Shawn Clover

Inside the Old Fleishhacker Pool House

Shawn Clover — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:57:31 +0000

It was the largest pool in the world and a San Francisco icon. At 1000 feet long by 160 feet wide and holding 6.5 million gallons of filtered saltwater pumped in from the Pacific Ocean across the street, the pool was so huge that the lifeguards patrolled in rowboats. The Fleishhacker Pool opened in 1925 and welcomed thousands of daily swimmers and hosted national swim meets with thousands of spectators. The 25 cent admission fee (15 cents for children) bought swimmers pool admission, access to the pool house’s dressing rooms and showers, as well as a bathing suit and towel for the day. Admittance also included access to the mammoth pool house’s cafeteria and childcare center.

But with the cold ocean fog frequently blanketing the pool, the novelty began to wear off as shivering pool-goers sought out warmer climates. Attendance dropped and the pool’s cost to the city climbed. In 1943, the pool found a new purpose as it served as an ideal training ground for American troops training for amphibious beach assaults. After the war, maintenance on the pool was severely underfunded by the city, and in 1971, the pool closed forever and the pool house was boarded up.

In 1999, the city turned over the pool and its accompanying ramshackle pool house to the San Francisco Zoo. The zoo filled in the huge pool with gravel and converted the space to a parking lot. But the pool house has endured. The imposing structure still stands between the Great Highway and the zoo’s parking lot. The dilapidated building is riddled with holes in its soggy roof and is covered in moss and graffiti. A fence surrounds the derelict building with warnings of arrest for trespassing.

Historic photos courtesy of SF History Center, SF Public Library

The haunting interior of the Fleishhacker pool house is like a scene straight out of a horror movie. Graffiti decorates every inch of the crumbling walls and scraps of bedding material, syringes, and cans of spent spray paint litter the dirt-covered wobbly floors. Homeless huddle in sleeping bags behind creaky doors in the dozens of rooms throughout the huge complex. Glowing beams of light infiltrate the collapsed rooftops and broken windows into the upper levels of the poolhouse. The staircase down to the basement takes a descent into a damp, pitch-black concrete expanse where laundry machines once sterilized towels and swimsuits for happy swimmers.

The future of the old Fleishhacker pool house is in limbo as its new owners debate what to do with it. For now, it continues to stand as a haunting edifice of San Francisco’s past.

Click photos to enlarge or start slideshow:

More about the old Fleishhacker Pool and its derelict, abandoned pool house on my website.'/>

The Fleishhacker Pool House from Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Welcome to Drawbridge: The Bay Area’s Ghost Town

Shawn Clover — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:53:29 +0000

Welcome to Drawbridge, CA
Population: 0
Elevation: 7 ft and sinking

Over a hundred years ago it was a bustling town and weekend getaway destination. Today Drawbridge is a peaceful wetland sanctuary with strewn remains of the the old town’s structures slowly collapsing and sinking into the bay. It is the only ghost town in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It all started in 1876. A tiny cabin was built on Station Island for an operator of the South Coast Pacific Railroad’s two drawbridges that crossed the sloughs that connected rails between Newark and San Jose. Before long, the drawbridge operator’s friends began to join him for some whiskey drinking, hunting, and fishing. Passersby riding the train saw all the fun to be had out in the secluded marshlands, and soon it became a regular train stop. By the 1880s, the tiny town would see 1,000 visitors flocking to its tucked away paradise on weekends for hunting and fishing.

By 1926, the town had reached its heyday, having grown to 90 buildings, many with wells and electricity. The residents split into two communities: The “stuck-up” Protestants lived in North Drawbridge, and the wilder Catholics resided in South Drawbridge. While quite a bit of feuding ensued, there were also “tide parties” where residents would row to neighbors’ houses for parties at high tide.

Then began the decline. Booming construction in nearby San Jose pumped millions of gallons of water and raw sewage into the wetlands. Drawbridge began to sink…and stink. The nearby salt industry also grew and the waterfowl fled for a less salty environment, leaving the hunters with nothing to hunt. In 1955 the trains no longer stopped in Drawbridge, and everyone moved away…all but two last residents, that is. Luce and Nellie “Shotgun” Dollin refused to leave and fired upon anyone who dared approach them. They were gone by 1979. Drawbridge was a ghost town.

I set out for an impromptu trek to Drawbridge one warm winter afternoon, completely unprepared for an urban exploration journey. As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, I set off down the rocky trail in designer jeans and nice shoes (soon to be trashed), with camera and tripod slung over my shoulder. As the miles wore on, the sights and city noise of Fremont diminished on the horizon as the nature of the bay’s magnificent wetlands came alive. The old drawbridges for which the town was named have been replaced by modern rail bridges currently traversed by the frequent Altamont Commuter Express train. Getting to the town involves crossing one of the narrow bridges, wide enough only for the width of the 70 mph train. Reminiscent of the infamous train bridge crossing scene in Stand By Me, I stood at the end of the bridge looking off to the distance in both directions for any sign of a train. I moved onward. Exactly midway across the bridge, I hear it–the wail of a train horn. Traaaaaain!!! My walk turned to a trot as the flickering headlight of the train brightened. I made it across with time to spare.

With not a soul to be found, only the sounds of rustling wetland vegetation and the honking of some 38 species of waterfowl filled the empty air. I spent a good hour exploring the twenty or so dilapidated remains of old gun clubs, a hotel, and houses. It’s the kind of place you can just sit and stare, soaking up the awe-inspiring scene of birds by the tens of thousands moving about. But with the sun slipping out of sight with nothing more than an eyelash of a moon in the sky, it was time for me to begin my flashlight-less journey back.

Drawbridge is now part of the US National Wildlife Refuge and a part of the largest wetland restoration ever attempted. They could have restored the town’s old buildings and turned it into a tourist attraction, but the feds made the right decision here: let nature grasp the remains of the tattered town and reclaim her land. Experiencing the beauty of these wetlands firsthand, I knew this was the only way to go. Within the next few decades, all sign of human habitation here will completely disappear.

Note that Drawbridge is off limits to the public.

China: Land of Dragons, Emperors, and 1.3 Billion People

Shawn Clover — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:56:49 +0000

After nearly two weeks of braving the rain and snow, feasting on donkey meat and chicken feet, inhaling pea-soup smog, and running through the streets being chased by shopkeepers, we have survived China. (And why does everyone ask if I made it home alive? Do foreigners tend to vanish when they visit China?) The city streets are jam-packed with horn-blaring cars rushing to squeeze into every conceivable gap in the streets. And the pedestrians scramble to dodge them: the vehicle is the king-of-right-of-way here.

Yet despite all the furious-paced craziness of Beijing and Shanghai, China is a country of stunning cultural heritage. The palaces are magnificent down to every detail. Walking the courtyards of the Forbidden City is like taking a majestic journey through a turbulent history. And only by trekking over miles of the Great Wall can you appreciate its magnitude as it snakes over distant hills to a pinpoint on the horizon. Modern Beijing and Shanghai possess ultra-modern architecture and sleek high-speed maglev and bullet trains.

Despite the photo-challenging elements of smog, snow, and rain, I think I managed to pull of a few decent shots of the people, ornate palaces, and ultra-modern architecture of Beijing and Shanghai:

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has four inner, 12 middle and 12 outer pillars, representing the seasons, months, and hours.'/>

This green guy adorns one of the structures in the Temple of Heaven complex.'/>

The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor.'/>

The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century.'/>

Outside the Temple of Heaven complex.'/>

Line 1 of the Beijing subway arrives at Tiananmen Square-East station.'/>

Chinese tourists take a break outside the Forbidden City.'/>

The Gate of Blending Harmony from the Inner Golden River Bridges in the Forbidden City.'/>

One of the massive bronze dragons guarding the Gate of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City.'/>

Cast in the 1400s, these giant pots held water for firefighting. Forbidden City, Beijing, China.'/>

Inside the Forbidden City.'/>

The Temple of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. This was the center of the universe in old China.'/>

Inside the Forbidden City.'/>

A bedroom in the Forbidden City in Beijing.'/>

Police officer, Beijing, China.'/>

A food vendor on the streets of Beijing.'/>

On the streets of Beijing.'/>

Various insects insects as a delicacy on the streets of Beijing.'/>

A street food chef on Wangfujing Xiaochi Jie (Small Eats Street) in Beijing, China.'/>

A mall in Beijing.'/>

On the streets of Beijing.'/>

Inside the Beijing Olympics Water Cube.'/>

A waterslide park in the Beijing Olympic Water Cube.'/>

Outside the Beijing Olympics Water Cube.'/>

The Beijing Olympics Bird's Next stadium on a quiet Fall night.'/>

The Beijing Olympics Bird's Nest with snow on the ground outside the gates.'/>

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.'/>

Both the outer and inner parapets of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China are crenelated with merlons, so that shots could be fired at the enemy on both sides.'/>

One of 22 watchtowers along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China.'/>

At the Ming Tombs in Beijing.'/>

A dragon carved into the stairways of the Hall of Eminent Favor in the Ming Tombs.'/>

Apartment buildings in Beijing.'/>

A panda bear sleeps at the Beijing Zoo.'/>

The National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing is a titanium accented glass dome that is completely surrounded by a man-made lake.'/>

The National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing is said to look like an egg floating on water, or a water drop.'/>

The National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing has titanium shell broken by a glass curtain in north-south direction that gradually widens from top to bottom.'/>

Yuan Ming Yuan gardens in Beijing.'/>

On a partially-frozen lake in Yuan Ming Yuan gardens in Beijing.'/>

A bridge in the Summer Palace complex in Beijing.'/>

The Marble Boat, also known as the Boat of Purity and Ease is a lakeside pavilion on the grounds of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.'/>

Boats parked on Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace complex, Beijing.'/>

The Long Corridor is a covered walkway in the Summer Palace features rich painted decoration of more than 14,000 paintings.'/>

Snow-covered rooftops in the Summer Palace, Beijing.'/>

One of many stairways climbing up Longevity Hill in the Summer Palace in Beijing.'/>

A worker rests in the Summer Palace, Beijing.'/>

The Hall of Dispelling Clouds is a complex of buildings forming the core part of the scenic area in the foreground of the hill at its center in the Summer Palace, Beijing.'/>

A woman roasts yams on the streets of Beijing.'/>

A metro arrives in one of the train terminals in the Beijing Airport.'/>

Inside the Beijing Airport.'/>

The streets of Shanghai, China.'/>

The centerpiece of the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum is a huge scale model of the city of Shanghai.'/>

A man reads a newspaper on the streets of Shanghai.'/>

A food vendor on the streets of Shanghai.'/>

A bicycle chained to a building on the streets of Shanghai.'/>

The futuristic metropolis of Pudong in Shanghai, China.'/>

Traveling by cable car through the strange and wild Bund Tunnel under the Huangpu River in Shanghai.'/>

Mega skyscrapers in Shanghai.'/>

Two window washers work on the side of the World Financial Center, the 4th tallest building in the world'/>

Looking down the spiraling atrium of the 88-story Jin Mao tower.'/>

Lights low and high in the Pudong district of Shanghai.'/>

Cars pass through a roundabout under the Oriental Pearl TV Tower'/>

In Pudong, Shanghai.'/>

Two new sculptures resembling the Rolls Royce Flying Lady in Lujiazui Central Green Space with the World Financial Center (left) in Pudong, Shanghai, China.'/>

The pedestrian mall of Nanjing Road, Shanghai.'/>

A couple takes shelter from the rain under a huge sculpture in People's Square, Shanghai.'/>

A man stands in contemplation in Old Town Shanghai.'/>

Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai.'/>

Serene hallways of Yuyuan Gardens in Old Town Shanghai.'/>

A peaceful section of the 16th century Yu Yuan garden in Old Town Shanghai'/>

Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai.'/>

Monorail shuttles whisk passengers through the Beijing Airport.'/>

The Old Abandoned Bayshore Roundhouse

Shawn Clover — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:37:45 +0000

Surrounded by barbed-wire fence lies an old Bay Area relic: the abandoned railroad roundhouse in Bayshore, just south of San Francisco.

The Bayshore Roundhouse was built between 1907 and 1910. Originally designed as a 40-stall Roundhouse, only 17 stalls were built under cover, the remaining outdoor tracks were called “Whisker” tracks.

From 1911 to 1958 the Roundhouse, railyard, track crews and shops employed as many as 3,000 people. Following the end of Steam power in 1958, the Roundhouse was used for stabling diesel locomotives. The workforce was gradually reduced and the shop buildings closed. The last day of work at Bayshore was Monday, October 25, 1982. In 1989 the Bayshore yards were sold. In October 2001 a fire started on one side of the Roundhouse, but was contained by the quick action of the Brisbane Fire Department and Brisbane Public Works Department.

The Bayshore Roundhouse was build between 1907 and 1910. Originally designed as a 40-stall Roundhouse, only 17 stalls were built under cover, the remaining outdoor tracks were called "Whisker" tracks. From 1911 to 1958 the Roundhouse, railyard, track crews and shops employed as many as 3,000 people. Following the end of Steam power in 1958, the Roundhouse was used for stabling diesel locomotives. The workforce was gradually reduced and the shop buildings closed. The last day of work at Bayshore was Monday, October 25, 1982. In 1989 the Bayshore yards were sold. In October 2001 a fire started on one side of the Roundhouse, but was contained by the quick action of the Brisbane Fire Department and Brisbane Public Works Department.'/>

Yikes I Got a Mac!

Shawn Clover — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:16:42 +0000

It’s with a heavy heart that I must say farewell to an old friend…for now.

I began dabbling in Linux since the early 90s and went all-in about seven years later when Ubuntu really started to shine. Linux has really matured into a beautiful and stable operating system over the years. I’ve participated in countless Linux-related projects and I believe in the open source foundation of Linux. It has always been that perfect OS for me.

My decision to switch to Mac came down to one thing: compatibility. While there are well-capable Linux versions and equivalents of 99% Windows/Mac software out there, there is one wall that I just can’t break down: Photoshop and Lightroom. I practically live in these two apps and getting them to work smoothly in Linux has been like pounding the proverbial square peg into a round hole. And Adobe just refuses to extend these industry standards to Linux users because they think we’re cheapskates. So I’ve had to struggle with launching the big Adobe apps in VMWare virtual Windows machines running inside Linux. Believe me, this has been nothing but a recipe for frustration. I could have purchased ten Photoshop and Lightroom licenses for the money I’ve poured into getting them to work in Linux.

Somehow Macs have always eluded me even though I can breeze through the deepest crevices of every version of Windows, OS2, UNIX, DOS, Commodore, and even Atari 8-bit. Maybe it’s the closed-platform architecture. Maybe it’s the cult-like throngs of Apple evangelists. There’s no bigger turnoff than fanboys who feel the need to be cheerleaders for their big corporation of choice. I’m not looking to join a particular OS religion, I just want what works best for me.

After a few hours in the Apple store, I realized one thing: Mac and Linux are like twin siblings separated at birth. The directory structure, the unix command line, and the interface–it’s all so similar and identical in so many ways. Of course, with Apple you get the pretty packaging, the polishing, the well-integrated hardware, and what I needed, the Adobe compatibility.

So I did it. I ordered fully-loaded and maxed-out iMac. I was going to wait for the new line of Mac Pros, but the new top-of-the-line iMacs seem to have the necessary performance. I’ll be pairing the 27″ monitor to my existing big monitors for a triple-monitor desktop. I could hear the echoes in my mind as I clicked the confirm button: “good gravy, what have I done?…”

This isn’t really goodbye–I’ll still be running Linux on my laptop, netbook, server, and TV media client machines. But the nucleus of my computer time–my desktop–is getting the big switcheroo. So all I can do is just hope that I don’t fall prey to that scary cult.

Viva la Linux! You’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Sniff, sniff….

I Went To Japan, Dattebayo!!!

Shawn Clover — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:35:48 +0000

In late June I jumped on a last-minute travel deal to Tokyo, two months after Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Back In Business

It’s been two months since the devastating earthquake and tsunami, but one thing is clear: Japan is back on its feet and welcoming visitors with open arms. Everyone I met was in high spirits and as friendly as can be. The only noticeable aftermath of the Fukushima plant disaster is a concerted effort at energy conservation, with landmarks like the Rainbow Bridge going dark at night. Other than that, the food is safe and the atmosphere is fine with independent measurements around Tokyo showing average radiation around Tokyo at about half the US average.

I hit the streets of Tokyo and Kamakura, walking daily marathons from 4:30am to nightfall trying to see everything in the short week I had.

Now This Is A Society!

Immediately after the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese people organized, sorted through the destruction, politely waited in line for rations, and immediately began rebuilding. No one wasted a minute waiting for government assistance. They even set up a system for reuniting victims with lost cash. Quite a contrast to the looting, rioting, and violence in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

I am in absolute heaven being among the efficient, organized, trustworthy, and polite Japanese society. When walking down the sidewalk, you walk on the left. When riding an escalator you stand on the left, pass on the right. When riding the metro, you don’t yak on the phone. When taking change, you put it in your pocket without counting it. When you’ve got a cold or flu, you wear a mask to prevent spreading germs to others. Now this is a civilized society!

From the youth at Odaiba to the alleyway Ramen Chefs, I never encountered a rude person. Not one. I can’t say that about any other country I’ve been to (well, Switzerland comes close). Only twice did I appear lost, and in both cases, locals approached me and asked if I needed help.

Photography In Japan

Being the home of Canon and Nikon, photography is welcome everywhere in Japan as you can imagine. The only places I found where photography is not allowed are inside shrines. I saw a few “No Photo” signs among piles of fish at Tsujiki Fish Market, but this is probably a result of clumsy tourists getting in the way of the fast-paced rush to get the fish out. Other than that, no one seems to care about picture-taking.

The Photos

I took thousands of photos. Here are a few quick ones so far. I still have much editing and HDR processing to do, so I’ll have to post the rest later.

Modern Japan

« prev 1 2 3 next »
(53 Photos)

Traditional Japan

Japanese People

200 Yards: A Photography Experiment

Shawn Clover — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:39:00 +0000

200 Yards is a San Francisco-based photo experiment presented as an offshoot project by the fine folks over at Lightbox SF.

The Concept

Choose a venue. The sponsors find a gallery in San Francisco to host the show.
Draw a 200 yard radius circle around said venue.
Set photographers loose in this 200 yard radius of the gallery to explore and photograph every detail of the neighborhood.
Display the best photos from the pool of photos submitted back at the venue–the nucleus of the 200 yard circle.

The Shows

Winners for Show #4 have been chosen. Two of my prints will be displayed among the 15 or so other prints that were chosen. Here are the details:

Dates: June 24 – July 22, 2011
Opening Reception: June 24, 6pm-9pm
Location: Dickerman Prints at 3180 17th St, San Francisco

So come on by and have a gander at the chosen prints. One of them that I got a preview of is a mind-blowing panorama of several hundred stitched-together photos of an entire city block.

I got a tour of Dickerman Prints tonight and ran some prints. Let me just say that this place is a wonderland of digital darkroom goodness for the most demanding photographers. The place was designed by photographers for photographers. There are self-serve cubicle workstations with perfectly-calibrated monitors running Lightroom and Photoshop. Just set up your prints on a digital paper canvas and drop it in the queue to go to the monstrous Italian Polielettronica LaserLab printer–considered by many as the finest photo printer made.

Show #5 is currently open, with the epicenter at Leavenworth & Post St. So put on your photo eyes and hit the streets of the TenderNob. See 200yards.com for details

My Submissions

Here are the photos I submitted for Show #4 within the 200 yard radius of Dickerman Prints. Two were chosen. I was in a dark B&W mood that day:

Moving Mannequins

Latched

Buzzers

Geared

This Way

Just click a photo to begin the slideshow. Click again to change slides.

Kaboom! The Implosion of the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital

Shawn Clover — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:35:13 +0000

On April 8, 2011, the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland was demolished.

Oak Knoll hospital was built during World War II for the purpose of treating American military personnel who had been wounded in the Pacific theatre. In later years it also treated those who had been wounded in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The site was previously a golf course and country club which had closed during the Great Depression. The largest of the buildings (seen below) was built from 1965-1968.

This was my first large-scale implosion I’ve witnessed. I managed to sneak in and perch myself in a tree with the telephoto lens for a nice, up-close view of the dynamite doing its thing. As I waited for the thundering explosions to start, I began to appreciate the design of the building and was sad to see it go. I wondered why the developers couldn’t figure out something to do with it. For years the building was a homeless encampment and I regretted not sneaking in for a bit of urban exploration with the camera.

It only took 800 pounds of dynamite to bring down the huge 11 story concrete building–four sticks in each of the building’s 1500 columns. Boom, boom, boom…the deafening blasts echoed out rhythmically about 15 times before the building even budged. Within seconds, the once-proud edifice disappeared in a cloud of dust.

On April 8, 2011, the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland was demolished.
Oak Knoll hospital was built during World War II for the purpose of treating American military personnel who had been wounded in the Pacific theatre. In later years it also treated those who had been wounded in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The site was previously a golf course and country club which had closed during the Great Depression. The largest of the buildings (seen below) was built from 1965-1968.'/>

10 minutes after

3 minutes after

1 minute after

13 seconds

12 seconds

11 seconds

10 seconds

Before

Just click a photo to begin the slideshow. Click again to change slides.

Inside the Academy of Art’s Private Car Collection

Shawn Clover — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:23:44 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to photograph the San Francisco Academy of Art University’s private classic car collection. The connection between a classic car collection and an art school might not make sense at first, but this is the private collection of the family behind the university, not to mention the fact that the Academy also has a car design program. All makes sense now right?

The entire collection was recently moved to the massive former Mercedes showcase at 950 Van Ness Ave. The multi-story building is stuffed to the gills with beautiful, perfectly-restored antique machines. This building is a place to house the cars
rather than a museum proper.

Like a kid in a candy store, I drooled over the masterpieces of engineering as I carefully maneuvered my tripod between narrow clearances of million dollar gems, getting hundreds of close-ups of every detail. Unfortunately (for photography’s sake) the warehouse is lit with direct florescent tube lights which produce impossible-to-hide reflections all over the finish of the flawless paint jobs, not to mention horrible color temperature for shooting chrome parts. I usually like to “buff out” the light reflections in Photoshop, but I just don’t have the dozens of hours required to do it right now.

Photo Gallery: The Academy of Art’s Private Car Collection

These are a few closeup shots through a Canon 85mm f/1.2L. This baby is one of Canon’s masterpieces of glass, or the “Bokeh King” as I like to call him.

On February 26, 2011 I had the opportunity to photograph the San Francisco Academy of Art's classic car collection at 950 Van Ness Av. These are a few closeup shots through the lens of Canon's masterpiece (and king of bokeh) 85mm f/1.2L attached to a 5d Mark II. Unfortunately, the warehouse is lit with direct florescent tube lights which produce impossible to hide reflections everywhere, not to mention horrible color temperature for shooting chrome parts. I usually like to "buff out" the light reflections in Photoshop, but I just don't have the many hours to do it right now.'/>

Hey Mister, Where You Headed?

Stutz

Mercedes 300SL Gull Wing

Cadillac

Edsel

Rolls Royce

Auburn

Florida 000-000

Allard

1954 Chevy Corvette

Latch

Auburn 852 Super-Charged

Auburn 852

Lights & Blue

Cadillac Gem Goddess

Gray & Red

BMW Isetta 300

Chevy

Just click a photo to begin the slideshow. Click again to change slides.

The Canon TS-E 17mm Tilt/Shift Lens

Shawn Clover — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:42:32 +0000

Back in the old days, a photographer would mount his camera on a tripod, do some shutter/aperture calculations, carefully focus the lens, shift the movement of the lens parallel to the image plane, and, if necessary, also tilt (rotate) the lens relative to the image plane. A great deal of work, but exposure was controlled, the focal point was correct, and the shifting of the lens kept things like buildings nice and parallel.

Today, things have gotten easier, but also much sloppier in the process. Most lenses are fixed and do not move relative to the plane of the film or sensor. Point a camera upward, and buildings lean in on each other. Point it down, and things lean apart. This is horrifyingly unacceptable for any type of architectural photography. It’s amazing how many sloppy “professional” photos are out there with buildings leaning all over the place like drunk sailors. And even worse is simply the mere presence of an Automatic switch on an SLR.

I used to digitally tilt/shift my photos in Photoshop, but this has its drawbacks. You’ll end up interpolating pixels on one side of the photograph and losing pixels on the other side, not to mention introducing other distortions and cropping out parts of the photo in the process.

Enough was enough. After reading all the rave reviews (including the 9.9 rating over at fredmiranda), I had pick myself up a Canon TS-E 17mm tilt/shift lens. It simply seemed like one of life’s necessities.

This is one masterpiece of a hunk of glass that is made for mounting on a tripod and getting all sorts of TLC in the form of manual tweaking–there’s nothing automatic about this lens. If you’re the kind of person who loves fussing with every possible adjustment, who wouldn’t dream of taking a single picture in Automatic mode, and is obsessed with your perfectly-parallel buildings, a tilt/shift lens like this may be for you.

I haven’t tried this lens for fake miniature tilt/shift pictures yet (all the rage these days), but you can see my digital fakes of tilt/shift fake miniatures here.

This baby does take some getting used to. I’m trying to find time to spend with it, but here are some first photos with the TS-E 17mm:

Shawn Clover

Inside the Old Fleishhacker Pool House

Welcome to Drawbridge: The Bay Area’s Ghost Town

China: Land of Dragons, Emperors, and 1.3 Billion People

The Old Abandoned Bayshore Roundhouse

Yikes I Got a Mac!

I Went To Japan, Dattebayo!!!

Back In Business

Now This Is A Society!

Photography In Japan

The Photos

Modern Japan

Traditional Japan

Japanese People

200 Yards: A Photography Experiment

The Concept

The Shows

My Submissions

Kaboom! The Implosion of the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital

Inside the Academy of Art’s Private Car Collection

Photo Gallery: The Academy of Art’s Private Car Collection

The Canon TS-E 17mm Tilt/Shift Lens

Click photos to enlarge: