SF Bay Area GTG - DPChallenge Forums

06/30/2006 09:10:31 PM · #1

It's been a few months since we've done a GTG. Any thoughts?

We can go to Half Moon Bay, Point Reyes, Monterey? All ideas are welcome :)

Rikki

06/30/2006 09:27:50 PM · #2

Great idea, Rikki! I went to Point Reyes recently and it was really nice. I'm always up for a trip there.

I think my heart might be in Half Moon Bay, though, to help out all those businesses that have been suffering since Devil's Slide was closed. We'll not only be visiting some great places (Moss Beach, Maverick's, etc.) to shoot with our friends, but we'll also be helping a local economy that could really use it right now.

07/01/2006 12:36:11 AM · #3

All of us Bay Area folks are just logging on to read about the Straight from Camera challenge. Here's a little bumpy.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/01/2006 01:23:30 AM · #4

Hey, gang, I'm back! What a good idea. Time for another GTG, indeed. Another suggestion: 3rd Avenue in San Mateo is the place to be for wind & kite sailors these days. I just checked the tide tables (see below) and it looks as if it might be good on the weekend of 15-16. But (disclaimer) I'm no expert at this stuff. Might start out at Half Moon Bay/Princeton and ride over to 3rd Avenue in San Mateo in the afternoon.

Alice

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tides for San Mateo Bridge (west end) starting with July 15, 2006.
Day High Tide Height
/Low Time Feet

Sa 15 High 3:41 AM 7.6
15 Low 10:33 AM -0.3
15 High 5:13 PM 7.8
15 Low 11:20 PM 2.0

Su 16 High 4:46 AM 6.8
16 Low 11:19 AM 0.4
16 High 5:55 PM 8.0

M 17 Low 12:34 AM 1.6
17 High 6:04 AM 5.8
17 Low 12:07 PM 1.1
17 High 6:39 PM 8.3

rjkstesch

Nikon D700

07/01/2006 01:34:29 AM · #5

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. I'm expecting to be out there the weekend of the July 22nd. If it happens to be that weekend, I'd like to join in.

Becky

tmhalling

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/01/2006 01:39:16 AM · #6

Originally posted by sfalice:

I windsurf out there. Tides have little to do with whether or not windsurfers will be out. Check iwindsurf.com if that is what you want to shoot. Do you guys mind if a newbie comes along?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/01/2006 01:48:42 AM · #7

Originally posted by tmhalling:

[quote=sfalice]
I windsurf out there. Tides have little to do with whether or not windsurfers will be out. Check iwindsurf.com if that is what you want to shoot. Do you guys mind if a newbie comes along?

Yeah, you windsurfers wander all over the place. And, wow, are you people good! But I noticed those kiteboarders don't seem to want to do tricks when the tide's out and the mud's in.

;>)

We like newbies. Come on along!

Alice

IndigoButterfly

Nikon D7100

07/01/2006 01:59:03 AM · #8

Hi all! I missed last time, but hopefully I will be able to make this one. ..

07/01/2006 02:08:44 AM · #9

Windsurfing and kite boarding are great for photos, but are you sure they're going to be doing this right down the main street in San Mateo? ;-) I'm not sure what you're saying about 3rd Street, Alice, but I'm sure the misunderstanding is on my end.

Also, I'm not sure the name of it, but there's a great beach for kite boarding on Hwy 1 south of Half Moon Bay. It's right by where those huge cliffs are on the east side of the road. There are always people out there, so that would be a great place to go for photos on a sunny day.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/01/2006 10:27:53 AM · #10

Originally posted by PhilipDyer:

3rd Avenue not 3rd Street, Philip... From San Francisco, take 101 south, exit at 3rd Ave, go East almost as far as you can, bordering a nice bayside park to the left, until you see the fenced in golf driving range on the left. Take a left there,(it looks as if you'll drive right into the fence) bend around to the right and go into the parking lot, unless it's full of sailors' equipment. I like it because it's possible to get action with a fairly short (200mm or more) lens. More is better, of course.

(Kitesailor at 3rd Ave)

I think I know the spot you are talking about, south of HMB, near Davenport? Big Basin Park area? (Waddell State Beach) I'm told the Big Boys come here to play when the weather's right.

Also, there's some surfboarding at Princeton, but the sun will be behind the players in the afternoon. Of course, for surfboarding, Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz is a great place to be.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/01/2006 10:55:29 AM · #11

Last weekend of of July is the Berkeley Kite Festival.

07/01/2006 12:31:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Last weekend of of July is the Berkeley Kite Festival.

Ohhh, wouldn't that be fun! (I could come on Saturday, the 29th)

Alice

07/01/2006 12:54:02 PM · #13

Originally posted by sfalice:

3rd Avenue not 3rd Street, Philip...

Ah ha! I knew it was my fault. :-)

07/01/2006 02:59:59 PM · #14

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Last weekend of of July is the Berkeley Kite Festival.

Sorry guys. Been away for a bit. This sounds like a great spot Paul :)

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

07/01/2006 08:53:17 PM · #15

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Last weekend of of July is the Berkeley Kite Festival.

Since this is July 29, 30, maybe we should all put this on our Watch Lists and check back??? I'd do this one even if it wasn't a GTG.

Who:
Highline Kites of Berkeley
What: 20th Annual Berkeley Kite Festival & West Coast Kite Championships
When: July 29th & 30th, 2006 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina
Phone: 510-235-KITE (5483)
E-Mail: Fest@HighlineKites.com
Web Site: //www.HighlineKites.com
Cost? FREE!

Of course I'll also be at the 3rd Avenue (San Mateo) Venue in July. Because this really is the best time of year for the action. But maybe even our intrepid Bay Bunch won't want to do two GTGs in one month.

md8speed

Nikon D200

07/01/2006 09:05:49 PM · #16

I'm game!

07/02/2006 03:10:12 PM · #17

that's a great schedule Alice. I'm in ;)

07/02/2006 11:19:53 PM · #18

Rikki
07/02/2006 03:10:12 PM
that's a great schedule Alice. I'm in ;)

md8speed
07/01/2006 09:05:49 PM
I'm game!

Does this mean you guys are ready do two TWO GTGs in July! Wonderful!

For my schedule this means a nice choice of either July 15/16 for 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, and (unfortunately) for me only the 29th of July for the Berkeley event.

I'm guessing, that for the kite boarders, tide would be good around 2:00pm, so something could work out for earlier at Half Moon Bay if people like. (Barbara's Fish Trap in Princeton for lunch @ 11:30 when the doors open, a little walk through Half Moon Bay for nice buildings, or a walk on the beach at the Maverick's area until time to shoot over on #92 to 3rd avenue) Contrary to what you read here, I don't know every square inch of the road between SF and points south of here, but some 40 years of appreciation does allow some of it to sink in...

In any event, let's try to coordinate something...

GeneralE might want to take the Berkeley event and run with it...

Alice

gaurawa

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/03/2006 11:05:27 AM · #19

I would like to join you guys, but 15th july doesn't work for me. 16th is fine :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/03/2006 12:18:33 PM · #20

I was going to post a map/directions to the Berkeley site, but the browser ate my post. I'll re-post later.

The event starts at 11 -- parking is always ferocious in Berkeley. Do people want to get there early and watch the set-up? I don't know what time they really get going because I've only caught the "tail end" (pun intended) of the festival in the past.

There are other photo-ops around the marina area as well, including a long pier pointing straight at Alcatraz and the Golden Gate, and views of the Richmond-San Rafael and Bay Bridges as well. There's a really cool kids play area with all kinds of improvised play structures, and sailing and sailboarding clubs. There's also a pedestrian bridge over the freeway if anyone wants shots of ten lanes of traffic, which ends up at Aquatic Park, where there are often a lot of birds.

Someday we should take a tour around (the eastern half of?) Oakland's Lake Merritt ... that ringed-in area on the right of the aerial photo is a bird sancuary, the oldest officially-designated wildlife refuge in the US. There are also several historic and/or government buildings on the streets just off the lake. Preservation Park (restored Victorian district) is about 12 blocks up the road, after passing through Chinatown and the Downtown corridor.

Berkeley Pier:

Lake Merritt Ducks:

Message edited by author 2006-07-03 12:46:18.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

07/06/2006 12:58:43 PM · #21

Another fun place is the albany waterfront. It is right behind the horsetrack and is full of sculptures and art from old debris. I used this spot for two challenges,

and

and you can see a few more images in gallery on my portfolio. I'll look into those dates too to see what I can do if ya'll don't mind ;).

07/08/2006 02:04:00 PM · #22

Hmmm. I might make it to the Kite Fetsival guys but not the one for next week.