Comments on: San Francisco's greatest portals

Question: San Francisco's greatest portals

markkraft — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:01:34 -0800

SFFilter! I have a friend who has a photography assignment due on Monday -- six photos, with the theme of portals/entrances. They need to take photos of six distinctive entranceways/ doorways/ portals/ passages in San Francisco. Places that open up to amazing, distinctive sights and vistas... possibly even some outdoor locations, garden gates, etc. that are semi-enclosed, and have interesting subjects behind them. They'd especially appreciate Art Deco subjects and locations within walking distance of the downtown. Can the MeFi hivemind recommend some great portals to shoot, with a sense of mystery, wonder, and excitement on what lies beyond?

By: dreamyshade

dreamyshade — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:21:36 -0800

The PacBell building (another angle), Shell building, and 450 Sutter all have similar grand deco-style entrances, and you could easily find three more like them by walking around downtown. I don't know whether they'd inspire very creative shots though; they're sort of straightforward.

Xanadu Gallery by Union Square has a geometric Frank Lloyd Wright-designed entrance.

There are also some less architecturally distinctive options that might be fun - the "no parking" signs on garages everywhere in SF, the tunnels, the metal gates of the Sunset, that kind of thing.

By: ryanshepard

ryanshepard — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:28:04 -0800

The entrance to the Li Po Lounge (916 Grant Ave.).

By: Kafkaesque

Kafkaesque — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:49:42 -0800

Cayuga Park (admittedly not in downtown--it's in Excelsior off Geneva) has some nice weirdness. It's full of wood carvings of all sorts, and has a little gate that says "The Garden of Eden". I got some really nice shots there, and it's definitely different.

By: vickyverky

vickyverky — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:53:17 -0800

The Hearst Building is downtown/FiDi.

By: Ruthless Bunny

Ruthless Bunny — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:54:32 -0800

I know there aren't any actual doors, but for some reason the Sutro Baths seem super relevant to this. I believe that the 2 Clement Muni bus will get you here.

Dashiell Hammett's Apartment. Relevant because he wrote detective fiction in the 1930's. The Maltese Falcon....

Coit Tower, take the 39 Coit right up there. The building is so cool and inside are WPA murals.

Iconic for sure, but a wealth of neat photos.

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:11:05 -0800

Portals of the Past -- Golden Gate Park.

The Russ Building also has a pretty impressive entrance.

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:13:54 -0800

Also, can't believe no one has mentioned the Chinatown Gates.

By: Sunburnt

Sunburnt — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:45:33 -0800

How about the Golden Gate itself?

edit: from the Pacific Ocean, if possible.

By: loquat

loquat — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:41:56 -0800

I was blown away by wedding pictures a couple took at San Francisco City Hall with the beautiful architectural details, particularly the ones taken in front of the various entrances. I can't believe people actually get to work in a building that gorgeous!

By: animalrainbow

animalrainbow — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:09:32 -0800

Berwick Place in SOMA is both entered through a narrow passageway and has the appearance of portals (the murals look like the view through the arches they are painted under)

By: carmicha

carmicha — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:16:29 -0800

The Ghiberti Doors at Grace Cathedral.

By: Zed

Zed — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:07:57 -0800

Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

By: Quietgal

Quietgal — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:38:15 -0800

Art Deco + gardens + vistas = Telegraph Hill! It offers beautiful views from many spots and there are some classy Art Deco apartment buildings there too. The Marchant Gardens off the Filbert Steps, and a few private yards off the Greenwich Steps, make for lovely framing. From the Filbert Steps walk along the funky wooden sidewalks and look for cool doorways - there's a slightly otherwordly feel to these little cul-de-sacs. There's a short walkway off the Greenwich Steps that ends in a filigree iron gate which frames a lovely view of the bay. Just walk around - photo opportunities are everywhere.

By: smirkette

smirkette — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:17:14 -0800

Vistas: Knock around the Presidio a bit--there are ton there. Also: Land's End and Sutro Heights Park

Entrance: a bit of a cheat, but maybe? You drive in from Marin, your friend shoots the Waldo Tunnel framing the City like a freaking stage proscenium!

By: clorox

clorox — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:23:15 -0800

I like the entryway at 235 Montgomery (self-link photo!).

By: buttercup

buttercup — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:28:32 -0800

Only having visited SF twice, I'm fascinated by the old theatres turned into parking garages in the Mission.

By: markkraft

markkraft — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:35:49 -0800

Thanks everyone! Due to time limitations, we narrowed the trip to City Hall, 450 Sutter, the Chinatown gates, the Shell building, The Russ Building, and also to the Palace Hotel. The whole trip took about two hours to photograph, but less than an hour to walk.

That said, it's great having all the other suggestions as well... I wouldn't be surprised if some of them turned up in later assignments!