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Artist Leo Villareal created “The Bay Lights,” a public art light sculpture across the San Francisco Bay Bridge, which will shine for two years starting March 5, 2013. The artwork is made up of some 25,000 energy-efficient LEDs, mounted on vertical cables 30 feet apart. The LEDs are controlled individually by computer, with the light turning on or off some 60 times a second via a 1.8 mile fiber-optic cable, to create a variety of patterns that flow into one another. He states, “I’m interpreting all the kinetic activity around the bridge: the traffic, the motion of water, the sky — it’s such a rich environment to draw upon.” The artist told a reporter at Mashable that the computers controlling this are a “bunch of $500 Mac minis mounted inside the bridge” and that those Macs are running Windows via Apple’s Bootcamp. Wow!

I’ve been in San Francisco, primarily for Macworld, and I’m very behind on writing posts. To get moving, I’m posting a photograph I took while on the Land’s End trail. It was a treat seeing a raven swoop down in the area, especially a day prior to the Superbowl.  The first is the original photo, and I then processed it through various iPhone/iPad apps. The 5th down is my favorite.

These are some pixs that I took using the Olloclip lens with an iPhone 4s.  As mentioned in the post below, I bought it while at Macworld in San Francisco. The images with the wild colors were taken using the HD setting, and a couple from the plane are out of focus as a result, but still kind of interesting looking.  The cable car was taken at night but with a lot of store lighting.  These are all pre-Camera Awesome.

I spent the week in San Francisco attending Macworld/iWorld. Here are some pictures taken with my iPhone 4s and then altered using various apps on my iPad.  I was going for a faded, vintage-like look.

This is a picture I took last year in San Francisco using my Nikon D90. I blurred out the sides, adjusted the colors, and applied a couple filters to apply texture to the image and edges.

Back to MacWorld from February.  One of the highlights was attending the Photoshop 20th anniversary presentation.  It was hosted by David Biedny, who is an author, expert, and top educator (he’s on the right).   The event included Jerry Harris, who was the co-author of PixelPaint and responsible for the “brushing engine” in Photoshop 7 (he’s in the center).  Also joining was Russell Brown, who is senior creative director of Adobe and always a fabulous, albeit zany, instructor.  It was informative seeing the evolution of the program and lots of laughs.

Photoshop 1.o.  Wow!  It’s so young.  Who would think it would evolve into what it is today.  I cannot fathom where it will be in another 20 years.

Back at the show.  And there He is, larger than life, showing off the next great thing.  And, wow, is it!

Nothing makes an Englishman happier than football (soccer to us in the US) and more proud than seeing England showing on the ad.

Some shots from around the area.

Next up we went to the deYoung Museum at the Golden Gate Park to primarily see the “Amish Abstractions” show, an exhibit of 48 quilts from the collection of Faith and Stephen Brown.

Photography was not allowed inside the exhibit, but the guard was okay with this one.  The quilts ranged in all sizes and were made during the period of the 1880s through the 1940s.  Living in central NJ, I visited Amish country in Pennsylvania many times.  Thus, the quilts were all very familiar.  However, seeing them in a museum setting was quite inspiring.  I can only imagine what the makers of the quilts would have thought having their work being display at an art museum.  Very cool.  The show runs through June 6th, and more information about it is here.

You are allowed to photograph other works in the museum.  This piece stopped me in my tracks.   It’s called “Hovor II” by El Anatsui and was made in 2004.  It is made with woven aluminum bottle cops and copper wire.  It’s amazing to look at and the color seems to change with every direction.

A close up.

Outside of the museum, there is a wall filled with names of various museum benefactors.  I loved how the sunlight and reflections were playing with the surface.

After leaving the museum, we hailed a cab to take us to the Marin County side of the Golden Gate.  The sun was starting to set, and I had always wanted to take some pictures from that high up area.  The cab driver drove us up, and I took the above photo through his front window.

We made it, and the lighting was great.  We both took a lot of photos.

It was a popular spot for photographers, and tripods were lined up in many areas.

One person was being photographed doing various yoga poses while standing on a stump.  I couldn’t resist snapping off a couple pictures.

I did a digital painting of the above image that I hope ends up in an art quilt.  If nothing else, I’ll print it on watercolor paper.

Of course the big thing when you’re driven up to take pictures is realizing that there are no taxis to bring you back down, so we made the hike …

and walked under the bridge to get to the other side.

Resting before the trek back.

It was a very pretty sunset.

This image includes some layer blends to give it a bit more drama.  Generally there are many people walking on the bridge.  This evening there were only a few.

Eventually we made it to the other side of this magical area.

Our flight was delayed by several hours.  Note to self: Always call to check if the flight is on time.  If you’re ever delayed at San Francisco airport, go to the International terminal before going through security.  There are many exhibits to see and cool shops to visit.

Eventually it was time to leave.

Up, up, and away we went.

Although I had a window seat, a good deal of the view looking east was entirely blocked by the wing.  Too bad.  The lighting was great in that direction.  I could only shoot behind me, meaning a lot of glare from the setting sun.

At times I’d get glimpses of the view looking east, and it was fantastic.

Did I mention I would have rather shot towards the east rather than behind me?  Yes, it was almost painful being so close yet so far from taking some beautiful shots.  The light was glistening off the water, and the colors were gorgeous.

From my vantage point to take photos, there was way too much glare bouncing around and creating strange, funky colors and mucky contrast.  Even so, I enjoyed seeing the Bay from above.  It was beautiful and serene.

The sun set as we few eastward and home.  It was a fantastic trip that my mom, my brother Mike, and I will always remember!

As a nice bonus, after we all were in our respective homes and settled, I had a very pretty bouquet of flowers delivered to my house.  It was from mom and Mike, thanking me for the vacation.

You’ve probably heard the saying “pay it forward” — meaning to give to someone else what has been given to you.  Every time I’ve been to England for work, my business partner has gone out of his way to take me on some kind of trip.  He has taken me to many places over the years, places that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen, and I’m always incredibly grateful.  To do this for family members was a better feeling than I could ever imagine!

When their card thanked me for the vacation, all I could do was smile with the realization that it was completely my pleasure!

After our Bay cruise and eating at Tarantino’s, an excellent seafood restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf,  we next went to the Aquarium of the Bay.

There were a lot of cool exhibits, including various jelly fish.  The lighting on the fish made it great for photographs, which are allowed (except not on the octopuses).

There is a 300 foot acrylic tunnel that holds over 700,000 gallons of filtered Bay water.  This is in addition to other exhibits.

I took several short movies of the fish and sharks swimming around.  Being that Rich has a 150 gallon tank in the basement, I knew he’d get a kick out of it, which he did.

There were some exhibits geared to kids, including big kid who Mike climbed into the bubble.   Mom and I weren’t the only ones snapping pictures as he clowned around!

Fish boy is out of the bubble and back to land!

Next we took the Boudin Museum and Bakery Tour.   During the 1906 earthquake and fire, Louise Boudin had the smarts to grab a bucket and saved the original “mother dough.”  That brilliant move saved the business that carries on today.

A tiny portion of that original “mother dough” is still in each sourdough loaf they make.  After looking at all of the bread and machinery, we settled down and shared a loaf in their cafe.  Yummy!

After strolling along the Wharf, we ended our day at the Hyde Street Pier.

The lighting was very pretty, very relaxing.

We walked along the beach a bit, then sat and watched the birds.

I saw two people holding their digital camera at arm’s length while trying to take pictures of themselves.  I went over and offered to take a photo of them.  I learned they were on their honeymoon.  Well, I couldn’t resist and ended up taking at least 20 pictures of them along the water in various poses.  They were SO happy!  I’m glad.  I should have taken one with my camera!

I like both of these pixs of Mike. I like the bird, too!

We waited on line to take a cable car up Hyde Street so that we could end our very long and fun day.

I managed to take a couple photos over the heads of others in front of me.   No matter how many times I go, I’m still a tourist!

When climbing up Hyde Street, there is one brief moment where the Golden Gate shows, then it’s gone, then for one brief moment it’s there again.  The first picture had someone’s head in it, the second a tree going through the middle, and then I got this one.  It wasn’t straight, but I was able to straighten it, crop it, and still have enough resolution to get a very decent size print.

The view form the cable car looking out over Lombard St.

Back in our suite, a view from the window using the zoom.

Another view from the window, again with the zoom.

When the sun finally set, we were too tired to go out for food.  Instead, we ordered at a nearby place and had it delivered.  We ate and went to sleep early!

Next up was a Bay cruise!

We cruised under the Golden Gate Bridge, giving some interesting perspectives.  I’ve taken the tour in the past, and I always love it.  It was the first time I didn’t need a coat!  Mike and I stood the entire time, soaking in the breezes, the up and down of the boat, and the scenery.

I liked this photo, although I got a bit better composition on my iphone, which nearly went overboard when I tried getting the photo!  Luckily, it didn’t.

In this version, I played around with it in Photoshop.  I have some ideas for this one … hmmm

A couple more views of Alcatraz Island.

Back to the Pier and another look at the Sea Lions.  Mom asked me to take pictures with her camera as the boat was a bit too rocky for her comfort.  I need to get her card as I may add a few more images to this bunch.  Then, one more group to go!

After our very long day, we finally made it to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Mom is excited and wants to get onto the Bridge rather than just walk on the grounds around it.

So on the Bridge we went.

Both Mom and Mike wanted to walk the length of the Bridge.  I warned them that it’s more than 1.5 miles in one direction and that we have to walk back.  No matter.  They wanted to walk, so we walked.

I told

We walked and walked, often taking breaks and looking at the various views.

At the Marin County line, I suggested we head back.  The sun was starting to set, it was getting chillier, and we all were very happy to experience the walk together.

The sun set on a perfect day!

We took the bus from Market Street to the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco.

Although Mike was born after the “summer of love” was in full swing, he’s a fan of many of the music greats that came from that generation.  His beautiful wife, who lived in the area for a stint during those days, remains a flower child at heart.

One of a couple street musicians that I paid for the privilege to photograph.

No comment here!

While the area remains quite colorful, and hints of the lifestyle linger, much of the area is a tourist destination filled with all types of kitschy and cute flower-power things available to purchase.

If you’re an artist, you may want to schedule a stop at Mendels Far Out Fabrics.  They have a great selection of art supplies, fabrics, fake furs, fabric paints, and all types of interesting things.  And, if you’re not in the area, they have a website with an online shop.

We continued walking and went to the Golden Gate Park.  We could have spent all day there, especially with the beautiful weather.  But I had a game plan for the day, with the ultimate destination being the Golden Gate Bridge.  So we walked.  And walked.

Admired the flowers.

Admired the views.

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and Mike.  He was very happy, as was mom, enjoying the city and the day.  I also was very happy, as it’s the best birthday present that I’ve ever given and it felt (and continues to feel) great.

We continued walking, admiring many fields of flowers.

Eventually we came upon the cafeteria at the deYoung Art Museum — a much welcomed site.  We all were thirsty, hungry, and needed a break from all of the walking (we did start  early on Lombard Street).   Then, while eating, I realized there were references to King Tut’s tomb.

Then I saw the sign.  The Tutankhamun exhibit was at the deYoung Museum.  Knowing mom missed it some years back when it was at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, I decided we should go see it.  We detoured from my plan, and I got tickets to the exhibit.

The corridors within the Museum.

We entered the exhibition, first listening to a short film.  Then we headed into each of the ten galleries that showcased a total of some 130 objects from the tomb of King Tut and other ancestors.  The intricate gold work was jaw-dropping and beautiful.  We looked for Tut’s “death mask” and sarcophagus, but they were not a part of the exhibit.  Then we learned that they aren’t allowed to leave Egypt.  Makes sense. “Tutankhamum and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” is at the Museum through March 2010.  There is lots of information about the exhibit here and to where it’s going next.

After we finished the exhibit, we didn’t explore the Museum further (something I’ll do again during the next trip), but instead ventured to the Bridge.  The sun was blaring, we did a lot of walking, and then we saw a taxi.  We flagged it down, and off to the Golden Gate Bridge we went.

Next up, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Next up, mom wanted to see Lombard Street, which she calls the crooked street.  We took the Powell-Hyde cable car up, got off at Lombard, and joined a lot of other tourists looking to do the same.  I did learn that Lombard is not actually crooked.  Rather, there is a one-block section off of Hyde Street which has eight sharp turns, like a zig zag.

The weather was clear and beautiful.

It provides for some fantastic views.

Mom and Mike are trudging up the street.  However, they both only went a couple blocks down.  Some years back, Derry and I walked to Coit Tower, up the Tower, back down, and then all of the way up Lombard to Hyde.  As we walked up Lombard, there were times I thought I was going to drop dead of exhaustion.  There were a couple times I nearly started to cry because it was my dumb idea to walk it.  We did make it to Hyde and took the cable car down to the Wharf so I could pig out at In N Out Burger.  Following years we walked up from different areas, but never from all the way on the bottom.  Lesson learned.

I’m happy.  I didn’t walk that far down. Did I mention I learned my lesson?

Everyone passes cameras around.  I took a lot of photos of a couple girls in their late teens or early 20s.  They were having a blast striking all types of poses.  I used their camera, and from what I could see, they should be very happy with the pixs.   I should have also taken a couple with my camera.  Ahh youth!

More great views – looking towards Alcatraz Island.

I tend to go to San Francisco in January, so this is the first time I got to see the flowers in bloom.

I had a long day planned for us, so it was time to get back on the cable car and head all the way down Powell.

We made it to the bottom!

Next up, we walked to Market Street to pick up a bus to Haight Ashbury.

They are both bundled up, but it was actually on the mild side (although breezy on the cruise boat).

In 1969,  some years after the infamous prison closed, the American Indian Movement claimed the Island as their own and stayed until they were forced off  by federal marshall about 18 months later in 1971.  That occupation was an awakening of the American Indian culture and was a step towards the Indian rights movement.

Alcatraz was the location of the west coast’s first lighthouse.  It was also a military fortification and the west coast harbor defense during the Civil War.  The Army eventually turned the Island into a military prison and then into the infamous federal prison until it closed on March 21, 1963.  The Indian occupation was next in the history chain, along with other civil rights movements, until in 1976 it was designated as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  Amazing all of the things nuggets of info one learns on these trips!

We initially started walking the grounds, visiting the various outbuildings and the warden’s residence which are weathered, crumbling, and roofless — just the type of structures I like photographing!

In addition to the sea birds, there are also all types of interesting flowers and plants.

Eventually we made our way inside.

Of course the first thing I had to do was goof around and put Mike in a jail cell – complete with his audio headphones on!

The cells are far smaller than I imagined they would be.

The prison is noted for housing some of the most notorious criminals such as Al Capone and Robert Stroud (aka the “Birdman of Alcatraz”).  The saying was “If you break the law you go to prison, if you break the prison laws, you go to Alcatraz.” Alcatraz, or “The Rock.”

Cell Block-D, where Robert Stroud spent most of his time.
The cell blocks are dismal, and our audio tour detailed many stories of dire conditions such as “The Hole,” a solitary sensory deprivation cell measuring 9x5x7 feet located in the D-Block section.

The prison houses less prisoners than I thought – the higest number being 302, the lowest 222, an the average some 260.

While it was all interesting, including the educational movie we watched, I was happy leaving the cells and exploring more of the outside.

The stairs leading to the courtyard.  This was Mike’s favorite area of the Island.

Although there were escape attempts, only Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers in 1962 escaped the institution and the island, although their survival was doubtful.  Escape from Alcatraz is the movie with Clint Eastwood portraying Morris.

While walking around the perimeter of the Island, there were some gorgeous views.

The audio tour also noted that the city view from the upper level of the jail cells were a form of torture because freedom was so close yet so very far.