Ferry Building Fog

Sf Photo Walks is a new series of photos based upon my walks in San Francisco. I tend to do my best Don Draper impressions while walking through the beautiful city by the bay, rather than napping. I was on my way to meet my Catalan (I was reprimanded for calling her a Spaniard) friend for drinks and tapas at Coqueta, when I saw this convergence of light and fog. I had just been at the wonderful Intimate Impressionism exhibit at The Legion of Honor, and I was inspired to work backwards to a sketch on this image. I adore the Transamerica building in downtown SF, and I enjoy how it looks so at home with black and white palm trees. The darkness in this shot represents the difficulty inherent to selling art. The plight of the Ferry plaza art merchant is challenging. I love walking through their work, as I am always inspired to work harder on my images. (Captured with the Olympus Stylus 1 - edited with Snapseed - Glaze - Waterlogued - and Image Blender)

The iconic Sutro Tower is becoming more and more an overlord of a changing city. I shot this walking to the new Sightglass Coffee in the Mission district.  Near the MUNI bus depot, and through a bare patch of sky, I saw Sutro looking down on me from Twin Peaks. This blue house was recently remodeled and I would imagine costs were well over 2 million dollars, considering its size. So beautiful, so inaccessible. (Olympus Stylus 1 edited with Snapseed)

Inspired again by the Impressionists, I edited this image I took at the wonderful Central Kitchen brunch 2 Sundays ago. Oysters by Manet (1862) blew me away at the gallery on Wednesday. I knew I had something that I could convey my love of the oyster while not losing sight of the feeling they deliver at a convivial brunch. Still life bored me silly when I was a kid, now I have so many memories, and so much passion for food and wine, that I get dreamy just considering it all. This one is going to be on our new kitchen wall soon. (Edited with Snapseed, Glaze, Old Photo Pro, and Image Blender)

On my photo walks, I typically start them at a coffee shop, and often finish them in one as well. Who does not love the beautiful chemistry of siphon coffee? Blue Bottle Coffee, in Mint Plaza, does these beautiful small-batch brews with this wicked cool, hipster included, chemistry set. I snapped away while enjoying a lever-pulled espresso, and watching this very skilled and fetching barista work her magic with the siphon. I love that you can see the reflection of the flask in her eye (no that is not red-eye). I adore this shop, and while I typically eschew waiting in line, for this quality, I will make an exception. (Olympus Stylus - Snapseed)

The columns at The Legion of Honor always fascinate my eye. I was playing with the diorama setting on the Olympus Stylus 1, and I think it worked. I want to one day have a piece on the walls here. I believe I can do it. (Olympus Stylus - Snapseed)

My walks typically take me through the grungy parts of SF. This day was no exception. At the same time, I could see it changing, the poor being squeezed more tightly in the Python grip of tech cash. There is enough money in SF to right so many wrongs, heal so many wounds, and frankly make it the most livable city on earth. Tech companies are quick to claim how they are changing the world, all while ignoring their own city. (Olympus Stylus - Snapseed - Glaze - Image Blender - Old Photo Pro - Photo Toaster)

Thanks for going on this SF Photo Walk with me.

The Housewrighter