Photo Ops in Oakland-Berkeley area (Page 2): Yes be careful in Oakland always I had two Brothers Murdered in Oakland in 1986 6 months apart and it hasn't gotten any better I grew up...

Redron Loc: Fairfield. California

Yes be careful in Oakland always I had two Brothers Murdered in Oakland in 1986 6 months apart and it hasn't gotten any better I grew up there
Join Meetup Groups An App for that and on the Internet Put in Photography and the Bay Area and you'll find tons of groups and ideas. Berkeley Botanical Gardens in nice and Free 1st Wed of every Month. SF Ferry Building and walk to pier 39 Photo opp SF Zoo SF Museums
Meetup has a lot more ideas than I can think of right now

Redron Loc: Fairfield. California

I'm looking for a nice lady around my age 66

architect Loc: Chattanooga

If you like nature, the Lake Merritt area is great for waterfowl, as well as people watching and downtown buildings.

Any of the East Bay Regional Parks are wonderful, Tilden, Redwood, Sibley, Huckleberry, Hayward, etc. Also Joaquin Miller Park. Plan on hiking an hour or two in each of them.
There are some great views of Mt. Diablo from Sibley Volcanic Preserve. http://www.ebparks.org/

The Emeryville waterfront has some great views of the bridges and San Francisco. Also the Middle Harbor Shoreline Park next to the estuary in Oakland.

I lived in Oakland for over 30 years and experienced very little crime. It depends entirely on the neighborhood.

Redwood Regional Park

Mt. Diablo from Sibley Volcanic Preserve

Middle Harbor Shoreline on Estuary

Sweetpea19

If you go to the Cathedral of the Light, you will be near Lake Merritt and there are plenty of photo ops there. There is a rose garden in Oakland, too,(700 Jean St.) and in recent years it has been maintained much better than the Berkeley Rose Garden. I went to the Berkeley one last week and it is sad to see how far it has deteriorated without the care it needs.
Off Redwood Rd. in the Oakland Hills is Redwood Regional Park where you can walk through a lovely redwood grove. Check out the East Bay Regional Parks website for all the local parks including the botanical garden within Tilden Park.
Despite its lousy reputation, there are many beautiful places in Oakland, and lots of wonderful people. Enjoy your stay!

photog11 Loc: San Francisco

I'm assuming you really want local stuff: Berkeley Marina, Point Isabel (Richmond), Tilden Park (Berkeley). We have great weather just now. Enjoy.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

If you cross the Golden Gate to Marin, I think it's the very first turnoff that leads to a large parking area and a beautiful view overlooking the GG Bridge and SF skyline. Nearby is San Quentin, but I'm not sure about their photo policy. Highway 1 heading north is Gorgeous with many scenic views and overlooks. Muir Woods and other Redwood forests are close by and very pretty. And pretty much everything heading north from SF is pretty. Napa and the wine country is not far away, either.

GaryS1964 Loc: Northern California

Checkout the foothills above Oakland. The area around Lake Merritt. My son recently started working at the Oakland International Airport which is part of the Port of Oakland. He said the views from that area at night are amazing. I believe there is a public part north of the airport.

Check out Gilroy Gardens.

Word of caution. Don't just start wandering around Oakland. Much of it is a high crime area.

DJ Mills Loc: Idaho

Mormon temple. It also provides an incredible panorama of the bay area.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

daf40 wrote:

I'll be spending about 6 weeks in the Oakland area. I'm looking for recommendations for "photo ops" in the East Bay area. (I've got San Francisco and the coastline north and south covered.)

Depends on your interests. There are always multiple fairs and markets going on in Berkeley. Lots of photo locations on Angel Island. There are also some great locations in Tilden Park. If you are looking for "gritty" there are some great photo ops in Oakland Chinatown. In downtown Oakland is also the Oakland Museum of California. Very worthwhile. There are a lot of old military buildings in Alameda. Also the port of Oakland has interesting stuff.

Another area to check might be Mare Island. Lots of old ships and ship rebuilding. Again old abandoned military buildings, and a museum.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Los-Angeles-Shooter wrote:

If you cross the Golden Gate to Marin, I think it's the very first turnoff that leads to a large parking area and a beautiful view overlooking the GG Bridge and SF skyline. Nearby is San Quentin, but I'm not sure about their photo policy. Highway 1 heading north is Gorgeous with many scenic views and overlooks. Muir Woods and other Redwood forests are close by and very pretty. And pretty much everything heading north from SF is pretty. Napa and the wine country is not far away, either.

Photographing the prison from outside the gates or aboard the ferry is OK. There is also the town of San Quentin which has some interesting views.

Spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge if you cross into Marin, then turn off and go back under the freeway. Turn left on Alexander and then uphill on Conzelman Rd. Lots of old gun emplacements, Kirby beach, views of GGB, ships and boats going through the "gate". Keep going and you will find some amazing old WWII ruins.

Another good photo op is the Bay Model in Sausalito. They have reproduced the whole bay in one large building. Every part of the Bay floor is there with the underwater "hills" and valleys (I don't remember the scale). They use it to research the effects of changes in water flow or what happens when someone dumps chemicals in the Bay, or someone proposes to do landfill (Or do dredge). Really fascinating and opportunities for spectacular photographs.

rebride

Yeah, take a Ferry ride. From Alameda/Oakland to SF at the beginning of Market Street, straight to a Giants game (docks at the stadium), or even Angel Island.
Ride the BART. Even just a ride out to Walnut Creek and back. Very scenic part of Contra Costa.
If you are going to do much public transportation get a Clipper Card. You can buy them most anywhere. Works for all the various bay area systems.

Photocraig

Be sure to chack out Galen Rowell's book, "Bay Area Wild." Galen grew up and lived in Berkeley until he moved to the Estern Sierra.

Be sure to visit the Claremont Resort at sunset time for a cocktail or dinner. The grounds are fantastic, and it sports something San Francisco cannot: A spectacular view of San Francisco. There isn't a better long range unobstructed view of the skyline and a straight shot out the Golden gate.

Bring an empty card and full battery(ies). And enjoy a great dinner there too. Ask about the story of how the woman measured the distance from the UC campus to be greater than 1 mile, and therefore exempt of the Alcohol Prohibition within the mile perimeter, earned her young self free drinks for life.

C

Graeme Loc: El Cerrito, California

toma1940 wrote:

Oakland is a dangerous place at night if you don't know the city -

Sadly the same can be said for some places in almost any city. Remaining "streetwise" is a good motto for travelers and photographers.

Robeng Loc: California

daf40 wrote:

I'll be spending about 6 weeks in the Oakland area. I'm looking for recommendations for "photo ops" in the East Bay area. (I've got San Francisco and the coastline north and south covered.)

Personally I don't think there's much in Oakland to photograph and its a dangerous place at night. I mean that being a law enforcement officer there from 1987 to 1992. If I was to photograph anything it would be Jack London Square and the cemetery on Piedmont Avenue.
If you need anything, feel free to contact me.

the hiker Loc: San Diego

p/u the book San Francisco & Northern California by Andrew Hudson. page 204 covers Oakland and the book covers everything in and around that area,it is a great book for the whole area.price $17.00 new probley pick it up used even cheaper on Amazon.hope you have a great trip.