Some advice for San Francisco trip?

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Hi,

There are a few places I can think of, but first I have to assume that you have a car to go around.

1) Art Muzeum. Lot's of interesting stone sculpture and very nice dome shaped building.

2) Piers 99 at Embarcadero Street. You can take the seals that sun basks there at all day long. Also, there are lots of interesting shops around there.
There also a submarine that's permanently berthed at one of the port nearby.

3) San Rafael. Prime residential area along the bay(I think). It's located at across the Golden Gate bridge.

4) There's a very nice old church and the gov building that looks like capitol building along one of the major street, can't remember the name. Could be Van Ness Street.

Beluga

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

sf is great for pictures:

(1) palace of fine arts http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/

(2) crissy field http://www.crissyfield.org/html/welcome.html

(3) twin peaks

(4) Alamo Sq.

here is a good website for places to go

http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Scenic_SF.html

SR

beluga said:

There are a few places I can think of, but first I have to assume
that you have a car to go around.
1) Art Muzeum. Lot's of interesting stone sculpture and very nice
dome shaped building.
2) Piers 99 at Embarcadero Street. You can take the seals that sun
basks there at all day long. Also, there are lots of interesting
shops around there.
There also a submarine that's permanently berthed at one of the
port nearby.
3) San Rafael. Prime residential area along the bay(I think). It's
located at across the Golden Gate bridge.
4) There's a very nice old church and the gov building that looks
like capitol building along one of the major street, can't remember
the name. Could be Van Ness Street.

Beluga

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hey folks.. thanks for the ideas! I'll start making a list of good places to go and try to hit them, and on the way from one to another I'll just meander. Who knows what else I'll come across I'll set up a gallery when i get back also in case I end up with some really interesting ones.

Anyone have any comments/suggestions about the tripod/monopod?

Thanks!

sillyrabbitt123 said:

(1) palace of fine arts http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/

(2) crissy field http://www.crissyfield.org/html/welcome.html

(3) twin peaks

(4) Alamo Sq.

here is a good website for places to go

http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Scenic_SF.html

SR

beluga said:

There are a few places I can think of, but first I have to assume
that you have a car to go around.
1) Art Muzeum. Lot's of interesting stone sculpture and very nice
dome shaped building.
2) Piers 99 at Embarcadero Street. You can take the seals that sun
basks there at all day long. Also, there are lots of interesting
shops around there.
There also a submarine that's permanently berthed at one of the
port nearby.
3) San Rafael. Prime residential area along the bay(I think). It's
located at across the Golden Gate bridge.
4) There's a very nice old church and the gov building that looks
like capitol building along one of the major street, can't remember
the name. Could be Van Ness Street.

Beluga

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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Click to expand...

greyris said:

Anyone have any comments/suggestions about the tripod/monopod?

Thanks!

sillyrabbitt123 said:

sf is great for pictures:

(1) palace of fine arts http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/

(2) crissy field http://www.crissyfield.org/html/welcome.html

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I agree strongly with Crissy Field. Start at the base or Market Street and walk around towards Fisherman's Wharf, on to Fort Mason, Crissy Field, detour hrough the Palace of Fine Arts, ending up eventually at Fort Point underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Short detours just west of Fisherman's Wharf to the Cannery and Ghilardelli Square are also good.

I would bring a tripod myself, and there are decent ones out there that are light and come with carrying cases.
--
Steve
Canon G2, Mac OS X, Epson 785EPX

no, i wouldn't bring a tripod/monopod to SF.
too much trouble in a city to set up tripod, etc.

having said that, though...
don't forgot at night, you can drive to treasure island for a
view of the nighttime SF skyline.

if you really need to steady the camera, you can always
set the camera on some bench, stone, or garbage can
and use self-timer. Or if you really want a tripod,
you can also get one of those tiny 6-inch tripods.

greyris said:

Hey folks.. thanks for the ideas! I'll start making a list of good
places to go and try to hit them, and on the way from one to
another I'll just meander. Who knows what else I'll come across
I'll set up a gallery when i get back also in case I end up with
some really interesting ones.

Anyone have any comments/suggestions about the tripod/monopod?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

If the Sutro Baths are still there, they are a good example of urban ruins - an old turn-of-the-century waterpark which burned and was destroyed by storms. The foundations are still there, mixed with the cliffs, collecting seawater in the concrete foundations. Kind of cool. Its up on the north-west corner of the peninsula, you'll see it on your left if you drive up 1, past the beach after you start going up the hill towards the Golden Gate. Its right past the restaurant on the cliff (Cliff House?). Also right there is the Museum Mechanique (sp?) which is a working arcade of old amusement machines, such as those old motorized diaramas and player pianos etc. There is a large camera obscura there too (dark room with a pinhole in the roof, projecting an image of the outside waves and surf onto a screen).

I haven't been there in a few years so some of these things might be gone now.

greyris said:

Anyone have any comments/suggestions about the tripod/monopod?

Thanks!

sillyrabbitt123 said:

(1) palace of fine arts http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/

(2) crissy field http://www.crissyfield.org/html/welcome.html

(3) twin peaks

(4) Alamo Sq.

here is a good website for places to go

http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Scenic_SF.html

SR

beluga said:

There are a few places I can think of, but first I have to assume
that you have a car to go around.
1) Art Muzeum. Lot's of interesting stone sculpture and very nice
dome shaped building.
2) Piers 99 at Embarcadero Street. You can take the seals that sun
basks there at all day long. Also, there are lots of interesting
shops around there.
There also a submarine that's permanently berthed at one of the
port nearby.
3) San Rafael. Prime residential area along the bay(I think). It's
located at across the Golden Gate bridge.
4) There's a very nice old church and the gov building that looks
like capitol building along one of the major street, can't remember
the name. Could be Van Ness Street.

Beluga

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Get the monopod. It will be worth it (effectively increases your ISO by 2-3 stops). It's lightweight, easy to store & set up & it can double as a walking stick.

Also, by using your camera's timer and a monopod, you can increase your effective arm length to shoot those hard to reach subjects.

And DO get a good mini-tripod, as well. Also, if your digicam has a fixed LCD, a small mirror will come in handy for those times when you want to soot from the ground up, but don't want to get down on your belly.

BTW, If you happen to be in SF on a weekend, make sure to visit a STREET FAIR/FESTIVAL. They have some very good ones almost every weekend in the summer. Lot's of good people shots to be had.

Just remember, it's a tourist town where camera toting plebes are a common sight--so don't be shy about shooting everything & everyone around you.

I'm from SF and I've got some tips for you.

1. Don't refer to San Francisco as Frisco.
2. Don't wear shorts. Only tourist wear shorts in San Francisco. Even in July.

3. Bring a tripod. It's the best tool to improve your shots. Taking the time to setup a tripod is a plus. With a tripod, you will learn a lot more about composition than just firing away aimlessly.

4. Sun rises from the Bay side and sets on the beach side. Time your shots accordingly.
5. There are no working fishermans in Fishermans' Wharf. Just tourist.
6. Shoot like a tourist from this list:

Pier 39, Chinatown-Grant Street, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf, Cable cars.
7. Shoot like a local from this list:

Chinatown-Stockton Street, SFMOMA (Museum-Yoko Ono opening June 22), Metreon area, churches and murals in the Mission district, victorian house in the Haight and Castro, new city hall (especially the interior), Pac Bell Park (Baseball stadium), the new and improved Crissy Fields, top of Nob Hill, Legion of Honor, vintage street cars on Market St.

Don't eat at any chain restaurants. Eat only at local restaurants. You will not find a larger selection of international food anywhere in the world. You can always at McDonalds when you get home. But can you find an Ethiopian restaurant where you're from?

Here's some sample shots:

http://www.pbase.com/grablife

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

--
Check out the web's most extensive Canon G2 vs Nikon CP5000 comparison at:
http://www.igrablife.com/digitalphoto

If you use http://www.pbase.com , please support them by making a small donation at http://www.pbase.com/support

For the last time, the Canon G2 DOES NOT need a circular polarizer. Stop wasting your money. Send it to me instead.

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take shots from the overlooks in the Marin Headlands...incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the entrance into San Francisco Bay...there is a beautiful drive along the coast..it is used in many car commercials.

Dan

Grablife said:

1. Don't refer to San Francisco as Frisco.
2. Don't wear shorts. Only tourist wear shorts in San Francisco.
Even in July.
3. Bring a tripod. It's the best tool to improve your shots. Taking
the time to setup a tripod is a plus. With a tripod, you will learn
a lot more about composition than just firing away aimlessly.
4. Sun rises from the Bay side and sets on the beach side. Time
your shots accordingly.
5. There are no working fishermans in Fishermans' Wharf. Just tourist.
6. Shoot like a tourist from this list:
Pier 39, Chinatown-Grant Street, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge,
Twin Peaks, Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf, Cable cars.
7. Shoot like a local from this list:
Chinatown-Stockton Street, SFMOMA (Museum-Yoko Ono opening June
22), Metreon area, churches and murals in the Mission district,
victorian house in the Haight and Castro, new city hall (especially
the interior), Pac Bell Park (Baseball stadium), the new and
improved Crissy Fields, top of Nob Hill, Legion of Honor, vintage
street cars on Market St.

Don't eat at any chain restaurants. Eat only at local restaurants.
You will not find a larger selection of international food anywhere
in the world. You can always at McDonalds when you get home. But
can you find an Ethiopian restaurant where you're from?

Here's some sample shots:

http://www.pbase.com/grablife

greyris said:

Hiya folks.. I just got a G2 a few days ago (yeah!) to jumpstart my
upcoming photography hobby.

Soooo.. I have 2 questions for people. I'm going to be running
around San Francisco in mid-July for a week with friends, and a few
of those days I'll be mostly by myself. So I'll be running around
looking for those really awesome shots.

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities? I was
there a few years ago, and plan to hit the big touristy stuff of
course (the bridge, alcatraz, lombard street, etc) But what are
some other neat places to go that'll be interesting from a
photography perspective?

The other question is equipment. I haven't gotten a tripod yet. I'm
debating on whether or not to get one to take around with me while
I'm there.. on one hand it would help stabilize the camera for some
pictures, but it's added bulk to lug around and there's the added
setup/take down times. If YOU were heading to SF and going to run
around for a few hours taking pictures, would you take a tripod? On
the flip side, how about a monopod? I've never used one, and the
idea seems sound. Plus they're smaller and quicker to setup. Think
it'd be beneficial to get one and take it, or just use the camera
by itself? Or a tripod?

Thanks for any tips advice, on either question. Take care all!

-Mike

Click to expand...

--
Check out the web's most extensive Canon G2 vs Nikon CP5000
comparison at:
http://www.igrablife.com/digitalphoto

If you use http://www.pbase.com , please support them by making a
small donation at http://www.pbase.com/support

For the last time, the Canon G2 DOES NOT need a circular polarizer.
Stop wasting your money. Send it to me instead.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the location tips! And I always try to eat new and different things. Suprisingly, the Twin Cities up in Minnesota is a good place for food variety. I was up there for the past 2+ years working on my masters degree, and ate mongolian, ethiopian, afghan, khurdish, and a few others.. here in pittsburgh there isn't much of a selection though. For the most part it's italian and polish. Looking forward to some awesome food choices in SF! (going to be staying in Japantown, and I recently discovered the joy of sushi)

Grablife said:

I'm from SF and I've got some tips for you.

1. Don't refer to San Francisco as Frisco.
2. Don't wear shorts. Only tourist wear shorts in San Francisco.
Even in July.
3. Bring a tripod. It's the best tool to improve your shots. Taking
the time to setup a tripod is a plus. With a tripod, you will learn
a lot more about composition than just firing away aimlessly.
4. Sun rises from the Bay side and sets on the beach side. Time
your shots accordingly.
5. There are no working fishermans in Fishermans' Wharf. Just tourist.
6. Shoot like a tourist from this list:
Pier 39, Chinatown-Grant Street, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge,
Twin Peaks, Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf, Cable cars.
7. Shoot like a local from this list:
Chinatown-Stockton Street, SFMOMA (Museum-Yoko Ono opening June
22), Metreon area, churches and murals in the Mission district,
victorian house in the Haight and Castro, new city hall (especially
the interior), Pac Bell Park (Baseball stadium), the new and
improved Crissy Fields, top of Nob Hill, Legion of Honor, vintage
street cars on Market St.

Don't eat at any chain restaurants. Eat only at local restaurants.
You will not find a larger selection of international food anywhere
in the world. You can always at McDonalds when you get home. But
can you find an Ethiopian restaurant where you're from?

Here's some sample shots:

http://www.pbase.com/grablife

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.. gonna compile a list and hit the ones I can, then randomly wander through the city. Look for my gallery post in late July, hopefully I'll manage to get some good quality images.

-Mike

...and don't use a flash in a darkroom. ;-)

I grew up in SF. Moved to Alaska for work a few years ago, which is a photo haven itself, but can't wait to get back to my beloved SF and No. California. You will have hundreds of photo ops at every turn and step of your trip.

I've logged thousands of hours and miles walking and hiking the city and outlying areas and disagree with Grablife on one account: do wear shorts if you want. I was a native and wore shorts on all my city hikes no matter what the weather was like. Wear whatever is comfortable. Just make sure you carry a sweatshirt or fleece jacket and a wind shell for when the afternoon wind and chilly fog come blowing in. Even on what appears to be a perfect warm summer day. Don't be fooled!

Anyway, I too got a new G2 this week and I too will be returning to SF for a few weeks in late July. I will take one full sunny day - early morning to evening - to walk what I think is the most stunning urban walk anywhere. Talk about photo ops. You'll fill a large capacity CF in no time! I always took guests on this walk and they always loved it. Start at the foot of Market St. at the Embarcadero where you can get great shots of the Bay Bridge and SF Bay. From there walk north - away from the Bay Bridge - along the waterfront. You will go through Fishermans Wharf, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Marina Green (take a detour to the Palace of Fine Arts), Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge. Walk across the bridge. Hike up the hills of the Marin Headlands on the left side across the bridge. After that you can walk back under the bridge and walk along the water through Fort Baker to the beautiful town of Sausalito. Have some dinner, drink a couple beers, then take the ferry back to the Embarcadero in SF. Check the ferry schedule before you start the trip so you can time accordingly. Get a lighweight day pack with an outside open pocket and compression strap to carry a lightweight tripod. Bring lunch, snacks and water and wear good walking shoes. This is a great way to spend a nice sunny day, assuming you like to walk. Most of this route is easy walking.

Other great photo places in the city are Civic Center, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park and Lands End. The most interesting neighborhoods to walk and shoot are, in no particular order, North Beach, Chinatown, Mission, Castro, and Haight.

If you have a car and like to hike and shoot landscapes/nature, take the hour (or two depending on traffic getting across the GG Bridge) drive north to Point Reyes National Seashore. It is, IMO, the most beautiful place on earth.

Lastly, if you're a baseball fan you must try to see a game at Pac Bell Park.

Sorry for the long winded post, but I'm excited to be returning to my beautiful home for a few weeks.

grablife had some good advice, i.e. don't wear shorts and DON'T call it frisco, or sanfran for that matter. there are also some real great spots that weren't mentioned.

1. sutro bath ruins: go to cliff house and shoot from there and then walk down to the ruins. it's right on the ocean and there are some great caves and tunnels as well.

2. musee mechanique: turn-of-the-century arcade/entertainment machines in working order. just below cliff house. really beautiful stuff. it's moving soon, so catch it while you can.

3. 16th street by the water. great rusty industrial shots and nice graffiti.

4. tunnel at duboce park (AKA dog park): the train tunnel has amazing graffiti and artwork. i think the train stops at midnight, so you can go in afterward. nobody will screw with you, but don't go during the day unless you're feeling suicidal.

5. sea cliff: great shots of marin and the GG bridge. robin william's house is also there. you'll be able to pick it out.

6. coit tower: touristy but nice.

have a great trip and good luck with the g2. (i'm getting mine today)

mike

greyris said:

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.. gonna compile a list and
hit the ones I can, then randomly wander through the city. Look for
my gallery post in late July, hopefully I'll manage to get some
good quality images.

-Mike

Click to expand...

greyris said:

My first question is for those familiar with the SF area: Any
suggestions on places to go for great photo opportunities?

Click to expand...

Great suggestions so far, and here are a few more, if you're into wide landscapes and cityscapes like me.

1. On a clear night, I personally enjoy driving southwest on Market St. from downtown, through Castro, up the hill to where Market St. becomes Portola Drive.

Yahoo Map:

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=Market+St+At+Romain+St&city=San+Francisco&state=CA&csz=San+Francisco,+CA+94131&slt=37.756200&sln=-122.441000&name=&zip=94131&country=us&&BFKey=&BFCat=&BFClient=&mag=7&desc=&cs=9&newmag=8&poititle=&poi=&ds=n

There is a turnout up there (appropriately named "Great View Avenue") that allows you to look right down Market St back toward the city. The panorama possibilities are tremendous, as you can see from the favorite one I've found here (not mine -- I haven't been able to top it with my G2):
http://www.pbase.com/image/1345133

2. If you can get a chance to drive south on Highway 1 along the Pacific shore, the views at sunset can be outstanding. South of the town of Pacifica, the ocean bluffs and cliffs alongside the road become quite dramatic, and there are plenty of turnouts along the way for you to setup and take some shots. It's only 20-30 minutes south of the city, so if you're feeling like shooting some ocean/cliff shots, it's not too bad of a trip at all.

3. Finally, if you have a bit more free time, and a friend that knows their way, Grizzly Beak Boulevard over above Berkeley in the East Bay is GREAT as well. Going into more detail on how to get there would blow out this message quite a bit, but suffice to say... it's a road that runs alongside the hills east of Berkeley, and at a few turnouts along the way, you can pull off and see downtown Oakland, Berkeley, the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, downtown SF, the Golden Gate, all in one spot.

Another example pic (again, not mine):
http://community.webshots.com/photo/31075061/31076568CXIpEUvMME

Hope that helps... Enjoy!!
-Steve B.