Word on the street

In Chinatown, 2004  (from my collection of street scenes) -Mark Scantling

Store owners cupping their hands
To wave in the masses
Like creating a movement in water,
Like diving to the bottom of the ocean
In search of treasures to resurface
From the other side of the world.
The colors yellow and green.
The sidewalk smells warm.
The air, saltwater
And the metallic sweat
Of healing balls and chirping boxes.
Traffic mixes exhaust
With ducks roasting in their own fat
As the San Francisco
Rises in America,
As it always has,
From the East.

- from “Morning in Chinatown” by Suzanne Burns

Photo Friday

NOVEMBER LIGHT, 2004 -Mark Scantling

This picture was taken on my last visit to San Francisco in November, ’04. The weather had been beautiful the previous two days. Wednesday started out the same, but clouds began forming by the time I’d had my breakfast at Max’s and taken the long bus ride across town to the Legion of Honor Museum. I spent an hour viewing the exhibits – the Rodin sculptures were very enjoyable, and had lunch at the museum’s patio. Leaving, I took a moment to enjoy the view of the pacific, then I headed on foot, north, to find  beach access.

Ever the tourist – I toted my Nikon 35mm, Mamiya C-3 medium format camera, film, gear, etc. in my bag (about 20 lbs.). Ironically, this photo (my favorite from that day’s shooting) was made with my 3mp Nikon Coolpix I carried in my pocket. It turned out to be the workhorse from that trip.

As I entered the beach access the Golden Gate Bridge came into view. The mid-afternoon angle of the sun, and the clouds allowed the colors to pop. I grabbed this shot, then spent the next hour-and-a-half strolling along the shore shooting Baker Beach – awed by the views of the ocean, the beach, the bridge.  There was also a naked beach guy.

-Mark