San Francisco and Las Vegas - DPChallenge Forums

08/03/2012 09:15:43 AM · #1

On Tuesday I'll be in Vegas for 3 days, then SF for 6 days. Wanted to get some suggestions from the locals for some landscape shot opportunities. I'll have a car so it shouldn't be a problem getting around.

Any suggestions?

Message edited by author 2012-08-04 16:16:19.

bassbone

Nikon Df

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/03/2012 10:04:08 AM · #2

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

On Tuesday I'll in Vegas for 3 days, then SF for 6 days. Wanted to get some suggestions from the locals for some landscape shot opportunities. I'll have a car so it shouldn't be a problem getting around.

Any suggestions?

How far are you willing to drive? There are some magical places that you can visit and explore if you have 5 hours in you....

08/03/2012 10:32:50 AM · #3

Besides the usual in SF, if you can get a day free it's worth your while to drive up to Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Wonderful drive, huge and wonderful coastal destination. Google it.

Of course, you can also do Monterey/Carmel on a day trip from the Bay Area. Decisions, decisions...

Message edited by author 2012-08-03 10:33:51.

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

08/03/2012 11:08:48 AM · #4

5 hour drive might be a bit too long. i'll have 2 older folks with me so they might not be up for such a long trip. i think i need to do a trip with just other photographers.

i googled pt. reyes and that looks beautiful. i think that could be doable.

Alex_Petrini

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

08/03/2012 11:12:30 AM · #5

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Besides the usual in SF, if you can get a day free it's worth your while to drive up to Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Wonderful drive, huge and wonderful coastal destination. Google it.

Don't suggest good FS locations to Mark :D

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

08/03/2012 11:15:34 AM · #6

+1 on this :D

Originally posted by Alexkc:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Besides the usual in SF, if you can get a day free it's worth your while to drive up to Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Wonderful drive, huge and wonderful coastal destination. Google it.

Don't suggest good FS locations to Mark :D

08/03/2012 11:17:16 AM · #7

GAH..LOL!

08/03/2012 11:38:18 AM · #8

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Don't miss the Cowgirl Creamery at Pt. Reyes Station; fantastic local artisan cheeses.

This was shot in the vicinity:

08/03/2012 11:52:46 AM · #9

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Cuttooth:
5 hour drive might be a bit too long. i'll have 2 older folks with me so they might not be up for such a long trip. i think i need to do a trip with just other photographers.

i googled pt. reyes and that looks beautiful. i think that could be doable.

Don't miss the Cowgirl Creamery at Pt. Reyes Station; fantastic local artisan cheeses.

This was shot in the vicinity:

:)
i've visited the cowgirl creamery in the ferry building. buying some cheese from cowgirl creamery and bread from acme bakery then snacking on them in the park across the street...ahhh.

in your shot, is the stranded boat anywhere near there?

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/03/2012 12:56:17 PM · #10

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

i've visited the cowgirl creamery in the ferry building. buying some cheese from cowgirl creamery and bread from acme bakery then snacking on them in the park across the street...ahhh.

in your shot, is the stranded boat anywhere near there?

Yes, very near. Pt. Reyes station is on the southern end of Tomales Bay on the eastern shore of same. From Pt. Reyes Station, to visit the National Seashore, you jog west a bit and drive up the western shore of Tomales Bay a few miles (10?) before cutting inland and further west to the beaches and headlands. The specific scene is on the Western shore of Tomales Bay just a few miles up from the south end. I can't remember the actual name of the hamlet it's adjacent to, but it's easy to find.

BTW, the Cowgirl Creamery facility at Pt. Reyes Station is the actual factory. They have a cheese shop with all the trimmings there, of course, and you can SEE the factory, but they do actual tours of the cheesemaking process on, I believe, Wednesdays.

R.

ETA: wait, wait, WHAT "stranded boat"? The shot I posted here is of a ferry shed on Tomales Bay. What are YOU referring to?

OK, I got it. Yes, the "famous" stranded purse seiner is at Inverness, also on the Western shore of Tomales Bay and just before you jog west to head for the Pacific.

Message edited by author 2012-08-03 13:00:35.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/03/2012 01:20:15 PM · #11

My favorite recommendations are, in Vegas; The Gun Store. This shop just off the strip has an indoor shooting range where you can shoot just about any gun you have ever heard of. A one of a kind place.
In San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate and drive half an hour through some pretty country to Muir Woods you can get a sense of what redwood country looks like without driving five hours. If you have the time, taking the walk out to Stinson beach is lovely.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/03/2012 01:52:28 PM · #12

thanks for the recommendations everyone. these all look really good.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/03/2012 02:11:25 PM · #13

If you want to go out in the city for a sunset viewing I have two recommendations
The Top of the Mark is a great place for a drink, and depending on your dates, they have music of even movies this summer. If you go, make sure tolook at the photos of how it used to look that are on display on the stairs down to the restroom. They are Ansel Adams' old commercial work before he became a name.

If you want to drive out to Fort Mason and the marina, Friday nights is food truck night or if you want to go more up scale make a reservation at Green's my favorite vegetarian restaurant, the only one I have been to where the fact that there is no meat seems totally besides the point because the food is so well done. When you make the reservation ask for a seat with a good view of the Golden Gate for the sunset.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/03/2012 03:26:09 PM · #14

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Of course, you can also do Monterey/Carmel on a day trip from the Bay Area. Decisions, decisions...

If you want to do the Big Sur/Monterey coastal thing, you could make the trip from Las Vegas to SF a two-day thing: head more or less due West out of Vegas, through Death Valley, and hit the coast somewhere near San Simeon (Hearst Castle) or San Luis Obispo, south of the Big Sur Area. You could also take I-15 southwest out of Vegas -- it may be longer but faster, and would go around the Death Valley area.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/03/2012 09:32:31 PM · #15

The drive from Vegas to SF sounds interesting. Our flight arrangements are already set so I would have to plan it on another trip. It would be great to do the trip in a camper.

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

I've never been to the Top of the Mark so that sounds nice. Some good sunset shots of the Golden Gate would be good, I don't know where the good vantage points for that are. I've walked through the Fort Mason area before and actually tried to stop at Green's for a bite but they were closed that day. I have heard many good things about it.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/03/2012 10:20:43 PM · #16

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Some good sunset shots of the Golden Gate would be good, I don't know where the good vantage points for that are.

The tough thing is in the summer the sun sets over the Marin headlands, so if you want the iconic Golden Gate + Sunset you have to slide south towards Fort Point to get the shot.

08/03/2012 11:02:21 PM · #17

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Some good sunset shots of the Golden Gate would be good, I don't know where the good vantage points for that are.

The tough thing is in the summer the sun sets over the Marin headlands, so if you want the iconic Golden Gate + Sunset you have to slide south towards Fort Point to get the shot.

You need The Photographer's Ephemeris, Mark. They have versions for PC, Android, whatever. It will help you plan shoots and locations on any day, at any time, anywhere in the world...

R.

08/03/2012 11:49:55 PM · #18

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Some good sunset shots of the Golden Gate would be good, I don't know where the good vantage points for that are.

The tough thing is in the summer the sun sets over the Marin headlands, so if you want the iconic Golden Gate + Sunset you have to slide south towards Fort Point to get the shot.

You need The Photographer's Ephemeris, Mark. They have versions for PC, Android, whatever. It will help you plan shoots and locations on any day, at any time, anywhere in the world...

R.

Ahh yeah, I have that on my phone and laptop. I need to remember to use it more often.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/04/2012 12:10:50 AM · #19

Originally posted by Cuttooth:

Ahh yeah, I have that on my phone and laptop. I need to remember to use it more often.

Make it so!

tanguera

Nikon D750

08/04/2012 12:00:32 PM · #20

Well, for the Las Vegas portion of the trip, you COULD go to the Mojave (about 1.5 hours each way), and stop in at the Kelso Depot and see my exhibit :-)

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

08/04/2012 03:37:23 PM · #21

Originally posted by tanguera:

Well, for the Las Vegas portion of the trip, you COULD go to the Mojave (about 1.5 hours each way), and stop in at the Kelso Depot and see my exhibit :-)

well that's a possibility. i do have a day that's free.

hanserik

Nikon D700

08/05/2012 08:16:01 AM · #22

Las Vegas also have Red Rock canyon (15 mins from the strip) and Valley of Fire (1hr).

About Muir woods; I didn't listen to an advice i got about being there when the park opened at 8am. When I came there at 1pm, the parking lots were full, and the first available parking spot was about 2km down the road from the entrance...

09/09/2012 05:06:43 AM · #23

Want to say thanks to everyone that posted suggestions here. Thought I'd post a few shots from the trip.

Leo

Apple iPhone Xr

09/09/2012 01:31:01 PM · #24

Looks like you had a lot of fun on your trip. Nice collection.