This was one of those photo trips where everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong!
This is a rather overdone 'postcard shot' of San Francisco, featuring some of the so-called 'Painted Ladies' in the foreground, Victorian terraced houses that have been painted in bright colours, with the iconic San Francisco skyline in the background, as seen from Alamo Square.
Despite being a postcard shot, I was, after all, visiting, and so was looking forward to my own interpretation of this popular shot. However, the problems soon started to mount up.
To start with, an area of the park in the foreground was undergoing maintenance, resulting in lots of yellow caution tape and cones lying around, barely out of shot on the left edge. This significantly compromised my framing -- I wanted to be higher up the hill and further to the left, but was unable to do so whilst keeping the construction detritus out of the photo.
Then there was the owner of the slab-like Audi, who not only had the temerity to order it in white, but also sat there with the lights on for about half an hour. Another undesirable eyesore, and one that I couldn't eliminate.
Next was the apparent absence of any of the residents of the houses. Despite being shot in the evening, almost nobody appeared to be home, so the houses that should have had at least their downstairs lights invitingly on are almost all lifeless and dark.
Finally, a combination of a fair bit of haze and a very strong and gusty wind meant that, even with my camera bag weighing the tripod down, the distant skyline in particular is not as pin-sharp as I look for.
All in all a frustrating trip, and while the result is OK, it's not the shot I was hoping for.
I'm a British software developer and photographer living in Vancouver, BC. I mainly photograph landscapes, cityscapes, night scenes, and water.
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it's a great shot Alexis...love your commentary, so frustrating when you know the shot is there but the odds are against you to get what you want! love the composition and great city scene beyond the houses
Fav! I love it! The contrast between the city buildings and the city home's are very appealing to my eye! great shot dispite your obstacles. I would have liked to see the lights on in the little window's also! :)
Always frustrating when things don't go according to plan, no matter how hard we plan ahead! Nevertheless, still a very good shot, with lots for the eye to wander around. I think its better than OK.
Totally agree with what @tracywilliams said. It's a wonderful shot and you are measuring it against how you imagined your shot could look before you took it. But for me, it is magical and brings back memories of a city that I love. Thank you! Fav
I also agree with @tracywilliams and @sturnus. I know most of us have days where what you picture in your head doesn't quite work out, but this shot is stunning with beautiful processing. A good excuse to go back again one day :o)
Amazing shot. I would never have noticed all the things you said were wrong. It's definitely a Fav for me. But I can now see what you had in mind for the photo thanks for your commentary.
This is really beautiful and iconically San Fransico. We are all so much harder on ourselves, the skyline is not pin sharp?? Pfft, looks darn fantastic to me.
I love the contrast between the Victorian houses in the foreground and the modern skyscrapers in the background. It's also reassuring that it's not only beginners like myself that experience these frustrations.
I absolutely love that you are not satisfied with this "unattainable to mere mortals" photograph, and the fact that you used the word temerity in your description! Fav!
Comforting for some of us to learn that we are not the only ones who have difficulty excluding detritus from a shot, especially when it's from someone as talented as you.
Hi Alexis,
I would like to ask if you could be the next host in the camera settings challenge? I am on a hunt for a host & I thought of you, your expertise is greatly admired here by everyone. I can leave the specific challenge for you to decide, here is the link to what has been ventured into already - http://365project.org/myhrhelper/365/2011-12-12
If you are not available to do the hosting, just let me know, thanks
@abirkill Thank you. You are right, this challenge has been going for a while. I know the followers of the challenge would be up for anything that makes them use a new button or learn to understand the functions on their cameras. I have learnt a lot being a follower myself. I am sure you will come up with a great idea!!
The backstory was great to read -- I always find it interesting to know how a shot came about. But, simply seeing the shot, I would have had no clue. Really like the skyline and housing layer together. And thanks for the fav for my twilight zone/beaver island photo.
I love the shot and you must definitely be a photographic perfectionist! (I don't criticise!) It was interesting to read your commentary. I really like the contrast between the different styles of architecture!
I do understand your frustration but WOW anyway! I wish my shots that don't come out as planned could even vaguely match this!! I love the contrast of the houses and the modern city in the background...FAV for me.
I would like to ask if you could be the next host in the camera settings challenge? I am on a hunt for a host & I thought of you, your expertise is greatly admired here by everyone. I can leave the specific challenge for you to decide, here is the link to what has been ventured into already - http://365project.org/myhrhelper/365/2011-12-12
If you are not available to do the hosting, just let me know, thanks