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This shot can easily be ruined with a polarizer. If the sky is blue above the bridge, it is unlikely that you need a polarizer at all. This winter day started with a thin layer of clouds that was in the process of lifting as I shot, so I used a polarizer dialed to near the no-effect position. Using a polarizer with an ultra-wide angle lens such as this 17 mm can result in vignetting from the edge of the filter. It can also produce a very unnatural dark band across the image, stemming from the fact the angular view of a wide angle lens is broad enough to see the variation due to the gradient of polarization of light in the sky.

This shot works best when the sun is near its high point in the sky - nominally noon. At other times the main cables that support the bridge cast dark, distracting shadows across the towers. Experiment with different angles and exposures. Some find that a significantly underexposed shot provides more drama, such as the below photo.

Access

From San Francisco, take the last San Francisco northbound exit off Highway 101, just before the bridge. The exit sign reads "Golden Gate National Recreation Area View Area". At the stop sign turn left into the southeast parking lot. Parking will cost you 25 cents for 15 minutes and is enforced vigilantly. A free parking lot is a few (5 or less) minutes walk away. Reach it by turning right rather than left at the stop sign mentioned above, onto Vista Access Road. After 0.1 miles turn left on Lincoln Blvd. A dirt parking lot is one your left after 0.1 miles. A paved trail leads from this lot back to the Golden Gate Bridge Visitors Center.

Traveling southbound, proceed through the far right toll lane #1 (west side). Take an immediate right exiting Highway 101. Make another immediate right at the stop sign, onto a road that passes beneath the freeway. This leads to a metered-parking lot on the bay side of the south end of the bridge.

You can also get from San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge using the following Golden Gate Transit routes: 10, 60, 70 or 80. To use SF MUNI from Downtown or Fisherman's Wharf, take the 30 bus and transfer to 28 at Laguna & Chestnut. You can call 511 and say "Golden Gate Transit" to find the closest bus stop to your location.

Aside

The east side of the Golden Gate Bridge is open to foot traffic in the daytime only. It has been closed at night in attempt to prevent suicides since it is America's most popular spot for this activity. A two-million dollar study of the feasibility of erecting a suicide barrier is now being conducted as a result of the eighth consideration of this topic by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, exercising his typical restraint from politicizing an issue, has characterized opposition to such a barrier as follows: “There’s a lot of white Republicans on the board who resist change."

Views like the last one on this page may look different soon.

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East Side of South Tower

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Golden Gate Bridge from South Tower Looking North

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The suicide barrier currently being considered for the bridge might change this view.