La rue n'est pas doux, the street is not kind

La rue n'est pas doux, the street is not kind, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

I had worked a very long day and was heading for some dinner and then back to my hotel room for some much needed sleep. I was waiting for the light to change so I could walk into San Francisco's ferry building when I spotted good old no. 1007 heading my way. I very rapidly setup my tripod and mounted the camera. By the time I had attached my off camera shutter release and took 5 of my 10 shots she was moving out of the frame. So what you see here is a single shot psuedo HDR, something I rarely ever do.

1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner

1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Whenever I see one of these classic cars, I wonder how and where the owner finds spare parts. They would have to be next to impossible to find wouldn't they? I can't seem to find replacement arm rests for my van and it's not anywhere close to 55 years old. How do you find critical engine parts that are needed just to keep the car in operation? I guess that just makes it all the more wondrous to see one of these beauties glide into one of the parking spaces at this classic drive in. If you are ever in the Downey area on a Wednesday evening don't miss it.

The long and winding road

The long and winding road, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The architecture of the multi-level rainforest exihibit inside the California Academy of Science Museum has a lot of non-linear shapes and even curving elevated pathways. If it wasn't so hot in there I'd take photos of it for hours.

Port of San Francisco

Port of San Francisco, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

I'll be the first to admit this isn't my best work but I loved the view. The problem was that the wind was blowing so hard off the bay it was literally shaking my tripod even though I had hung my backpack from the center column to weigh it down. Chicago the windy city? Try San Francisco!

Love knows nothing of rank or river bank

Love knows nothing of rank or river bank, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The miracle of technology! Kathy and I decided to stop at Muir Woods on our drive up to San Francisco. I programmed our GPS to take us to the National Park and it easily directed us there. The problem was finding parking. We had almost given up when Kathy decided to drive through the parking lot one more time and we found someone pulling out of a space just across from the park entrance. Score! Anyway it was fun walking around and taking photos of the big redwood trees and the streams that flow through the park.

San Francisco's Historic Streetcar Service

San Francisco's Historic Streetcar Service, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

San Francisco's F line street cars are amazing. All manner of Vintage street cars, discarded by other cities have been restored and now run from Fishermans Wharf to the Castro district, mainly along Market Street. The next time you are in the city, I highly recommend you ride one. Early mornings are best. They get very crowded in the afternoon.

Human Sized Hamster Ball

Human Size Hamster Ball, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The California Academy of Sciences features a 90 foot diameter glass dome in which a four story rain forest exihibit has been placed. It was nice and hot in there probably due to simulated global warming or something. All I know is my lens fogged over right away!

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Seeburg Wall-O-Matic counter mounted jukebox looking pretty gritty.

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Ok I wasn't in Georgia. This was taken in Santa Ana, California but just the same I think summer is here. When taking photos of cars, I usually just collapse my tripod completely and spread out the legs as wide as they will go so the camera is only 6 inches above the pavement. This of course means in order to frame the shot, I need to be laying on the ground. This is generally not a problem in the cooler months but today the asphalt parking lot was so hot, I almost got roasted. Gotta borrow the wife's yoga mat or something.

Red and White Delight

Red and White Delight, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Kathy and I decided to drive over to Bob's for the Wednesday night car show. We had dinner and talked while watching the classic cars roll in. Afterward, we had started walking around when this '55 Ford Fairlane Sunliner stopped me in my tracks. It was so clean and perfectly restored, I was just in awe. I think I took 5 or 6 HDR sequences of this car alone. I met the owner, nice guy. He was kicking around the idea of selling this car. I gave him the address for this website. Hopefully he will see his baby here.