On this particular day's journey (the date being a usually somber reminiscence of John Lennon's assassination) I was delightfully treated to a visit from my dear friend Bryan and his lovely love Susan. Current residents of Louisiana, the Bay Area was a quick jaunt from their previous stop in Colorado, to which they shall be moving come the end of this month.
Never having before been to the West Coast, Susan was eager to see — and touch — the Pacific Ocean. Naturally happy to accommodate, I acted as something of a tour guide for the day from the copilot's seat of their rental car. After a few distractions and meanderings (including a stop at the Beethoven Center at San José State University) we arrived seaside moments before a spectacular sunset at Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
The coast was windy and quite chilly; after my friends had time to walk on the beach and I took several photos (some soon to be posted in this blog and on my main image repository) we drove up coastal Highway 1, in search of San Francisco sushi . . . and thanks to both excellent directions and recommendations from Kevin Ahern we were well-rewarded. Extravagantly fed, our next goal was to secure a view of the Golden Gate Bridge; a close option was from the grounds of the Legion of Honor, from where the beautiful span was a splendid orange thread in the distance.
By now the hour was growing late and the travelers tired, yet the unanimous vote was that the night could not end without a direct experience with the Golden Gate. Thus we navigated our way down to the northbound crossing, and finished our (amazing) sight-seeing expedition on the Marin end of the iconic structure.
Ergo the offering below, which features one of the world's most beautiful views, particularly bejeweled by the Embarcadero Center buildings' traditional Yuletide season lighting adornments, just to the left of center. As a superb finale to a splendid day (rare, of late), my photographic composition was nicely enhanced by the serendipitous timing of a passing ship in the foreground.
© 2012 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.
(click image for larger version)
Details: December 8, 2012; Canon 7D; f/8 @ 6 secs; ± 0 EV; ISO 400;
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM @78mm
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM @78mm
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