Solstice Moon Over San Francisco

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 28 June 2008 in Landscape & Rural.

A 99% moon rises over downtown San Francisco as seen from the Marin Headlands. I was really lucky to get this image as this is the fog season in the Bay Area. The previous night the fog was in and this shot would not have happened. As it was, the temperatures turned warm as an off-shore flow developed (east to west winds) allowing for clear skies at sunset. This vibrant twilight wedge lasted for about 20 minutes - it was exactly what I was hoping for. I had previsualized the moon at the transition line of the wedge and was able to play with compositions while the moon was ascending. I used a B+W circular polarizer and a steady tripod! To see more of my landscape, sport and celebrity images, please visit my website at http://www.donsmithphotography.com

Comments (17)

Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom

Fabulous capture, as always, I might add :-)

28 Jun 2008 6:32am

Bjarte from Bergen, Norway

Excellent shot! Lovely composition and colours! The moon ads great impact!

28 Jun 2008 8:21am

Stefan from Thiersee, Austria

Wonderful image Don, well done!

28 Jun 2008 12:19pm

Marie Le Corre from Voiron, France

Golden Gate is a wonderful bridge. This composition is excellent

28 Jun 2008 1:31pm

Helma from Tehran, Iran

a Stunning beautiful image ! i like these colors , excellent !
thank you .

28 Jun 2008 1:45pm

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Love the colors in this one Don. You are a true professional.

28 Jun 2008 1:50pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Good morning Hoshisato, Bjarte, Stefan, Marie, Helma and Marion,

Thanks for your kind comments. This was truly one of those moments you visualize and then see happen. What really amazed me was the lack of photographers. I was with four of my fiends which made the experience even more special.

28 Jun 2008 2:07pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

What a gorgeous work! Nice shot.

28 Jun 2008 2:45pm

Eleftheria! from Athens, Greece

Very beautiful colors!

28 Jun 2008 4:04pm

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Ana and Eleftherial,

Thank you both for your kind words! Eleftherial, I'm glad to hear from you again I saw your picture your brother took (I believe on your vacation). You can see me and my family if you go to my website and click on my "Biography" link. I just got back from a short vacation with my wife and two boys (Rob, 13 and Aaron 12). We hiked the Pohono rim trail in Yosemite - 13.8 miles. Unfortunately, there are so many wildfires in the state of California, that all the views were obscured. Nonetheless, we had a great day! I looked at your dad's website - he is an excellent photographer - obviously a professional. I can see his love of photography has been passed on to you. Thanks again for writing. I'll be posting some images from my trip next week.

28 Jun 2008 5:13pm

DarkElf from Perth, Australia

superb colours and composition... it looks very surreal and the overall mood is great!

29 Jun 2008 10:24am

Don Smith from California, United States

Thanks Dark Elf.

29 Jun 2008 7:30pm

Nini Pixel from Savigny (Suisse), Switzerland

Wouaouwwwwwwwww splendid...

30 Jun 2008 4:45pm

Don from Washington DC, United States

Gorgeous shot!

30 Jun 2008 5:39pm

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

this is a wonder panorama Don! bravo!

1 Jul 2008 12:20am

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

ok -- it isn;t a panorama... but you know what i mean... ;-P

1 Jul 2008 12:21am

Don Smith from California, United States

Hi Nini, Don, and dj,

Thanks for checking in and thanks for the nice comments!

6 Jul 2008 1:43pm

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Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
1 second
F/16.0
ISO 200
46 mm