Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement

Posted on by Stacy P. Fischer

Painted Ladies of San Francisco at night glow against the backdrop of the sparkling San Francisco skyline. I did it! I really did it! I took this night shot all on my own, using my tripod and my camera’s timer. This may seem like a small achievement, but for me, it is a huge step forward in my photography skills.

After trekking to the Sutro Baths at sunset (post to come) and then to the Golden Gate Bridge to catch a night shot, my guide (Doc Miles) gave me some guidelines and then turned me loose to photograph the Painted Ladies, the row of Victorian homes located just off Alamo Square Park in San Francisco. Loaded with my new tripod and my new-found knowledge of how to use my timer, I made my way into the darkened park. When I asked Doc the best place to set up, he simply smiled and said that I would know when I saw it. I have to admit I was a bit nervous. It was late in the evening, the park was deserted, and I was out there on my own. I kept looking over my shoulder, wondering if my photographic foray was such a wise choice.

And then I crested the hill. And I heard Doc saying I would know it when I saw it.  How right he was. Seven lovely 1890s homes, awash in lights to showcase their lovely palette of colors, against a stunning backdrop of San Francisco. I know I had a huge, stupid grin on my face as I waited each time for the shutter to “click.”

Had none of the photos turned out, it wouldn’t have mattered. Well, okay, I would have been disappointed, but here’s the thing: I would still be able to remember every detail of those 20 minutes I spent shooting the scene. Luckily, though, I did end up with some wonderful shots, and I’m sharing one of them here. In this one, I managed to capture a light trail of a car passing by the park. I decided I liked the added bit of interest it gave the photo, so I left it in during post-processing.

Next to come – Sutro Baths, Oakland-Bay Bridge (shot from different locations in the city), and more of the Golden Gate. Pardon the cliché, but I definitely left my heart in San Francisco!

74 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Achievement”

  2. This is a picture postcard image – and I mean that in the best sense of the term- that you should be proud of. Heck, I would be proud of it! Anyone would be proud of it. So what time of night was it? Can you give the meta data on it? I know this spot. But I was only there during the day and didn’t have my camera with me. Actually, I was there in 2007 and didn’t have a real camera then! But I’ll be back this March!

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    • Thanks so much, Emilio. I went back to check the metadata for you: I shot this with my new Nikon D7100 using my 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 42mm, 20 sec @ f/11, ISO 200, spot metered. While my data says it was 12:30 AM, that meant it was really only 9:30 PM (so my description of it being very late at night is a bit off by the clock, but spot on for my internal clock). It felt so late to me because I had just arrived that evening from DC and this was the second to last stop of the night.

      If I had to do it over again, I would make sure to choose f/16 to create star effects with the lights. That wonderful lesson that I learned from Robin in his ABFriday post on his shot of the Eiffel Tower completely left my head while in San Francisco. That’s the one thing I was disappointed about in a number of my shots.

      I’m excited for you about getting back there and looking forward to seeing what you come back with!

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      • The moment I learned about (I think it was) f13 and higher causing the star effects I was out that night to try it. And I loved it. I was out last night doing some night photography but it didn’t seem appropriate for Neon signs. We’ll be in the bay area in March for a wedding so I’m hoping to grab some free time or even stay an extra day. But it will probably be more or less spontaneous! We shall see! And thanks for the data.:)

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    • Thanks, Cardinal. I think this is among the group of most photographed scenes in San Francisco, for exactly the reasons you mention. I didn’t get a chance to see it in the daytime and I’m sure the wonderful Victorian color palette would show up much better, but the nighttime view is just so lovely, I tend to think it’s the better time to capture the scene.

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    • Nancy, I appreciate your comment – I, too, am far from proficient at it. Many, many more shots end up on the virtual cutting room floor, but when they do turn out, it’s such a fantastic feeling! I enjoyed visiting your photo gallery and left a bunch of comments (and questions there) 🙂 Thanks for the link!

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    • Now that sounds lovely, Mary! Living just outside of DC, there’s too much ambient light for me to try that, but I’ve seen results from Yosemite that take my breath away. I’ll be very interested to see your results, so please let me know when you finally get the chance 🙂

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    • LOL! Hi, Lynda. I understand completely. My first time setting it up on my own probably would have made an hysterical YouTube video! Even now, it’s trial and error in remembering which way to turn the locks on the legs to actually make them lock 🙂 So it’s still not second nature to me at all. But as the saying goes, practice makes perfect, right? So give it a whirl. It really opens up another realm of photography 🙂 Thanks for commenting!

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  15. The lighting in this picture is just beautiful. The buildings release a sense of being majesty. They are very nicely contrasted against the city skyline which has a more alive and full of people feel to it. The buildings are calm and peaceful and the warm street lighting is nice against the piercing blue of the night sky.

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    • Chris, you’ve summed the scene up beautifully. My mouth just dropped open as I crested the hill and saw what lay in front of me. I couldn’t get my tripod set up fast enough, fearful that if I didn’t catch it quickly, it might somehow disappear. So glad you enjoyed the shot. And thanks for stopping by to let me know. I really appreciate it.

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  17. Great shot. I haven’t done any night shots yet. I’ve been waiting for it to get dark earlier.It’s dark here at 5 pm, so I’ll have to get on with it, although I live in the country so I’m not sure what to photograph. Perhaps I need to wait for a new moon and cloudless sky. I’m so good at procrastinating 🙂

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    • LOL – I can so relate to procrastinating 🙂 Night shots in the country? Any winding road with traffic that comes by? I’m thinking light trails. And, as you say, the moon. Or what about star trails? Though that takes real long exposures. Hmmm, let me know what you try. I’d be really interested to hear about it. And thanks very much for stopping by to comment!

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  18. Really this is a seriously good photograph it totally caught my attention it’s beautiful. The lines and colours almost look too good to be true you did really well, congrats. Ps that was quite dangerous being on your own the park but glad your ok and got the shot x

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  19. Wow, what an absolutely perfect image, it’s truly fantastic. Certainly puts my old painted ladies picture to shame. Well done, that certainly is an achievement. I’m roasting you with a chilled glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc right now 😉

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Any thoughts?