Where the Bay Opens

About this piece

The Golden Gate Bridge enters from the rocky Marin shoreline, its red towers rising above the pale blue-green water. Sailboat masts and the distant San Francisco skyline balance the bridge’s sweeping geometry, while the broad harbor foreground gives the panorama its spacious calm.

The story

I framed the harbor with enough room for the water to become the center of the scene. To my right, the bridge swept out from the hillside; to my left, a line of masts echoed the distant city. What held my attention was the space between them, the quiet expanse beneath a changing sky. I wanted the photograph to hold that balance: a familiar landmark, and the breathing room around it.