Fog and whisky

M. A. Tanenbaum

Writer. Game developer. Word-fancier. Recovering tech worker.

My #viewfromtheoffice: a photo essay

M A Tanenbaum

I thought I’d take a break today from my usual semi-coherent pontifications on writing matters and instead simply share one of the joys in my life.

When I’m not writing – and when the weather allows – you can usually find me giving bicycle tours around San Francisco. In particular, I run tours from Fisherman’s Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge for a San Francisco outfit called Blazing Saddles.

Golden Gate Bridge in fog as seen from Hawk Hill.

I’m a tremendously extroverted person. I don’t know if I’m unusual in this respect among writers, but people used to say this made me an unusual engineer. Few things bring me more pleasure than having a good chat with someone, especially when I can help educate them on something I love. (Arguably this just makes me a blowhard.) And I love San Francisco.

Anyway, here’s a little photo essay of shots I’ve taken during (and immediately before and after) my tours. I publish these on the socials sometimes with the hashtag #viewfromtheoffice.

Of course, the Golden Gate Bridge – the defining icon of our city – features largely in these photos. I’m no photographer, but the bridge has so many moods and I love finding ways to frame it.

Golden Gate Bridge in the late afternoon, seen from Fort Mason.
Golden Gate Bridge in the late afternoon, as seen from Fort Mason.
Did you know that the Golden Gate is not named for the gold rush?
Golden Gate Bridge seen from Fort Point with waves crashing against the shore.
People regularly surf at this spot beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. I was never that brave.
Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Fort Baker.
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Fort Baker. During World War II, the navy turned this area into a minefield and placed a net across the bay. A ship or submarine entering without a knowledgable pilot would be in trouble.
Kite surfers beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
The bridge’s iconic color – International Orange – was originally the primer coat. But it fit in so nicely, that the designers decided to keep it. The navy wanted to paint the bridge in yellow and black stripes for visibility!
The sun just before sunset as seen from the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sunsets from the Golden Gate Bridge definitely stop me in my tracks.

Of course there’s a lot more to see in San Francisco and on the tour. One thing to see – and they’re really coming into season as I write this (late spring) – are the wide variety of birds. As you might imagine, things that fly hold significant interest for me, so I love catching sight of our feathered compadres. Here are a few nice shots I’ve captured (and one courtesy of my wife).

A hawk on a lamp post.
Red tail hawks are a common sight in and around San Francisco. I’ve rarely gotten a really great picture of one, though.
This photo is courtesy of my wife. This great blue heron somehow perfectly mirrors the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
My wife took this shot at Crissy Field, which was once a military airbase.
A great blue heron at the San Francisco Marina.
Another shot of a great blue heron, this one at the SF Marina. The entire marina neighborhood is artificial, built largely from rubble following the 1906 earthquake.
A night heron among the fronds of the Palace of Fine Arts.
Here’s another breed of heron – the night heron – commonly seen around the Palace of Fine Arts.
A group of pelicans in water.
Just in the past few weeks, the pelicans have really come into season as they migrate through San Francisco Bay.
A pelican V formation.
Pelicans in flight.
A cherry-headed conure giving me a quizzical look.
Believe it or not, San Francisco is also home to a large community of parrots!
You can learn about them in the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.

And not every creature to see is in the air…

Yours truly with an iguana on his shoulder.
Sometimes it’s all about the fun, and it’s always fun when people bring a bit of themselves to the tour.
In this case, someone brought their pet bearded dragon!

And not everything to see in the air is a bird. In 2024, Fleet Week begins on May 11. Here’s a shot I captured last year.

The Blue Angels in flight during San Francisco Fleet Week.
The Blue Angels are usually the star act of San Francisco’s Fleet Week.
This shot was taken at the SF Marina, where in 1915 San Francisco residents got their first view of aerobatics during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

Now, I’m not just into flying things…again, those who’ve followed what my novel is about will know that sailing vessels play a key role. And here again San Francisco doesn’t disappoint. We have a terrific maritime museum, featuring several old sailing vessels. My favorite is this beauty: the Balclutha.

The Balclutha, a 19th century sailing vessel.
The Balclutha has a storied history. She sailed around the world, traded goods between California and Britain, and served as a salmon factory. Today she’s the pride of the fleet at SF’s Maritime Museum.
The Balclutha, a 19th century sailing vessel, seen in the fog.
The real gold in California wasn’t the metal ore, it was wheat. Ships like Balclutha brought hearty California wheat to Europe and returned with the goods that allowed the city to expand.

The Palace of Fine Arts, almost as iconic as the bridge itself, is a visitor favorite. And again, it offers so many interesting angles.

The Palace of Fine Arts at dusk.
The Palace, built as part of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, is actually a reproduction.
Its designer built the original to last only a single year.
The Palace of Fine Arts at night.
The Palace has appeared in many movies and TV shows, and one can almost always expect to see wedding, quinceañera, or graduation photo shoots.

Finally, a little tease for any Star Wars fans…

A doofus standing in front of a statue of Yoda.
Now, why is there a statue of Yoda here in San Francisco? The answer tells you that there’s a LOT more than just Yoda to see!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peek into my other life. If you’re interested in keeping up to date with my writing, my touring, or my thoughts on other matters, please consider subscribing to my blog.

2 responses to “My #viewfromtheoffice: a photo essay”

  1. kerrielegendblog Avatar
    kerrielegendblog

    This is amazing. I loved seeing your worldview and being able to see San Francisco through your eyes! I’ve been there a few times before; it’s absolutely marvelous. Love that place. Excellent work on the photography! Amazing shots!

    But SIR. The Captain Morgan Rum pose at the end when this is supposed to be about whisky. LOL Not rum!

    Reply
    1. M A Tanenbaum Avatar
      M A Tanenbaum

      You make a devastatingly good point, and I shall endeavor to do better in the future!

      Reply

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