Rays through the Clouds (22 October 2025)

A little drama is nice.  No, I mean in landscapes -  I could use less of it otherwise! 

One Market Spaces (21 October 2025)

While I am not entirely joking about being a location scout for a friend who is getting into photography, I did scope out this space online, and then go with A & K on a little field trip after work to pass through this on our commute home.  SOM (Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill) designed this interesting space between three buildings, turning it into one of those sheltered private/public spaces that would have THRIVED in the pre-COVID era...

I'll be back when I can get the lighting right, which may require waiting until spring.

Gingko leaf with seasonal vibes (19 October 2025)

 Do I take photos out of bus windows?  Yes.

DJ John Robinson at Madarae (18 October 2025)

My Saturday night was colorful!  A colleague brought me and a friend to Madarae to dance the night away to fun old school music (including music that was only popular in the Philippines, which I was unfamiliar with, but which was fun to hear). 

RESIST! (18 October 2025)

The No Kings protests of October 18, 2025 were massive - and very pleasant.  I've posted photos of the great costumes elsewhere, so I won't repeat myself here.

Puffy Clouds (14 - 15 October 2025)

 We've had some storms, and the clouds that came with them have been impressive.

Recent Polaroids

 

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.

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)

 

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

 

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)

 

This neighbor is COMMITTED.

Early morning moon (7 October 2025)

 

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)

 

Colors and other house frosting (5 October 2025)

 

So many colors!

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

 

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)

 

It was good to be out early, with clear light from the East.

Signs of North Beach part 1 (5 October 2025)

 

Old neon in North Beach.

Facets and Geometry (4 October 2025)

 

So many shapes to enjoy...

SF Chinatown Signs in color (4 October 2025)

 

I love the old neon most, but the new, brightly colored signs (in wood or metal) are also welcome!

Orange October (1 October 2025)

 

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!