Category Archives: Museum

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

2010/10/20 – 04:53

Withstanding the development boom in Sacramento’s Downtown, Stutter’s Fort claims a large block of prime real estate. It is a monument to the frontier spirit of early California settlers and to globetrotting John Sutter.

John Sutter, a self-made emigrant from Germany, built the fort as a trading post after traveling for years and making a name for himself. His influence grew and his generosity was legendary, until the discovery of gold attracted too much attention and he lost a lot of his fortune.
Rifles at Sutter's Fort

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Fort, Gold Country, Northern California, Sacramento, state park | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph the San Francisco Maritime Museum

2010/10/14 – 04:48

Ahoy Sailors and Photographers! Step on the historic Hyde Street Pier vessels and back in time. Discover a piece of California’s marine history at San Francisco’s Maritime National Historic Park.

San Francisco’s history is that of a seafaring people. Ships brought the first conquistadores, the gold diggers, and the settlers and hauled goods back to the old world. The Maritime Park aims to preserve this history and educate interested visitors. The easy access to these photogenic ships makes this also a prime location for photography. Even better, your fellow travelers can stay busy while you shoot a feature every travel photographer highly values.
<img class="size-full wp-image-1802" title="bulls-eye" src="http://myphotoscout.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/bulls-eye.jpg" alt="Bulls Eye, San Francisco Maritime Museum" width="450" height="300" /

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, golden gate, Marine, national park, Northern California, San Francisco, Skyline, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments (2)

The California State Railroad Museum

2010/09/29 – 05:15

Travel back in time to the golden era of train travel and discover the most beautiful transportation machinery ever conceived in the California State Railroad Museum. It upholds the title of “Largest Railroad Museum in North America” with an impressive collection of fire breathing and steam puffing iron horses.

At some point it must have been every child’s dream to steer one of these monsters and be the hero of other like-minded children. At least it was mine, as I observed the last of the giant steam locomotives put on a show of a giant white plume of smoke while blowing their deafening air-horns. Eventually, smaller and more efficient diesel electric locomotives replaced these beautiful machines and I grew up to become something else. However, the romantic mystique of the steam engines stayed with me to this day.

Transcontinental Railroad

By myphotoscout | Also posted in central valley, Gold Country, Northern California, Sacramento, state park, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Filoli

2010/09/01 – 05:24

The owner of California’s richest Gold Mine and water trader William Bowers built a lavish estate south of San Francisco, naming it Filoli. It is one of the few remaining estates of that period and the only one open to the public in the San Francisco Bay Area. Even Hollywood recognized the potential of this location. They famously featured the mansion in the 1980ies hit TV show “Dynasty” and several feature films, making it one of the best-known secrets in the Bay Area.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation manages the estate with an iron fist. Volunteer enforcers stand by with a head full of facts and policies. They enjoy surrendering countless details and chastising you for accidentally stepping on the lawn or for other small offenses. Manage to avoid the drill sergeants and a Georgian mansion set in a huge 16-acre garden on a 654-acre property is all yours to explore. At least the parts you can see from the official walkways.
Filoli - Carrington Mansion

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, flowers, landmark, Northern California, park, San Francisco | Tagged , , , | Comments (7)

How to photograph the RMS Queen Mary

2010/07/14 – 05:45

Only the advent of affordable transatlantic flights put an end to the dominance of the great ocean liners. The Queen Mary, larger and more powerful than the Titanic, crossed the Atlantic Ocean 1,001 times. During one of these crossings during World War II, she carried American Troops establishing a record of the most people ever carried on a vessel that still stands today.

Impressive size, stateliness, and scenery still characterize this impressive ship, even after its conversion into a Long Beach hotel. You can tour the ship and discover the magic of the great ocean liners, of an area where the wealthy traveled in style.
Bow of the Queen Mary

By myphotoscout | Also posted in beach, Coast, landmark, Los Angeles, Marine, Skyline, South Coast, Southern California | Tagged | Comments (5)

How to photograph Silver City Ghost Town

2010/06/30 – 05:38

When a slightly eccentric couple started collecting historic buildings from several counties and put them together into an artificial city within a city, they had no idea that their work would become Bodfish’s number one attraction.

Bodfish?

Bodfish is a small unassuming city near Lake Isabella, at the southern corner of the Sierra Nevada.
Silver City

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Ghost Town, Kern County, Sierra Nevada, Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph La Purisima Mission SHP

2010/05/26 – 18:49

The extensive complex of the La Purisima Mission entails the church, workshops, gardens, and living quarters. It presents a detailed picture of mission life in the early 19th Century. With ten of its original buildings fully renovated, La Purisima Mission is the most completely restored mission in California.

It is also one of the most photogenic missions.
La Purisima Mission

By myphotoscout | Also posted in California Missions, Central Coast, Faith, landmark, Southern California, state park | Tagged , , , | Comments (11)

How to photograph Mission San Jose

2010/05/20 – 15:36

Founded in 1797, Mission San Jose quickly became one of the most prosperous. Nearly 2,000 Indians lived here, tending the land and animals.

The Mission is named after St. Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, who also lent his name to nearby San Jose, the unofficial capital of the Silicon Valley.
San Jose Mission Church: interior view

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, California Missions, Faith, flowers, Northern California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

The San Diego Maritime Museum

2010/03/02 – 05:28

The San Diego Maritime Museum captivates mariners, photographers, and casual visitors alike. The impressive collection of historic vessels, the fabulous exhibits, and the premier downtown location make the museum a fantastic lifetime experience.

The museum preserves the ships in a seaworthy state and even offers the occasional cruise. You can book a harbor cruise or explore the moored ships with your camera. The excellent weather and the fantastic shooting opportunities make a trip to the museum a guaranteed success for your next shooting adventure.

Step aboard the old ships and replicas and discover the age of sail, the age of steam, and the silent submarine service era of the Cold War!
Star of India steering wheel and engraving

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, landmark, Marine, San Diego, Southern California | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

How to photograph the Getty Center

2009/12/29 – 04:33

Resting on a stunning hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty Center overlooks the vast city landscape of greater Los Angeles. Its exceptional contemporary architecture, colorful gardens and sweeping views are the main attraction for photographers. Meier, the architect, built almost the entire complex with travertine stone. It exerts a sterile, futuristic flair upon visitors as if it jumped straight from a science fiction novel.

The intricate interplay of light and shadows, shapes and architecture provide near limitless compositions. Photographers can get lost in the possibilities and strain the understanding of fellow travelers. Each place seems to change its character throughout the course of the day, making it impossible for you to leave.
Getty Center Cafe

By myphotoscout | Also posted in landmark, Los Angeles, night, Skyline, Southern California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)
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