Sawyer Camp Trail/Crystal Springs 12/4/04
I was out running errands in the afternoon when I noticed that storm clouds were only partially covering the sky with many areas breaking up towards the south and more open sky to the north. (If you read “Fort Funston”, then you will start noticing a pattern) So when I was finished, I went home to get my gear and gambled by heading a few miles south on the 280 to the Sawyer Camp Trail at Crystal Springs Reservoir.
The reservoir is the source of San Francisco drinking water. The San Andreas Fault created the natural canyon where the water has filled. For years, this place was closed off from public access because of this. Even today, you are limited to where you can go. That is a shame because this is the most beautiful place on the peninsula in my opinion. The hundreds of joggers, hikers and bikers would probably agree with me as well.
This being one of the most popular trails on the peninsula, I was hesitant at first about going there because weekend driving and parking in the Bay Area is ridiculous everywhere you go whether it’s hiking or a strip mall. Even more so when there’s only street parking at this particular location. Luckily I got a space reasonably close by when the sun was just behind some clouds about to set behind the mountain.
I didn’t have to walk far to get the best views. The best view in my opinion is just right past the gate looking to the left because that is where you get the widest view of the lake. It also happened to be where the good light was. What irritates me about shooting here though is the whole slope going down to the lake is fenced off with barbed wire. We have to stay pretty far up, so it’s a challenge to work in the scene w/o the fence. I would only recommend shooting here if there are interesting clouds out. I have never tried shooting here on a cloudless day, as I think that would be pointless. There is no close foreground to work with unless you enjoy shooting barbed wire fences.
I chose to shoot here on this day because I’ve long fantasized about having a shot of dramatic clouds rising over the reservoir. I have plenty of ocean shots, but a limited amount of lake shots so this would satisfy my desire.
Before long, the sun was lighting up all the clouds yellows, and pinks. Great! Exactly what I had bargained for. Then this guy comes up to me and starts talking to me about how he saw these “rare, exotic birds” at the other end of the trail. Egrets… Upholding my policy of not being a rude photographer unlike a lot of other photographers, I stopped to listen to him and spoke with him even as the light show was unfolding. My mind was really on the light, but I didn’t think he noticed where my attention was. Finally he left after we discussed the peregrine falcons munching on small birds in his backyard. So I resumed. By then I was using my three-stop graduated ND filter to balance out the exposure of the water with the sky. It might have even been a little much, but my soft two-stop gradient wasn’t working very well for this situation. I needed a hard-edged filter and the three-stop filter is what I had. When I exhausted the possibilities, I walked further down the trail just as twilight was coming up. Where the most amazing display of clouds and light emerged for a few seconds. I was able to get three shots with a three stop graduated filter in-between while some jogger was complimenting me on my great timing. Then the light went flat and I took off back to my car. I encountered the jogger again and we chatted. He revealed that he runs here three times a week and commented, “It’s amazing how all of this is in our backyard.” That’s exactly what I’ve been saying over the past two years I’ve lived up here.
What to bring: 1. A full-sized tripod so you can clear the fence. I only have a backpacking Gitzo tripod so I can assure you this isn’t the right place to go light. Someday I will have money for carbon fiber. Some day I will have money for carbon fiber. Someday I will have money for carbon fiber.
2. Two stop soft graduated filter for daytime clouds, three stop and two stop hard-edged filters for sunrise/sunset.
3. I don’t think there’s a significant difference to shooting sunrises or sunsets from here. The sun doesn’t directly come up or go down over the lake as far as I know. Hence, look for interesting clouds.
4. A bike and/or running shoes. I wish I had a bike for these places, I wish I could jog for these moments.
The reservoir is the source of San Francisco drinking water. The San Andreas Fault created the natural canyon where the water has filled. For years, this place was closed off from public access because of this. Even today, you are limited to where you can go. That is a shame because this is the most beautiful place on the peninsula in my opinion. The hundreds of joggers, hikers and bikers would probably agree with me as well.
This being one of the most popular trails on the peninsula, I was hesitant at first about going there because weekend driving and parking in the Bay Area is ridiculous everywhere you go whether it’s hiking or a strip mall. Even more so when there’s only street parking at this particular location. Luckily I got a space reasonably close by when the sun was just behind some clouds about to set behind the mountain.
I didn’t have to walk far to get the best views. The best view in my opinion is just right past the gate looking to the left because that is where you get the widest view of the lake. It also happened to be where the good light was. What irritates me about shooting here though is the whole slope going down to the lake is fenced off with barbed wire. We have to stay pretty far up, so it’s a challenge to work in the scene w/o the fence. I would only recommend shooting here if there are interesting clouds out. I have never tried shooting here on a cloudless day, as I think that would be pointless. There is no close foreground to work with unless you enjoy shooting barbed wire fences.
I chose to shoot here on this day because I’ve long fantasized about having a shot of dramatic clouds rising over the reservoir. I have plenty of ocean shots, but a limited amount of lake shots so this would satisfy my desire.
Before long, the sun was lighting up all the clouds yellows, and pinks. Great! Exactly what I had bargained for. Then this guy comes up to me and starts talking to me about how he saw these “rare, exotic birds” at the other end of the trail. Egrets… Upholding my policy of not being a rude photographer unlike a lot of other photographers, I stopped to listen to him and spoke with him even as the light show was unfolding. My mind was really on the light, but I didn’t think he noticed where my attention was. Finally he left after we discussed the peregrine falcons munching on small birds in his backyard. So I resumed. By then I was using my three-stop graduated ND filter to balance out the exposure of the water with the sky. It might have even been a little much, but my soft two-stop gradient wasn’t working very well for this situation. I needed a hard-edged filter and the three-stop filter is what I had. When I exhausted the possibilities, I walked further down the trail just as twilight was coming up. Where the most amazing display of clouds and light emerged for a few seconds. I was able to get three shots with a three stop graduated filter in-between while some jogger was complimenting me on my great timing. Then the light went flat and I took off back to my car. I encountered the jogger again and we chatted. He revealed that he runs here three times a week and commented, “It’s amazing how all of this is in our backyard.” That’s exactly what I’ve been saying over the past two years I’ve lived up here.
What to bring: 1. A full-sized tripod so you can clear the fence. I only have a backpacking Gitzo tripod so I can assure you this isn’t the right place to go light. Someday I will have money for carbon fiber. Some day I will have money for carbon fiber. Someday I will have money for carbon fiber.
2. Two stop soft graduated filter for daytime clouds, three stop and two stop hard-edged filters for sunrise/sunset.
3. I don’t think there’s a significant difference to shooting sunrises or sunsets from here. The sun doesn’t directly come up or go down over the lake as far as I know. Hence, look for interesting clouds.
4. A bike and/or running shoes. I wish I had a bike for these places, I wish I could jog for these moments.
Labels: California, scenic nature
posted by Richard @ 1:44 AM
2 comments
Richard Wong Photography: Image Boutique
2 Comments:
I'm showing my parents your blog man, they're really impressed. Good work bro. We'll keep checking back on your work.
Tell your parents that I said they have great taste. :-)
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