Why I love San Francisco

furbs

furbs

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I have lived in San Francisco for nearly six years, but only got around to photographing the city recently. I put together something of a photo essay to convey my love of the city's uniqueness - thirty photos made with five cameras over six months, March to September of this year. I may post the photos individually here with commentary a la Chris Crawford, but for now here's a link to the photos on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furbs/sets/72157636675818766/

Thoughts, comments and critique, as always, are appreciated :D
 
Great shots. Really making me miss the Bay right now.

Especially like the instant winner and the fog rolling in over the Transamerica pyramid.
 
shadesofgris said:
Great shots. Really making me miss the Bay right now.

Especially like the instant winner and the fog rolling in over the Transamerica pyramid.
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Thanks! I'm thinking of leaving SF myself - yet this city is so hard to leave! I didn't include this photo in the photoset, so here's a new one.


Untitled by ffurbss, on Flickr

I met Bill a block from my home, the sun setting behind him and melting into the distant canopies of Golden Gate Park. He was nursing a Budweiser and we got to talking - we talked for over a half hour, and I took this photo of him long after the sun set. It is probably the last photo anyone took of him; he died a few days later. A month or two prior he'd finally received a $150,000 cash settlement from the US military. He split it between his mother and two brothers and didn't keep any for himself. He didn't tell me any of this, but I learned of these things after he passed away.
 
furbs said:
That's seemed out of reach, but after checking out the link in your signature, it actually looks quite reasonable!
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Sure it is.
I think they came up with a cheaper option for B&W photobooks.
If nothing, make one for yourself.
Years from now you'd cherish it even more.
 
It's funny that I recognize some of the people in your photographs.

I also love SF. Well. I hate it and love it at the same time. Here are some shots explaining why.











I don't mean to threadjack with my own pictures but I think it would be cool to have a San Francisco dedicated thread (if that doesn't exist yet).

Either way, your post was inspiring.
 
Nice set you have growing there. You are much more engaged with the people than I am. I hadn't quite thought of my own work as being about SF, but looking over it, almost all of it is from here. I won't crowd this up with more photos, but here's one-

p174481719-4.jpg


And many more sets- http://dandaniel.zenfolio.com/
 
Skulls Road said:
I don't mean to threadjack with my own pictures but I think it would be cool to have a San Francisco dedicated thread (if that doesn't exist yet).

Either way, your post was inspiring.
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Thank you! I liked your shots too, they represent the city well. And I don't see why others shouldn't post their San Francisco photos in this thread. The more the merrier!
 

Instant Winner by ffurbss, on Flickr

I shot this on Haight street while walking to a street festival in the Castro district during Pride weekend. It ended up as my submission to the photo contest we had on RFF a few months back. I usually don't title my photos, but I called this one "Instant Winner" because the man was scratching off an instant lottery ticket. I used to avoid taking candids of people I don't know, but using a small camera (M4) and being discrete helps to ease my self-conscious worries. Shooting on the street takes me far outside the comfort zone of my Midwestern upbringing!
 

Untitled by ffurbss, on Flickr

I met this couple at this year's 13th Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. I've been to the festival a few times and it never fails to satisfy - free music, friendly folks, and a relaxed atmosphere. This couple was originally from Chicago, where I was born, and I recognized that they'd just recently moved here by their slightly perplexed reaction to some of the wacky locals. Soon enough they'll take it all in stride like most of us do.
 
35mmdelux said:
I have fond memories growing up in Castro Valley long before it became internationally renown. It was a quite neighborhood in those days -
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I did not know that Castro Valley was internationally renown. I thought the international renown was associated with the Castro neighborhood in SF. :)
 
Very cool photos of Haight street. I live four blocks from Haight and your shots portray it well, Steve.


Untitled by ffurbss, on Flickr

I think I've photographed Frank Chu with every camera I've owned in the past year - this one was with the Rolleiflex on a warm day. Frank and I have become good friends over the years and I always stop to talk with him for a while when I run into him around town. His signs are different every day. You can learn more about him on his Wikipedia page.
 
Bingley said:
I did not know that Castro Valley was internationally renown. I thought the international renown was associated with the Castro neighborhood in SF. :)
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My bad. I meant the Castro District in SF. Some of my best memories growing up on 18th Street. Thanks -
 
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