How Is San Francisco These Days?

wjlapier

wjlapier

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It's been a long time since I was in SF--I worked there for one year and walked everywhere until I found a bike then rode all over the place. I lived in a downtown hotel ( kinda like a studio ) near the Tenderloin district. 1988. My wife is going to a conference in November and staying at the Hilton--the same one I worked at for a year. All I read is how there is human feces and hypodermic needles everywhere. Tents in city parks. Those that live and work there how bad is it really? I'd like to go and explore on my on while the wife is in conference but not sure I want to step over and around poop and needles.

Thinking of taking my Fujifilm GSW680III and X100.
 
I live outside of SF, but used to go there every month. It has certainly gone way downhill since you were there, but you can still enjoy some of the outside downtown areas. But don't leave anything in you car: it will be broken into. Feces and needles are everywhere but they aren't as disturbing as the homeless encampments. Try to enjoy the fringe areas; like Presidio, Legion of Honor, Pacific Beach, and some of the neighborhoods. It would be best to Taxi or Uber. I recently went to the Wharf area and it was surprisingly nice.

Hold on to your cameras, don't set them down.
 
San Fran is not as it was. But it is still great. Marina, Presidio, Palace of Fine Arts, Embarcadero, Chinatown, North Beach, ferry to Sausalito etc.

I visit as often as I can, and always bring 'some' gear. One camera, one lens would make things much easier.

Just make sure you take Provia or Velvia so you can focus on the positive, not the negative..

;)
 
You can avoid 90% of the needles and feces if you avoid the Tenderloin and the areas around the 16th and Mission St. BART station. Union Square, while nowhere near as gross as the aforementioned places, can also be skipped since it's all tourists and street hucksters trying to sell you on tours.
 
I hate to break it to you, but that hood has gentrified. When I moved to the bay area I worked in the area (2011) and you'd have wade threw sea of junkies when you got off BART. Now, it's sorority sisters on their morning run and $10 burger places.

NaChase said:
\the areas around the 16th and Mission St. BART station.
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San Francisco is a great city, and no different from all others dealing with 21st century problems. I live in Oakland and go into The City frequently to photograph, visit galleries, eat at a truly amazing variety of restaurants. SF is a GREAT city for anyone that likes walking and letting adventure happen. I consider the SF Bay Area to be one of the great metropolitan cities of the world.
 
i haven't been to SF since 1970 or so. My main memory, now, is of Steve McQueen tearing around town in a 1967 Mustang in the movie "Bullitt."

Jim B.
 
Not much help now, but SF was a fun place in 1990. I spent the summer there with a friend and lived by hanging off the end of a rope to paint the detail trim on Brownstone restorations. We hit every nightspot that would let us in (we were the wrong gender for some of them). Oh, to be young again.:cool:

Homeless was apparent back then and certainly not a good sign, but it was nothing, nothing, like it is now. Poop and needles were scarce (I don't remember any)

My last drive through SF was eye-opening. Much change in some parts, but I see the exact same disheartening process happening in Portland OR and even my small-ish town in the mid Willamette Valley. Doesn't jive with the economic/jobs propaganda I hear from the current US administration. The homeless problem is unteneble. I fear for the future.

But enough negativity. SF can still be fun and magical. Just keep your wits about you and keep the bank account topped off. If The Tap Room is still there (on Mission? Market? not far from the Warfield), I highly recommend a visit. Best jazz I've ever heard live, ever. I fear its no longer in existence though. A quick Google turned up nothing. Not John's Grill, this place was upstairs and cozy. Too bad, I think its gone.
 
wjlapier said:
It's been a long time since I was in SF--I worked there for one year and walked everywhere until I found a bike then rode all over the place. I lived in a downtown hotel ( kinda like a studio ) near the Tenderloin district. 1988. My wife is going to a conference in November and staying at the Hilton--the same one I worked at for a year. All I read is how there is human feces and hypodermic needles everywhere. Tents in city parks. Those that live and work there how bad is it really? I'd like to go and explore on my on while the wife is in conference but not sure I want to step over and around poop and needles.

Thinking of taking my Fujifilm GSW680III and X100.
Click to expand...

I lived in SF 1988 to 1991, and loved it. Still do. I live 45 miles south of it now, and get there regularly. It's a big city, like all big cities, and a living organism that humans inhabit. Parts of it are nicer now than they were when I lived there, other parts are on the downslide part of the curve and are worse.

I don't let the dirty, nasty parts bother me and explore wherever I feel like. There are plenty of places to go that are beautiful and pretty, if that's what you're after, and there are plenty of places to go that are sad and dangerous, showing the worst of human misery in every needle and turd on the ground.

This is the human condition: it is not always beautiful and safe, but it is alive and vibrant, messy with the business of living. It changes all the time.
  • Don't dress like a target. Don't leave things where they can be stolen. Don't wave your wealth around like a flag to call attention to yourself.
  • Carry your belongings with ease and without ostentation.
  • Make photographs like a professional, not like a tourist.
  • Smile at people when you catch their attention, no matter their look or circumstance, and treat them like human beings. It is often true that the poor and the miserable are kinder and friendlier than the wealthy folks who avert their eye to the misery of others.
I love San Francisco and go there as often as I can to wander and see what it offers. I haven't gone to any of the tourist areas in a double decade.

G
 
Godfrey said:
This is the human condition: it is not always beautiful and safe, but it is alive and vibrant, messy with the business of living. It changes all the time.
  • Don't dress like a target. Don't leave things where they can be stolen. Don't wave your wealth around like a flag to call attention to yourself.
  • Carry your belongings with ease and without ostentation.
  • Make photographs like a professional, not like a tourist.
  • Smile at people when you catch their attention, no matter their look or circumstance, and treat them like human beings. It is often true that the poor and the miserable are kinder and friendlier than the wealthy folks who avert their eye to the misery of others.
G
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This is so eloquently stated, I just had to repeat it here (quote). This really nails my approach when visiting and photographing in urban areas (and rural too!). Each point in Godfrey's list is a genuine nugget.

Thanks Godfrey. Some folks just have a way of communicating effectively.
 
I went to San Francisco five or so years ago on business. Only had one day to explore the city with my camera. Great walking town. Never felt threatened. Never stepped in feces or got poked by a needle.

Go and explore and have a good time.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
San Francisco is a great city, and no different from all others dealing with 21st century problems. I live in Oakland and go into The City frequently to photograph, visit galleries, eat at a truly amazing variety of restaurants. SF is a GREAT city for anyone that likes walking and letting adventure happen. I consider the SF Bay Area to be one of the great metropolitan cities of the world.
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I completely agree.

As someone who spends a lot of time when I'm there in the Mission (which as mentioned is rapidly gentrifying), The Tenderloin Fillmore and Soma, ALWAYS with gear, I'm sure you could get into trouble if you wanted to, but it's also very easy not to.

Treat people like human beings and you'll be fine.
 
BlackXList said:
I completely agree.

As someone who spends a lot of time when I'm there in the Mission (which as mentioned is rapidly gentrifying), The Tenderloin Fillmore and Soma, ALWAYS with gear, I'm sure you could get into trouble if you wanted to, but it's also very easy not to.

Treat people like human beings and you'll be fine.
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Yep... well said.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
I live in Oakland and go into The City frequently to photograph, visit galleries, eat at a truly amazing variety of restaurants. SF is a GREAT city for anyone that likes walking and letting adventure happen.
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Everyone, carefull who you trust on here. Since Jamie started going to SF, there's been a rise in needles and poop. I'll let folks draw their own conclusions....
 
Huss said:
San Fran is not as it was. But it is still great. Marina, Presidio, Palace of Fine Arts, Embarcadero, Chinatown, North Beach, ferry to Sausalito etc.

I visit as often as I can, and always bring 'some' gear. One camera, one lens would make things much easier.

Just make sure you take Provia or Velvia so you can focus on the positive, not the negative..

;)
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I probably visit three or so times a year and walk a good bit in much the same areas.

Never been threatened or in danger but there are brief occasions on Muni or the streets that feel uncomfortable.

Always something visually interesting for the photographer, but also tend to get back onto the Larkspur ferry with a disturbing social taint in mind at the end of each day.
 
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