I had been to San Francisco once before, but I had never seen the Golden Gate Bridge, (don't ask me how that happened). I was absolutely stoked once my family decided to do the Highway 1 road trip, from LA to San Francisco, along the winding California coast in November 2016.
But I was most excited for this photo. I've seen photos of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of its glory countless times on Instagram. I pictured the image in my mind, the bridge emerging underneath a layer of fog while glowing in its trademark red appearance.
On our last night in San Francisco, I somehow managed to convince my mom to drive me to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so I could finally get this photo. It's incredibly frustrating to not be able to drive a rental car by myself to my photo ops.
Immediately as we got off the exit for the park, we drove right into a line of traffic. After sitting in the car for about 10 minutes, we managed to get a parking spot about 1.5 miles from Battery Spencer, where I had planned to shoot. I got out of the car, and sped-walked 1.5 miles to the viewpoint, next to a line of tourists, with my camera on my back and tripod in hand as the sun sank lower over the horizon.
Finally I reached my destination and set up. I probably took around 100 of the same photos while waiting for the perfect light. Eventually, the sun sank and welcomed the perfect soft dusk lighting for the bridge and surrounding city-scape. I was completely lost in the scene. My mom probably called me several times, urging me to come back to the car so we could make our dinner reservation. I don't know how she expected me to leave my perfect moment.
The fog wasn't there, but the colors that the departing sun painted on the sky easily made up for it. I stretched my shutter speed for as long as possible for the car trails while trying not to sacrifice the overall exposure.
It was after I had captured my long-anticipated Golden Gate photo and walked back along the trail towards the car that I realized that this is what I was meant to do.
I was meant to drive my mom crazy with my photo opportunities.
I was meant to walk the extra mile to reach the best spot.
I was meant to carry more weight in camera gear than any other type of equipment.
I was meant to stand on edges and cliffs.
I was meant to be in constant search of beauty.
I was meant to press the shutter.
Today, I realize that I must continue to live my life with this purpose.