The Triple Threat: A 2018 Summer Dream
"In the San Francisco Bay Area, we don't just chase light; we chase the perfect altitude."
The Story
It takes three rare conditions to align for a "Fog Dream" like this: low-lying fog, a vibrant sunset, and the patience to be in the right place across the Bay.
In the summer of 2018, I found myself in the Berkeley Hills, looking back at San Francisco. For those of us living in the South Bay, catching the fog is often a race against time—by the time you see it, it’s usually too late. Thankfully, tools like the Windy app now give us a glimpse into the atmosphere's plans, but nature always keeps the final vote.
That evening, the prediction held true. The marine layer rolled in at the perfect height, swallowing the city streets but leaving the Bay Bridge towers and Twin Peaks Tower standing like islands in a white sea. As the sun dipped low, the sky ignited with the red clouds I had hoped for.
Field Notes
To capture the "feeling" of that moment, I used a long exposure. This allowed me to smooth the turbulent fog into a soft, glowing blanket while capturing the faint streaks of car trails and the slow movement of the red clouds above.
Long exposure of San Francisco fog at sunset from Berkeley Hills with Bay Bridge towers
Camera: Sony A7R3
Lens: 70-200mm f/2.8 (Shot at 135mm)
Settings: $f/18$ | 30s | ISO 100
Technique: Long Exposure & Tripod stability.
