It's an SF Like You've Never Seen

To All Digital Traveler Visitors,

If you've got an inkling to learn about photography and enjoy San Francisco, consider getting my new book,

50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in San Francisco.

It's an exciting way to see San Francisco if you can't get there right away, and if you can follow the photography trips outlined in the book.

Tips for Artists Who Want to Sell

I grabbed a shot of this image in L.A. I wasn't supposed to photograph it; however my camera went off by mistake as I was walking past it.

I'll rewrite what it says here:

TIPS FOR ARTISTS WHO WANT TO SELL

*GENERALLY SPEAKING, PAINT-
INGS WITH LIGHT COLOR SELL
MORE QUICKLY THAN PAINTINGS
WITH DARK COLORS

*SUBJECTS THAT SELL WELL:
MADONNA AND CHILD, LANDSCAPES
FLOWER PAINTINGS, STILL LIFES
(FREE OF MORBID PROPS---
DEAD BIRDS, ETC.) NUDES, MARINE
PICTURES, ABSTRACTS AND SUR-
REALISM

*SUBJECT MATTER IS IMPOR-
TANT: IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT PA-
INTINGS WITH COWS AND HENS
IN THEM COLLECT DUST
---WHILE THE SAME PAINTINGS
WITH BULLS AND ROOSTERS SELL

Prehistoric Murals

Mural in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Under a highway bridge lies art. I just love when I trip over a great mural such as this one. There's so much life in it.

The mural is one art form that goes all the way back to the cave man.

There are prehistoric murals in a cave in Lascaux, France. These were some of the first murals produced by humankind. They were discovered by 4 teens in 1940. So many people went in the cave where the murals were found that the carbon dioxide that people exhaled deteriorated the them. The cave was closed in 1963.

It was kind of sad to hear this story and the fact that the murals were restored. I think they should have left them alone.

At any rate, when you discover a mural, you get a gift of art.

All About San Francisco's Murals

This is a mural at 24th and Mission in San Francisco. It never made it into my book. 

Can't recall why; however, I do like this image because the people walking in the frame gives you an idea of how big the mural is. 

I also like the mural within a mural, which has colors that really pop out of the frame. 

Here's an excerpt about SF murals from my book: 

The Mission District is a mural haven, and Balmy St (it’s really an alley) is the haven’s focal point. It’s one of three alleys in the area lined by 24th and 25th St and Folsom and Harrison St. The alley has over 30 murals that change from time to time with themes such as human rights and Latin American culture that bring tolerance and justice front and center. These murals have been likened to those of the WPA (Work Projects Administration). WPA murals can be found in the Coit Tower and Beach Chalet photo ops. Unlike the WPA murals, the Balmy Alley murals (and the hundreds of other murals throughout the city) are very diversified both in the media used and in the subject matter. 

The mural project on Balmy Street, began in the 70s, when various muralist groups such as the Mujeres Muralistas (women muralists) constructed works to celebrate women’s lives. In 1985, Balmy Alley went into full-swing with mural displays. During that year 22 artists painted murals up and down the street to educate people about topics such as United States’ intervention in Central America. Precita Eyes (precitaeyes.org), which sponsors and implements mural projects, offers maps of locations of Mission District murals ($3) and Saturday tours where you see over 60 murals in a 10 block walk.

Press Release

Writing is a job that goes hand-in-hand with photography. I just finished writing the press release for my new book, 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in San Francisco.

Here it is. Let me know what you think.

San Francisco’s 50 Greatest Photo Ops Named in New Book

Matthew Bamberg is a skilled photographer, and it shows in the book, 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in San Francisco, where he takes the ordinary to a much higher level. The book explains in a straightforward manner about the elements of a pleasing composition, and if you need a refresher course on things like composition, depth-of-field, shooting modes, bokeh, exposure compensation, focal length, ISO speeds, lens choice, lighting, metering, post-processing, and RAW format, then this book is for you.

San Francisco is one of the most unique and popular travel destinations in the world, filled with interesting architecture, lively street life, secluded getaways, and breathtaking views. If you plan on documenting your trip through pictures, then this is your guide to making the most of your photography in San Francisco. You’ll learn where to find the most interesting views, when to shoot them, and how to recreate the images you see in these pages. All the research, location scouting, and planning have been done for you so you can spend your time in San Francisco taking stunning photographs. Equal parts photo essay and how-to, The 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in San Francisco is meant to complement your traditional city guidebook and show you how to capture the memories of your trip with professional-quality images.

Matthew Bamberg is a photographer who has lived in San Francisco for almost 20 years, and now resides in Palm Springs, CA. He began his career in the arts as a graduate student at San Francisco State University in 1992. His work in the visual and media arts included video production and software applications. He completed his M.A. in Creative Arts in 1997. After being a public school teacher for 14 years, Bamberg became a photographer and writer. He began to photograph for the articles he was writing while working for the Desert Sun and Palm Springs Life magazine. He then went on to author, Digital Art Photography for Dummies and coauthor the Pentax K200D Guide to Digital Photography. He is currently working on the book, 101 Quick and Easy Secrets to Create Winning Photographs.

The Phone Booth--A Dying Breed

Now that I just finished my current new book, 101 Quick and Easy Secrets to Create Winning Photographs, which comes out in April, I'm ready for a new project.

I'd love to do a book about phone booths. I have quite a collection of them, and since they are disappearing at a lightening-fast rate, I think now is the time.

The only problem is that I don't have a publisher for that one. Of course, I really haven't looked yet. But I'm not optimistic about a book like that being published.

But, hey, with two books out this year, I'm not complaining.

Drought and Disease in Yosemite Valley

I can remember a couple of decades ago when pine trees in California were robust and healthy--thick, plentiful branches soaring to the sky. The branches soar to the sky but now many of these trees are stricken by disease. They aren't the best subjects for photographers any more.

The most common disease to strike pines is the Armillaria Root Disease. It's effects are devastating trees all over the U.S.

Next is the canker (sounds horrible, doesn't it). It discolors trees. You'll see resin seeping out from various places on the trunk of the tree. Once the trunk of the tree is affected, it's pretty much over for that tree.

For more about tree diseases go here.

To get pictures of healthy trees you have to go up to British Columbia, a journey I want to make someday. If anyone has some photos of BC trees, please send us a link.