Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

I will be driving to San Francisco Sept. 8 and spending 4 nights there. My accommodation is right outside the Presidio of San Francisco. Does anyone have any special photo spots to recommend. I want to stay inside the city area and not venture too far from the city center except to drive across the Golden Gate and see some of the sites for one of the days. I will have a Golden Retriever with me so that might limit access to some areas. Also, I will be driving in to the city from the north going around Sacramento on a Sunday evening. Is there a best route to take to get in to San Francisco avoiding as many traffic jams as possible? Thanks for any advice in advance!

fehutch Loc: gulfport, ms

Driving south across the. Golden Gate Bridge will take you right into the presidio district. Might be only quick way into the city from the north. Google it but I’m pretty sure since I was born there. Enjoy and bring money unless you are a senior citizen. You will find that having a car in the city is way more expensive than public transport. We went back in 2006 and 2007. Flew in and took the bus - cable cars. Parking is $$$$ and driving is worse. Good luck and there’s a bus stop on every corner and they run 20 minutes apart. Do some serious research. It can be an easy thing. Car and dog, not so sure... good luck.

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

Thanks! Are there any special spots for some scenic photography? I have looked at a few areas on the internet for views of the Golden Gate Bridge and know I will need the car.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

The Presidio is not the center of the city, but you can go across the Golden Gate and see the views from the Marin headlands of the bay, SF and Alcatraz. The Pacific Coast hiway has beaches for dogs and many dogs take their people there to enjoy. The Golden Gate Park is a fun place you can enjoy with your dog, not so much if you want to see the aquarium or other museums.
You might google dog friendly attractions in SF and go from there.

Traveling from SF to Sacramento means driving on I80 and crossover the bay bridge heading east. It's impossible to predict when and where traffic jams will happen, unless you re in weekday commute times. Avoiding that rout would mean going out of your way to cross a northern or south to east bridge and subject you to the same chances of a back up. On Sunday evening, you would do best going bay bridge straight to Sacramento on Interstate 80

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

I will be staying at the Lodge at the Presidio that has some pretty nice views of the Golden Gate and the bay. After a couple of sight seeing days I pick up a second Golden Retriever flying in from Turkey.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

A place in SF that takes dogs might end up being one of the best things I've learned on this site! I was just on Mt. Tamalpais about a week ago. The fog rolls in toward the evening, or sometimes is always there I guess, and you can get a nice sunset shot of the fog layered above and around the hills. From the east of Mt. Tam you can get a long, far-away view of SF (good for a pano). You can also drive to the Stinson Beach area to the north on Hwy. 101. This is a fun coastal area, you just drive along and stop when you see something. Summer is not the best time to shoot in California but you might get something. I don't shoot around there a lot and a friend took a couple of us around so I cannot give you actual streets or directions regarding Mt. Tam. Do be careful in the city with your equipment at all times. I'm impressed about the dog flying in from Turkey!! Some examples from my shoot.

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jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Great about your new addition coming, hope he speaks English!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You should be aware that Golden Gate has a lot of fog especially in the morning.

fehutch Loc: gulfport, ms

Google maps -satellite view. Look for Golden Gate Post Card View point. Map looks confusing, but I walked from Broderick St to the View Point in about an hour tops. Then went up to the plaza for pix. Only a few flower shots. Too much traffic. Google satellite view out onto the bridge and work your way back. You will see pedestrian traffic and bikes. But no cars other than what is going though the toll plaza. Took my bridge pic from the post card site. May now be the visitor center.

Newer map looks like you can drive to the VC on Lincoln Blvd coming from your lodgings. Looks different than what I remember but 12 years ago... lots of grass and picnic area along the water. Dog friendly as I remember. Post Card View Point is short walk from VC via Battery E Trail. Hope this helps.

fehutch Loc: gulfport, ms

Regarding your trip into San Fran: if you take I80 all the way, you will cross the bay bridge and have to drive through San Francisco to get to the Presidio. It is possible to avoid this and enter from the north on 101 and over the Golden Gate. This will add about 20 miles to your trip but avoid driving through the city.

To do this,Take I80 out of Sacramento to highway 580. Probably labeled to San Quentin or San Rafael. This is a toll road... you will cross San Rafael Bay. When you hit land turn onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd (should be labeled “To 101.”) Short drive to US101. Turn South and there you go. Check this out on a current highway map. I grew up in the San Rafael area and this how I would go..

Lot of traffic on the bay bridge and the city driving is a nightmare to me.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

She is coming from Washington State, then going to Sacramento and then returning to SF?

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I live right next to Golden Gate Park, and I've been photographing in there for 30 years, and I'm always finding new things. Just got back from the Botanical Garden there.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

It sounds like she is traveling I-5 South from Washington, into Sacramento, where she will take I-80 West to SF. Likely going back the same way.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Hawks Hill just across the bridge is where those iconic photos are taken. There are several spots where you can stop to take photos from above the bridge. The best shot may be taken at the lowest level which requires a little hike to get to the viewpoint. The higher spots offer views just off the roadway but all have some kind of rock outcropping that you'll have to work around to get a good shot. However, each spot offers its own unique view of the bridge. I'm not sure about taking your dog on this, but we took a tour boat out of pier 39 into the bay, around Alcatraz and through the bridge. Note: Be sure to get good directions on how to get to Hawks Hill. It's kind of tricky and if you miss the turn you'll lose time trying to find your way.

A must do while in S.F. is to take a drive down Lombard Street, the windiest street in the world, or at least the country. Perhaps another would be to get a photo of the painted houses. It's tough to get a parking spot, though. Interestingly, there are some great painted houses in the Haight/Ashbury area.

Another thing that you might do is check out the locations used to film the movie Vertigo. They should provide some good places to photograph. Watch the movie and you'll understand. The mission, ofc, would be primo.

My experience in S.F. was that when I was going to turn on a green light, if I waited for people crossing the street, I'd get honked at. And it would always be a Prius.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots to choose from.

https://www.thephotoargus.com/san-francisco-photo-locations/
https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/a-guide-to-great-photography-locations/
https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/san-francisco/most-instagrammed-places-in-san-francisco
https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/best-photo-spots-san-francisco/