Here’s a different view of San Francisco’s Ferry Building taken from Pier 1. This was my first time on Pier 1 – one of those beautifully restored artifacts along San Francisco’s Embarcadero.
This image is from my iPhone 5s – post-processed in Lightroom with VSCO Film and a couple of other special presents.
Here’s another iPhone 5s image shot from a bench in front of San Francisco’s Pier 3 with my iPhone 5s. Actually, this is three images overlaid on each other.
I selected the three images based on the placement of the people in the frame. I used Photoshop’s auto-align layers feature to get them into alignment and then applied layer masks to isolate the subjects. The monochrome conversion was done using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 along with some dodging and burning to adjust highlights, shadows, and contrast – along with a touch of toning.
The image isn’t perfect – if you look closely, you’ll see a few flaws. It’s one of those 90 percent complete solutions!
I continue to delight in how great the whole renovation of San Francisco’s Embarcadero has turned out to be. Recently, I found a bench and just sat down and began taking pictures with my iPhone 5s as people walked, bicycled, ran, and skateboarded past. This was a great “stage” – with no parked cars along the curb and the interesting convergence of the Embarcadero Center buildings in the background. And that locked up bicycle provided an interesting element to “the set”. If you’re curious, this bench is just outside Pier 3 – a few steps south of the entrance to Hard Water.
After capturing this in my iPhone 5s, I post-processed it in Lightroom 5 applying a VSCO Film emulation and a bit more tweaking done in Photoshop CC.
For thirty years, I’ve been having business lunches at the Fish Market in San Mateo. The restaurant has two venues – the regular restaurant downstairs and the Top of the Market upstairs. Top of the Market has long been the business lunch venue.
I recently met a colleague for lunch there. I got there a bit early and snapped this image with my iPhone 5s while waiting for him to arrive. I love the two guys on the pier – sort of a Huck Finn aspect to the image. I’ve added a painterly touch to add more interest – and to simplify the image.
The view from Pier 7 in San Francisco looking back at the City is pretty special.
Shot on New Years Day 2014 with my Fujifilm X-E2. Post-processed in Lightroom 5, VSCO Film and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.
Here’s an iPhone 5s shot taken while waiting to walk across San Francisco’s Embarcadero.
Post-processed in Lightroom 5 with VSCO Film.
Here’s a late afternoon view of the San Miguel Church on the Old Santa Fe Trail. This church claims to be the oldest church building in America.
Image taken with my Fujifilm X-T1 and post-processed in Lightroom 5 with VSCO Film and Nik’s Silver Efex Pro 2.
This is another image taken along Santa Fe’s famous Canyon Road – where many of the city’s art galleries are located. It was late afternoon and we were slowly walking up the road to have dinner at Geronimo (where I had elk for the first time – sourced from New Zealand and marinated for a day in dark beer!).
I loved how the late afternoon sun was lighting up these two pieces of our door sculpture and captured this shot with my Fujifilm X-T1
It’s certainly getting easy to catch shots like this – part of what I call “Checking In”.
This one was shot at San Francisco’s Citibank Center – the sharp focus is on the close in chair – with the woman in the background in soft focus with a bit of a painterly touch.
I really like this look. Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2
We headed out along Santa Fe’s Canyon Road – for an early dinner reservation at Geronimo. Along the way, most of the galleries were closing up shop at the end of the day.
Up an alley, I noticed this sculpture – standing up against that building with the crumbling wall in the late afternoon sun. And the brilliant blue doorway. Wonder what’s behind that door?
Isn’t this what Santa Fe is all about? Such is love along Canyon Road…shot with my Fujifilm X-T1