Marin Fog by James Gaither

I’ve traveled across California, west to east, this summer. Exactly a week ago I was soaking up the bright light above Sonora Pass at 10,000 feet. And today, you can find me slogging around at sea level in Berkeley’s endless fog. I get tired of quoting my Berkeley-bred, high-country-backpacker husband who insists the thin mountain air is “bracing” and the fog is “refreshing.” He thinks it’s fine to dress for summer barbeques in a down parka. I do not think that’s funny.

Yesterday, I saw the edge between where the sun and fog meet. I was driving over the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge looking at the bank fog pouring over the west bay hills into the Bay. No, wait. What I saw was not a bank of fog. Nor was it a blanket of fog. Nor was it little cat’s feet or whatever it is they have for fog in Chicago. To me the huge fog cloud was a vast oppressive fog fist slamming its way from the ocean, across the bay, and straight to my house in north Berkeley. Coming across the bridge, I saw the fog fist but I did not feel knuckled by its coldness.  Ha! I was in Marin County. I was too far away. From the bridge I could  look at the fog and see its beauty without  feeling its cold.

In my mind’s eye I flew up over the bay; over the fog. Of course I was holding a camera on this imaginary flight. I could photograph soft white feathers as the icy fog trickled over the Marin Headlands. I could fly through the grayest of the fog and blast right out of it, into the waiting sunshine. From up there, the fog fist becomes delicate fingers and I could admire the way the fingers spread out across the cities.

Back on the bridge, my car was approaching the Richmond side, the fog side. I was leaving the sun and entering the fog.

The fog is still disappointing, dark and bleak. I don’t like it any better having seen it from a distance. But I have seen its edge. The edge of fog is photographable.  Approached with a camera, this murky summer season becomes at least tolerable until Fall when the sun comes out.

Here’s another great fog photo; this one by Max Clarke: http://maxclarke.typepad.com/photos/west_of_neptune/12-goldengate.html (I hope to post his photo here as soon as I get permission from him.)

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg
1916

The exhibition is open to all photographers world wide, both amateur and professional. The Center invites photographers working in all mediums, styles and schools of thought to participate in its exhibitions.

Entry deadline July 13, 2010

More information http://c4fap.org/cfe/2010LowTech/index.asp

Specimen 5 © Galina Kurlat, Print from Ambrotype

I set up my big dark grey muslin backdrop on the huge backdrop stand that Bryan kindly offered me. Bryan’s a staff technician at Photolab and has a gig as a pro photographer on weekends. So, Bryan has every sort of pro photo gear. We used Gareth’s Canon 20D (thanks Gareth).

Chris Kula manned the camera and did a fabulous job! Yeah Chris!

Before the kids arrived we set out costumes and props: funny hats, long gloves, an evening gown or two, leis and hawaiian grass skirts from the Party Warehouse. The costumes ended up being a key part of the success of the event.

The price was right too, I guess. One dollar per person gets you one 4 x 6.

The adventure part of this, for me, was taking the camera card, driving (fast) across town to Photolab, downloading the images from the card into our Noritsu minilab (left running after the lab closed)and printing a ton of 4 x 6s. Oh yeah, and running back across town to deliver the goods. I love this kind of speedy event where you work hard and get the entire job done in a few hours, and make everybody happy.

So, fund raiser success! The school wants to do it again soon and I’m up for it. This word is out that this PhotoBooth idea is great for attracting a crowd, so our next booth will be at the Jazz on Fourth Street festival and fundraiser for the Berkeley High Jazz Program. See you there I hope!