View from Lands End
View from Lands End
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Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 21
Contest Finalist in Enchanting Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Inspiring Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Water And Rocks Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Bridges In The Night Photo Contest
People's Choice in Spectacular Bridges Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Spectacular Bridges Photo Contest
Runner Up in A Low Vantage Point Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in A Low Vantage Point Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
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tomingramphotography
February 25, 2018
Live in the Bay Area and have never seen GGB taken from this view. Love the originality!
paulatchinson
May 30, 2018
Hi there - this image is great and would make a super entry in the latest challenge I have created - “YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATIONS”
Click on my avatar to take you to my Viewbug page and then click on ‘Challenges’. Select ‘Created’ and then “Your Travel Destinations”. Thanks - Paul
Click on my avatar to take you to my Viewbug page and then click on ‘Challenges’. Select ‘Created’ and then “Your Travel Destinations”. Thanks - Paul
JamesMancusi
August 24, 2019
Wonderful frame! I shoot down there often enough, that I wish there were an elevator to get back up!
jjhardingsac
January 17, 2020
Congrats on finding a very special view of this special bridge. It is a beautiful capture.
MaryAnne306
October 26, 2020
Absolutely spectacular and such a delightfully unusual view of the Golden Gate! Congratulations on all your challenge and contest wins.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo is from a small beach called Mile Rock Beach in the "Lands End" area of San Francisco. I think I got lucky tides-wise as I was able to take off my shoes and wade out a bit into the water. I scoped out the area with Google Maps before leaving, but I had no idea if I would be able to see the bridge from the beach. I was stunned when I turned the corner and the bridge revealed itself.Time
It was early, pre-dawn. I had to hike to the beach in pitch black. I almost stepped right on a skunk, which would have made for a great day at work later.Lighting
It was still pretty dark, hence the 30-second exposure. Luckily, I was able to still preserve some detail in the foreground while not blowing out the highlights. This was a single exposure.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7200 on a tripod with a Nikon 18mm-140mm lens.Inspiration
Well the scene was obviously gorgeous, but also the rocks provided a nice frame to the image. I love long exposure shots of the ocean so I was able to take something iconic, the Golden Gate Bridge, and combine it with an interesting frame and the water effects of a long exposure, that I love.Editing
I did do a bit of post processing. For one my horizon was very crooked as I was shooting in the water on a slanted beach in the dark. Second, the original shot was very dark to protect the brightest parts of the image so I had to bring the shadows up to bring detail back into the rocks and foreground. I did not want to do much with color in the image as the color of the bridge is so iconic.In my camera bag
I have a small Thinktank backpack that fits what I would call my "photo walk kit". This gives me confidence that I can capture any thing I find on a walk: Nikon D7200 Tokina 11mm-16mm f2.8 Tamron 24-70mm V2 f2.8 Nikon 70-300 f4.5-f5.6 Lee Filter Kit with a regular ND, soft grad ND, hard Grad ND, and circular polarizer. Mefoto Q1 tripodFeedback
1) Try to find new angles to capture iconic landmarks. Go where the crowds are not or find unique perspectives. 2) Get up early. Some of the most unique light can be captured right before dawn but you need plenty of time to get to your location and set up. 3) Move your tripod. I tried probably 4-5 different locations so I had many choices when I got home. It can be easy to think you got it right first try and let your tripod grow roots! 4) Be careful of your highlights and shoot raw. Modern cameras can do a lot to recover light in your shadows but can't do anything if your highlights are so bright that they are lost. Shooting in raw format allows you to do this. You have to be especially careful when shooting towards artificial lights at night or into the sun. 5) BE CAREFUL WHEN SHOOTING AROUND WAVES. Later on this walk I was perched on a rock with my eye buried in the viewfinder and got hit by a freak wave that doused my equipment, and almost pulled me in to the water. Lesson learned. Be very aware of your surroundings and make sure you always have a safe route back to shore if the tide is coming in.