San Francisco Portraits

Onward, Part Two

2011-10-12T11:50:00.001-07:00

I've moved onward ... to my Documentary Photography blog.

Onward

2011-03-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

We've moved to a city with fewer hills. More soon.

At Least It's Green

2011-03-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

You know when a great time to pick your nose is? When you are not on a float in a parade.

Into His Own Parade

2011-03-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

A man carries a sign along the parade route just before the start of the St. Patrick's Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday, March 12, 2011. This was the 160th presentation of the annual event.

Word on the Street, Geary Edition

2011-03-12T17:46:00.000-08:00

Like Michelangelo, but not upside down.

Food in San Francisco: Places We Won't Revisit

2011-03-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

San Francisco has some of the best food in the world. I say that after having lived in Manhattan. There are many, many places that provide truly excellent eats.

But there's also more tolerance for restaurants with low standards. Places that get away with a level of quality that is just not up to the prices they charge. There are many restaurants that would get chased out of town in New York by the more competitive place down the street, but thrive here.

(The worst: places that get by on location. For example: The Four Seas restaurant in Chinatown. Our experience there was terrible. Do not go, under any conditions.)

We've also experienced other restaurants here that are consistently voted "best" but ... maybe coast a bit. Mamacita's on Chestnut? We arrived two minutes before 5 p.m., and -- along with the other folks who'd shown up a few minutes early -- were treated as if we were imposing on the somewhat unfriendly greeters. Quite rude of us to show up, hungry with cash in hand.

I love San Francisco's laid back attitude, but ... waiters, if you see a hungry-looking guy push away his plate with more than half left uneaten, and he makes a face when you ask if you should box it, you might want to ask if it was okay. Because it wasn't.

Bar Crudo on Divisadero? I like the look. The food was fine, though not fantastic. But we stopped at appetizers instead of staying for dinner because your waitress showed up with her personal issues on display. I do not care if your boyfriend is a jerk, give me the damn horseradish without rudeness ... and I won't write out a note to your boss on the credit card receipt about your rudeness. When you're the type of restaurant that gets by on vibe ... create a positive vibe.

Above: a place I will be going back to, David's Delicatessen on Geary.

And Everything in its Place

2011-03-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

Some visuals don't leave me confident that everything is under control.

Shoulda Put a Ring On It

2011-03-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Oh, I guess you did.

Word on the Street, Below the Line Edition

2011-03-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

This was in Pacific Heights.

As James Joyce Said

2011-02-19T00:05:00.000-08:00

This was, of course, in front of The Fillmore.

Last Man Standing

2011-02-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

A sudden rainstorm leaves one last player on the field at Kimbell Playground in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011.

Why Mr. Fortune Quit Smoking

2011-02-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

Whenever I see a crazy note, I feel compelled to photograph it. Especially one so systematically organized.

Word on the $treet

2011-01-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

This is near the Boom Boom Room.

Word on the Street, Cliche Edition

2011-01-27T22:56:00.000-08:00

Despite its eventual fate, the ongoing Word on the Street project soldiers on.

My Alcatraz Photo #1

2011-01-23T22:22:00.000-08:00

Above: Sunday, Jan 23, 2011. On my other blog you can see My Alcatraz Photo #2.

Eeyore Does the Midnight Shift

2011-01-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

Sponsors include seven different bran cereals and the fig advisory board.

Word on the Street, Ironic Crimefighter Edition

2011-01-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

I don't know if the "OMG" is on purpose or an accident.

Word on the Street, Eponymous Edition

2011-01-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

Since moving to San Francisco, I've been photographing any etched messages I find on the sidewalk. I've called the series Word on the Street.

This was on Divisadero. I hadn't seen it before Sunday night, though I've walked over it before.

Time to Talk About the Birds and the ... Birds

2011-01-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

No wonder tickets to the Zoo are so expensive.

Have Your People Call My People

2011-01-10T00:15:00.000-08:00

The thing about Zoo photographs (beyond being completely unnatural, unsporting and often sad ... if you really think about it) is that the backgrounds are often ridiculously artificial. I think, from a technique standpoint it makes sense to approach these kind of shots backwards: background first.

The other tough thing: getting model releases signed.

Above: Saturday at the San Francisco Zoo.

Invisible Microphone

2011-01-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

Above: at the San Francisco Zoo, just moments before this post.

Word on the Street, No Words Needed Edition

2011-01-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

Found on Fillmore, Thursday evening.

Word on the Street, Self-Referential Edition

2011-01-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

I assume someone took the time to stuff the bits of plant into the letters, but maybe instead someone tried to sweep the street and left this behind. I can't say for sure.

A Second Try

2011-01-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Another day, another attempt to get a decent rainboots shot.

Sketching

2011-01-05T21:25:00.000-08:00

Above: Rainboots in the Marc by Marc Jacobs window, Fillmore Avenue, San Francisco, January 5, 2011.