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Discussion
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
We often see wonderful photos of places and think "If only I knew where that place is, I can photograph or paint it myself!" Well, now you can! If you are not compelled to "kill" us after revealing your Secret photo spot, please play along. Show us a google map of where your shooting spot is along with a photo or two you shot or painted from that spot. Please describe any challenges you may have encountered if your trek to the spot requires more than just a good map!
*** To embed a google map, look up your spot on maps.google.com, then pull down the google map menu and pick "share or embed map". A small window will pop up showing your map, from this window, pick "Embed map" and copy and paste the code to your post.
Below is a map and photos of the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge, inside Fort Point, and a vantage point of the Golden Gate Bridge from the side of Fort Point (where Kim Novak took her infamous dive into the friget Bay in Hitchcock's "Vertigo"). The underside of the Golden Gate Bridge shot was taken atop the Fort Point Civil War Fortress which is free for all visitors. And beyond the photo I got, the Fort is a wonderful piece of American History for all to enjoy and roam around freely...not to mention to enjoy the spectacular vantage points you get from below and above the fort.
http://wingsdomain.com/fort-point-and-crissy-field-in-the-presidio-a-san-francisco-bay-area-through-the-eyes-of-a-local-artist-and-photographer-series-by-wingsdomain/
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Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Thanks Matt. That is a beautiful reflecting lake. Most shot locations may not be a "secret" to the locals, but for those that don't travel a whole lot (raising hand), it's great to know where to plan our next vacation or photo road trip, it's inspiring at the very least. -W
8 Years Ago
To be honest, sharing "my spots" is kind of like sharing my fishing holes! I will just say most of my shots were in this area
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Patrick: That's some gorgeous country, Mt Blanc and the French Alps. I was there over a decade ago, unfortunately at the time, photography was not one of my passions yet, plus digital was only at its infancy at best, so no photos for me.
Michelle: Sleeping Bear Dunes looks like a fun hike, and with a rewarding refreshing lake at the bottom!
No two photos will be shot the same given the same location, we all put our emotions, experiences, and personalities into each shot, and each shot shows our personality and soul. I have no problem showing anyone where I shot my photos because I am confident that only I can shoot that shot in its BEST possible angle, light, emotion and moment in time! ;-) -W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
When I was a young lad fresh out of college a few millenniums ago, I would drive through urban city streets looking for unique, usually roadside architecture (Architecture was my college major and roadside architecture had a certain nostalgic appeal to me) to photograph and eventually paint. Sometimes those drives led me through some neighborhoods I have no business being in, but being young and naïve, I knew no better. Anyhow, here's a painting of an old Americana icon that no longer exist in its whimsical vernacular, but only survives today as a marketable "Doggie Diner" name on hotdog stands and the likes. I have photos as well, but that was taken during my photographic dark ages when I used film and photography was only a tool to get reference shots for my paintings. -W
Doggie Diner was a small fast food restaurant chain serving hot dogs and hamburgers in San Francisco and Oakland, California that operated from 1948 to 1986, owned by Al Ross. The first Doggie Diner was opened on Oakland's San Pablo Avenue in 1948 and grew in popularity. At one time there were 30 locations around the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly concentrated in San Francisco. The chain went out of business in 1986 after trying to compete with big chain restaurants, such as McDonald's and Burger King. Its founder Al Ross died in 2010, at age 93. -wikipedia
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Greg: Nice colors. I think your "secret" is safe! I doubt many of us would venture into such harsh country! ;-)
Roy: Your wife has great taste! That fountain in the darkness of the lake looks almost like a spiritual experience!
-W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Xueling, from one Bay Arean to another, your secret photo/painting spots are safe with me! Secret Painting locations are also encouraged. -W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Ah, Lutz, I wish I knew Swedish better, your site is marvelous and your paintings are sensational! -W
8 Years Ago
Wings, check out the video with my house - inspired by the Dallas series opening scene...
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Wow Lutz, your Villa really stands out amongst those apartments/condos(?) ! The location of your villa looks like you might be the owner of those apartment/condos? Or the last holdout against developers? Fabulous living, regardless! -W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
This photograph was shot at a Vista Point at the North side of Highway 680 aka the three Benicia-Martinez and George Miller Jr Memorial bridges in Benicia, Ca. There is a walking path that leads up to one of the bridges where you can walk on and presumably go from one side of the bridge to the other though I have not tried it and so cannot confirm if the walk in fact goes from end to end. The photo was taken along this walking path and around sunny high noon, I did some work to make it a night scene and the drama that goes along with it.
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
A surreal scene at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California. Animals of all orders gather to await their abduction from the arrival of The Visitors from another world. You're not in Roswell anymore! A fun and whimsical surreal work of photography art by wingsdomain.com, it's sure to delight viewers of all age and background...and even those not of this world! This work of creativity is bright and colorful and will surely add energy to any space in your home, office, or even your science lab or spaceship! This artwork would look best in a large canvas or metal print, but a print on any media will look just as stunning!
Chabot Space and Science Center, located in Oakland, California, is a hands-on center featuring interactive exhibits, a digital planetarium, a large screen theater, hands-on activities and three powerful telescopes. The Center is the continuation and expansion of a public observatory that has served San Francisco Bay Area schools and citizens with astronomy and science education programs since 1883. It is named after the father of hydraulic mining and benefactor of the original Oakland Observatory, Anthony Chabot. -wikipedia
8 Years Ago
I'm not a photographer so what I show on the map doesn't necessarily match my art. This area next to the Weber River runs through private property but thanks to agreements with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources access is given to fisherman on certain spots, I take advantage of that to find places to sketch and subjects to paint.
Okay, figured out the pinning thing. If you zoom in to where I pinned you can actually see the stand of trees that's in my painting.
8 Years Ago
The Alpamayo circuit (Cordillera Blanca, Peru) is one of the most beautiful treks in the World. In 10 days You have to cross 9 passes. Two of them are on the Andes main crest which You cross one time from west to east and one time from east to west.
For this images You have to walk one and a half day. They were taken from near the little lake northwest of the summit:
This one is from day 9 in the south (long valley in the map):
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
David: Lovely Autumn colors! Unfortunately Google will not allow you to move that pin (at least I don't think so), so you can't point to your actual subject, but that would be a fun and useful addition if Google ever add that function. Nonetheless, I do see your stand of trees!
Rudi: Those Alpamayo circuit peaks are spectacular! And the clouds really adds drama to the whole landscape!
-W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Marlene, as I stated a few posts up:
"No two photos will be shot the same given the same location, we all put our emotions, experiences, and personalities into each shot, and each shot shows our personality and soul. I have no problem showing anyone where I shot my photos because I am confident that only I can shoot that shot in its BEST possible angle, light, emotion and moment in time! ;-) -W"
...and I would will assert, every artist and photographer feels that same emotion about their own accomplishments.
You see, the real secret of art and photography is not the physical location itself, but how it manifests itself through earthly mediums in the form of each artist and photographer!
-W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Here's another old Oil on Canvas painting I did back in 1992 of the Dixon Fruit market in Dixon, CA off of Highway 80. The Dixon Fruit market has been a rural institution and landmark for millions of drivers through the years who can see it while driving along Highway 80 on their way to Sacramento or the Lake Tahoe ski resorts. The actual façade and fruit displays were not as robust, I had to do some artistic licensing there.
(here's what it looks like in a recent photo)
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Yea, Google only pins physical addresses, known landmarks, areas of land like cities, mountain ranges, lakes, etc., or street intersections, but it doesn't allow you to move that pin to random points on the map. -W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Ha, I stand partially corrected. You can type in the Longitude and Latitude of the location in Google map and it will pin that spot. I tried N 37° 46' 29.7462" W 122° 25' 9.8958" for San Francisco and it worked. Downside is, you would have to know your exact Longitude and Latitudes. -W
(I think your other one had a physical street/parcel address)
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
I just found out how you can drop a pin anywhere on Google map.
- Search for your general location on Google map. The location will now have a pin on it. Right-button atop that location pin and select "remove this destination" from the dropdown menu that appears and that pin will be removed.
- Now place your cursor on the exact location on the map that you want to pin. Right-button atop that location and select "Directions to here" (NOT "from here") and a pin will be placed on that point on the map.
-W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
This is one of those "kids, don't try this at home.....or while driving!" shots. The shot is of the rolling San Francisco fog blanketing the Marin Headlands in the distance with the iconic Coit Tower in the mid ground, done while driving around 55 mph on the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge! But that's the only way you can get that shot, short of closing down the entire bridge. Well, as an afterthought, I guess the other safer option would have been to have someone else do the driving! -W
8 Years Ago
My two favorite sites for hummingbird photography.
The first is in Bog Springs Campground, in Madera Canyon, Arizona. It's in the second campsite on the right, as you go counter-clockwise around the loop of campsites. The parking for the campsite is easy level parking for a trailer or RV. The site has good shade, and enough space for a good photography setup. The site features a big rock, with a depression where you can pool water to attract birds. Hummingbird feeders are permitted. The site before this prime site is second best, the site after it is third best. Hummingbird species include Magnificent, Broadbill, Rufous, Black-Chinned, Mid March to April are especially good.
The pin shows the exact locations of the campsites.
Madera Canyon, best site.
The second site is in Sunny Flats campground at Cave Creek park. My favorite site is the one just after the toilets, as you go around the loop counter clockwise. This site is a great one especially for Blue-Throated hummingbirds, as well as the others listed above.
Cave Creek, best site
Near both campsites is also good for some rare (in the US) owls, and the Elegant Trogon, Mexican Jays, AZ Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpeckers, painted redstarts, and two kinds of orioles. (Scotts and another I can't remember the name.)
Both campgrounds are part of the Coronado National Forest.
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
Darice: Maui is one of my favorite sanctuaries. Your paintings are magnificent.
David: Looks like you've got Google maps down. I agree street view in rural and other out of the place areas would be nice, maybe Google will send their mobile van there someday.
Gregory: Sounds like you know all the birding places, I'll have to visit some of those someday. As it stands, my backyard setup is my birding place these days. ;-)
-W
Wingsdomain Art and Photography
8 Years Ago
This photo with some artistic enhancements was taken at the Alhambra Trestle in Martinez, CA. I sent a smaller image of the photoart to a few City council members in hope of marketing it to them. In general, they liked it but no sales. :-( Here's one of the replies I got from a City Council member: "Wow... we are blessed by such a beautiful vision of our town! And I have to chuckle...for so long, the graffiti on the rail trestle has been the bane of our existence. But you created something very visually stunning out of that scene. I guess it really is just a matter of perspective."