Mount Tamalpais Vista Photo

Photographer’s Note

Shelter Bay is an extension of Richardson Bay, which is part of San Francisco Bay. A few days ago we were on Mount Tamalpais looking southeast toward the San Francisco skyline. In this image we're in Mill Valley, gazing northwest across Shelter Bay toward the mountain. Although the mountain is little more than a molehill compared with the majestic mountains of the Sierra Nevada, at 2592 feet in elevation it is one of only a few high points around the Bay, offering vistas, as well as a point of reference for both locals and visitors. The mountain has over 200 miles of trails and is a major destination for mountain bikers as well as hikers, hang gliders and folks who want to share a picnic while looking down at this beautiful scenery.

On this paricular day fog had entered the Golden Gate and was flooding over the Marin Headlands, extending north toward Mount Tam. It was a beautiful day to be taking photos. I hope you enjoy this one.

carper, Roly, phi729, Nottinghill, Liora, pamastro, elroyie has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (64484) 2004-08-22 2:21

I love the shot, Curtis,
Good composition, good colours, nice depth in the shot, good note.

Thanks for the cow site.

Roly (1958) 2004-08-22 2:46

Skillful use of the shoreline as a composition element. In the same time, there is a bit too much plain sky in this image. The bottom half of the picture is very pleasant, but a point of interest is missing. I wonder if the lack of sharpness in the background is because of the missing tripod? I rarely was able to shoot a sharp landscape from hand.

phi729 (2099) 2004-08-22 3:18

Hello Curtis:)
Beautiful clarity (Mount Tamalpais, sky) and good balance between the elements in the frame. I like a lot the diagonal offered by the river bank in the foreground : The green algaes compose well with the rocks in the right side. Your notes are also rich and very interesting about your lovely California area.

Liora (1857) 2004-08-22 10:13

The mountain looks just fine Curtis... If fact, I wonder how come it's green while the mountains in the rest of your photos were dry... (Did I just display intolerable ignorance?). I like the fog's contours - looks like a white mountain... Well captured!

pamastro (7213) 2004-08-23 0:17

Very nice colors. That's what really stands out to me here at first. Then the scenery is beautiful, also, and well photographed from this point of view. The water has especially strong texture to it. ANd it looks swift and cold. The fog continues the movement as it creeps over the landscape like a monster. I'd be tempted at a bit of a crop. Just to below the high cloud. But then it looks great like this. Well done.

elroyie (2750) 2004-08-23 14:53

Very good composition with great light, the fog that 'attacking' the mountain is great and very interesting, very good use of low angle picture.