Hwy 1 X0241

Before this bridge opened, travelers had to
traverse rough wagon roads from Monterey to
the Big Sur River valley (30 miles taking 3 days).

Bixby Creek Bridge Hwy 1 X0243

Big Sur Bixby Creek Bridge X4430

Big Sur Point Sur X4413

Big Sur X4431

Big Sur X4409

Images on this page are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website.
The Banner below leads to the Gallery Collections page where a Gallery can be selected.

Images can be found in the following Gallery Collections (Direct Links):

San Francisco
Northern CA Scenery
Insect Macros K to S (Ladybugs)
Seals (2nd page)
Jellyfish (Monterey Aquarium)
Birds Gallery Collection (Cormorants, Pheasants)