Sunday, October 12, 2025

Recent Polaroids

 

Six monochrome Polaroids of architecture
On October 5th, I took the last three packages of Polaroid film for my SX-70 out of the fridge, and went for a long walk through North Beach and out to Fort Mason before the heat got to me, and I returned home.

The heat appears to have gotten to my film as well, as the newer era of integral films seems to change sensitivity in heat.

I went out today, in similar conditions, using the same settings, and had different results - and had to adjust my exposure settings significantly.

Images of 18 monochrome Polaroids and three dark slides displayed on a table
Setting the dark wheel to my preferred settings (25% darker) got me... very underexposed images despite well lit subjects.  This was a shock, considering my results on the 5th.  I also had a couple images which had odd streaking...  but the rest came out more like I was hoping.  So I figured it out with the last two in one cartridge, and the entire last cartridge.  Note that the camera tried in that last image for make the details of the building come out despite the dark palm tree shadow - it wants to show the texture on the white wall, and I love it for trying that!

The heat got to me again, but I lasted longer this time, and even got to see some of the (non-US-military) airshow.



International Orange (Bridge and Round House)

 

Two images: Golden Gate Bridge from the East, and Round House painted to match
It still feels funny to call a shade of red orange, but it is a very specific shade of red, so...

Young gulls in conversation

 

Two images of two seagulls, one with wings spread
A birdwatcher friend tried to explain how young gulls have very different plumage, and it isn't worth figuring out what they'll be until their mature feathers come in.  But the patterns are pleasing - look at their tails!

Sunday afternoon, Stables and Crissy Field Area, Presidio National Park

 

I love those stables!  In black and white, especially - some of my nicest black and white, handmade darkroom prints are of this building...  And who can resist the festive colors of these buildings with fancy roofs?  NO ONE CAN, I'm telling you.

Halloween enthusiasm (8 October 2025)

 

Photo of inflatable spaceship abducting cow
This neighbor is COMMITTED.

Early morning moon (7 October 2025)

 

Two images: utility poles and wires plus the moon, and a close up of the moon
My phone generally refuses to photograph any features of the moon, but in the low light of early morning, it surprised me by remembering what infinity is from its small-aperture point of view.

Other colorful scenes (5 October 2025)

 

Two color images: jewelry shop window and graffiti

Colors and other house frosting (5 October 2025)

 

Apartment building details and pleasant shades of blue, gray, pale green, and teal
So many colors!

Signs of North Beach part(ial) 3 (5 October 2025)

 

Three color images: neon sign for Columbus cafe, plus facade details from local wooden residential buildings
Another neon sign, plus the surfaces of wooden residential buildings typical of San Francisco...  It's a well-textured neighborhood.

Signs of North Beach part 2 (5 October 2025)

 

Three neon signs: Golden Boy Pizza, Original (Joe's), and Gino and Carlo's
It was good to be out early, with clear light from the East.

Signs of North Beach part 1 (5 October 2025)

 

Neon signs by day: Tosca, Tupelo, Sodini's
Old neon in North Beach.

Facets and Geometry (4 October 2025)

 

Trays of colorful succulent plants, plus the heavily faceted upper corners of downtown buildings in a collage of three color images
So many shapes to enjoy...

SF Chinatown Signs in color (4 October 2025)

 

Five images from SF's Chinatown, including a faded neon sign, neon "Gifts" with clouds, a freshly painted red and yellow sign for Near Eastern Bakery, the wooden sign for the same, and hanging lanterns in front of a tourist shop
I love the old neon most, but the new, brightly colored signs (in wood or metal) are also welcome!

Orange October (1 October 2025)

 

Two images of a distant orange sky beneath layers of clouds, with the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge in the Foreground of the top image, and ships with distant hills in the second
I continue to have feelings about posting content in the era of AI-theft, but... the world is still beautiful, and I'm still photographing it relentlessly.  So I'll at least post some collages (which I'm pretending are harder to work with, because the images are smaller).

The sunrises have been autumn-themed, just as they should be!