Who let the inmates out...

Tourism is a big deal in San Francisco.  Visitors from all over the world gather here.  With any tourist place, there's a whole bunch of vendors selling stuff.

These visitors must have really went nuts over Alcatraz.  I give this entire group a lot of credit for having just the sheer nerve of walking around in the Alcatraz garb.

I wasn't able to place the accent when they were talking but one thing for certain, they really knew how to enjoy themselves.

Improving Education...

Here's an idea.  Let's get back to basics.
California is near the bottom in terms of education results.  The United States as a whole is well behind other countries in the world.  Throwing money at the problem isn't the only solution.  Someone has to look at what is working elsewhere and perhaps do something that education did teach us long ago..... learn from the past.

I'm entitled...

A cute girl walking in front of the car while the camera is in my hand.... ok, I'm human and I'm entitled since I've kept this blog rated "PG" all this time  ;-)

Start of another morning....

Just something about the early morning light.

Go Giants....

You really have to be a diehard Giants fan to put out all this effort.  If they wanted attention... boy did they get it.  The media jumped all over this truck along with a whole bunch of Giants fans waiting to get in to today's game.

Geometry....

Straight lines.

What Dogs really feel at times........

"This is what I really think about you humans"

Let the world move around us......

A crowded area with a whole bunch of visitors around them, yet these two young people had not a care in the world except for each other.... had to end this week on a happy note!  
By the way, remember to see this and more on my web site  http://stevefoonphotography.blogspot.com.

Mother Nature will one day reclaim it all....

A factoid.  Sacramento is actually built on top of itself in order to raise the street level above the Sacramento River.  This column once was part of a building that is now a small open area park at the original street level.

Goldfinger...

For some reason... looking at this picture, I keep on hearing Shirley Bassey singing the title song "Goldfinger" in my head.

Busted...

The key to successful Street Photography is to capture those moments in time.  To do so not by sneaking around with a "pen camera" or some other spy equipment.  The key to the art is to blend in and take images that appear in view.  By law, anyone out in public automatically surrenders a certain degree of privacy and as a member of the National Press Photographers Association, I am duty bound to adhere to their standards.  Every once in a while, you are outright caught taking a photo.  This young lady caught me and gave me a quick smile.  What can I say... I'm human.

Meet our Senior Policy Advisor......

Considering all the jokers we have making decisions, who's to say this guy can't do any better.

Something soothing for the work week....

Just some plants, water and rocks..... it's a Zen thing.

Being the Boss has it's Privileges

You never know what you'll find walking around.  That's the magic of street photography.
Right outside of Alioto / Lazio Sea Food in the middle of the driveway, he took his chair and decided to camp out.   Yes, he was still breathing.  Must be nice being the boss.

Who's winning?

The Empty Chairs and Empty Table question has been solved.  The question now is... who is winning the game?

To Downtown

There's been too many black and white images lately.....
Just wanted to add some color with this sign in Old Sacramento.

Empty chairs and empty table..........

In the middle of a high traffic area, someone set up two chairs, a fold up table and what appears to be the game of "GO".  The amazing thing is that the people who set this up wasn't around and with all the people traffic in the area, no one disturbed the game.

A Lot on the Mime

I was going to save this image for the book.  Taking time out from performing and deep in thought.

You can also see this very same image on my Gallery page on the Leica Fotografie International site (http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/lfigallery   (Click on "To the LFI Gallery" and search on "Steve Foon Images")

You can always count on me...

There are times where there is no better friend than the unconditional love of our pets.
Sorry for the image quality, this one was really cropped down.

For God's Sake.....

You know the can is full.  Stop and take your damn trash to another can !  There was trash all over.... in the sand and in the water too.  What is more insulting is that not more than 50 feet away were two other garbage cans that were only half full.  Come on!  We're humans..... oooops, maybe that's the problem?

Reality Check

When is this going to stop?  There's something really wrong where scenes like this still exists.

I like what this bird has to say....

The bird has the right attitude !

To all my friends:  If you wish to be removed from my email list, please let me know.  I didn't realize that a copy of the image was sent on each email alert that my blog site sends also sends the images.  The official website is http://stevefoonphotography.blogspot.com   I currently also have a Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_foon_photography/.  Lastly, I will soon have a gallery page on the Leica Fotographie International (LFI) site.

Plants are like the Energizer Bunny

All these trees were planted about 27 years ago.  They now have taken over an entire side and has hidden the fence that is behind this mini forrest.  They keep growing and growing and growing...

Crassula Ovata

This plant is well over 50 years old.  It's original place was destroyed years ago by a relative who didn't appreciate nature.  Luckily it was saved by my mom and to this day it still thrives.  The official name of this plant is Crassula Ovata.... commonly known as a Jade Plant, Friendship Tree, Lucky Plant or Money Plant.

Street Scenes

Goodwill Ambassador - Platinum.

Street Scenes 2

A crowd.  Wonderful sounds.  Applause from the audience...... Kevin Kooyumjian is back.

PLATINUM

There are many performers on the Streets of San Francisco.  Pantomimes are part of our landscape, but when someone is making our visitors smile, laugh and are walking away happy.... there's something going on here.  His name is Platinum.  His moves and the way he interacts with our visitors is a gift.  So the next time you are in Fisherman's Warf and you see a crowd of happy people.... take a minute, take a look and support our local artists !

A Young Fan....

Hello !?!?.....

Time to meet the public......

A Memory now formed.....

Walking down the hall of history.......

Taken at Fort Point.  Can you imagine if these walls could talk?  It's sort of scary to wonder that if you were to walk down this hall, are you going somewhere back in time?  Got the sense of the Twilight Zone when this was shot.  No tourists in the area.  Only me and this space.  I expected to see a ghost.

Good name for a place to eat......

While walking the streets of Old Sacramento, I saw this sign and just thought it was interesting and creative.  Wonder how people would take to the sign if it read "SKINNY's - Catering and Banquet Facility"?  By the way.... it was 102* that day.  Fat's would be Skinny after walking around in that heat.

Water Landing

I better watch out because before I know it, I'll be shoe horned into being a "bird photographer".  Just that animals make excellent subjects.  This seagull flew in for a water landing at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Tower....air wing 404 ready for take off.......

I drove past all these birds on my way to see if the surfboard gang was out riding the waves.  On my way back, these birds were still there.  Never pass up an opportunity.  The first shots taken with the 70-200mm was too far and I didn't want them to fly away.  These shots were taken with the 200-400mm at about 20 yards away.

Cleared for take off...........

Make room, make room, give me some space......

Talk about traffic in the skies.....

Off we go... into the wild blue.. uh... grey yonder.....

Something about Aircraft Carriers......

A while back I gave the Russian Navy some coverage with their visit to San Francisco.  I was surprised to learn it was the first Russian Navy ship on US shores since the time of Czar Nicholas.

Anyway..... the carrier in the photo is that of the USS Hornet - CV12 docked at the former Alameda Naval Air Station.  She's famous for being the carrier that was used to pick up our Apollo astronauts during a time where our country can do amazing things.

Now that the USS Enterprise - CVN65 is due to be decommissioned in a couple of years, perhaps we'll have her next to the Hornet.  Enterprise called Alameda home for many years.

The Girls play too.....

A factoid.... this competition has windsurfers from all over the world.  Brazil, Germany, Canada, etc...

Getting Ready to compete.....

Obviously the need to be focused before competing.

I was impressed that with over half of the competitors out in the Bay, this young man took the time to mentally prepare for the competition.

2010 US Windsurfing Nationals

Ending this Sunday - July 25, the US Nationals and International Competition is being held at Crissy Field in San Francisco.  This photo was taken from the shore with the windsurfers at least 2 miles away.  Sorry for the hazy photo..... the overcast was heavy in the Bay.  More images to follow.....

Wasn't it... "why did the chicken cross the road?"

Bird.... I see something

Bird.... what's in the hole?

Bird.... the story ends

Where there are Surfer Guys..... there's gotta be......

.... there are Surfer Girls.
It may not be Southern California, South Florida or Hawaii..... but the tradition still exists!

Surf's Up !

Fort Point.  Rocky shore and great waves.  A bunch of surfers were out in the water.  After taking about 1000 shots over an hour, I started to understand the fascination of riding a wave.  Catching the right wave and riding it through...... what a rush.  Sorry, I'm too old for that...... stuff.

Sounds of the City....... this is good!

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are so accustomed to hearing artists performing.

Walking back to the car from a recent photo shoot at Pier 39, there was a wonderful sound in the air.

When someone is good.... really good.... you take notice.



The musician is Kevin Kooyumjian.  You can find his work at http://www.smoothlivejazz.com or on iTunes.