california

Pew Oceans Commission

Califonia's Pacific Coast landscape: Pew Oceans Commission final report.

Pew Oceans Commission posted in california , covers , landscape

Golden Gate Fog

9-593-35 stock photo of California, Marin County, Golden Gate Bridge from Marin Headlands

One of the signature landmarks of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge. When photographing for my book on San Francisco Bay, I wanted to cover the movement of the fog which sweeps in off the Pacific many summer afternoons, and then recedes in the morning. Often it flows over the hilltops and shrouds the bridge deck in a white cloth.

There's a small hilltop in Marin Headlands, just above the northern anchorage, which seemed promising as a vantage point. It was a fogbound morning. Driving out there in the predawn darkness I doubted if I'd get anything at all. Sometimes you don't. I parked and hiked the fire trail to the ridgetop; it was windy, dark and cold. With my tripod fixed, and mid-range lens set on my Nikon, I waited.

Imperceptibly, the light changed. A gradual brightening, then visible clouds, then a golden hue as a distant sun rose over the Oakland hills. Then the mist cleared with a swift breeze and the bridge tower appeared.

It was a surprise of course. It always is.

Golden Gate Fog posted in california , frames , landscape , san francisco bay , usa

Mount Tamalpais

4-701-99 stock photo of California, Marin County, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Hiker on ridge

Warm summer days bring an offshore marine fog layer that sits off the coast of San Francisco, sometimes nestling up onto the flanks of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County. After a long hike on the mountainside, as the late sun brought an oragne light to the western sky, I saw a solitary hiker on the ridgeline. Framed with a crescent hillside and the clouds below if conveys the airiness of the high peaks and the smallness of man in a vast and wondrous landscape.

Mount Tamalpais posted in california , frames , san francisco bay

SGN Exhibit on San Francisco Bay

1-859-69 stock photo of California, Sonoma County, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Napa Slough

Photographs from David Sanger's book San Franciso Bay – Portrait of an Estuary and the accompanying show at the Oakland Museum will be exhibited at Saint Gregory of Nyssa art space from September 10th to October 29th.

There will be an opening reception on Sunday September 11th from 1pm to 4pm. All are invited. Mark your calendars.

Directions

© David Sanger. Click on image for licensing and fine art prints.

SGN Exhibit on San Francisco Bay posted in california , news , prints , san francisco bay

Majestic Muir Coast

This story on Muir Beach ran this fall in Coastal Living magazine.

Muir Beach is a small oceanside community in Marin County just north of San Francisco. This was my fourth assignment for the magazine. Upcoming stories will feature Mendocino and Pacific Grove, California.

Majestic Muir Coast posted in california , coastal living , editorial

Do the Zoo

San Diego's world-famous zoo was the subject of this feature photo essay shot for Endless Vacation.

Do the Zoo posted in california , editorial , endless vacation

Islands in the Bay

A bed and breakfast, a bird sanctuary, an immigration station, a penitentiary, sites of a World’s Fair and of primitive Indian villages, rocky and sandy, tree-clad and barren, they are as diverse a collection of habitats as you’ll find in any Bay and well in keeping with San Francisco’s eclectic taste. All are islands in San Francisco Bay and were featured in this story photographed and written for Discovery magazine.

Islands in the Bay posted in california , discovery , editorial

Grass

1-61-32 stock photo of California, San Francisco, Crissy Field, GGNRA, Golden Gate and grasses

How to show the Golden Gate Bridge and not make a cliché? This was the question as I documented the newly restored Crissy Field along the San Francisco waterfront for the National Park Service

It was a bright blue day and the green of the newly planted California bunch grass on the restored meadow caught my eye. Green, blue and the red of the bridge: that was the image! With a Nikon 600mm. lens on a low tripod I lay on the ground and framed the triangle of the bridge tower and cables behind a few tufts of grass. Trying different focus points and apertures for depth of field I selected this shot with a slightly soft but recognizable bridge and the crisp grass caught in the wind.

© David Sanger. Click on image for licensing and fine art prints.

Grass posted in california , frames , landscape

San Francisco Bay Book Prints

All these prints are from David's exhibition at the Oakland Museum, and are taken from the 155 images in his book San Francisco Bay - Portrait of an Estuary with John Hart, sponsored by the national Audubon Society and the Bay Institute of San Francisco.

Prints are available for immediate online purchase, framed or unframed in sizes from 8x10 to 20x30".

Click on the thumbnails to order.

San Francisco Bay Book Prints posted in california , introduction , prints , san francisco bay

San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay book

David's illustrated book San Francisco Bay: Portrait of an Estuary with coauthor, California writer John Hart was released in October 2003.

A portrait of San Francisco Bay, the largest estuary system on the west coast of the Americas, this large-format photography book showcases a fragile yet essential centerpiece of life in the Bay Area.

Sponsored by the National Audubon Society and The Bay Institute,San Francisco Bay: Portrait of an Estuary is published by the University of California Press and designed by award-winning designer Jennifer Barry

San Francisco Bay continued....

San Francisco Bay posted in books , california , editorial , san francisco bay

The Gentler Coast

The wild California coast of San Luis Obispo County in Central California, from San Simeon to Cambria and Morro Bay, was the subject of this story photographed for Sunset magazine.

The Gentler Coast posted in california , editorial , sunset

Russian River

The relaxing ambiance of the Russian River region, 75 miles north of San Francisco, was covered in this story photographed for Sunset magazine.

Russian River posted in california , editorial , sunset