WingsLOG 2020.02.16
Beginning of a New Art and Photography and General Log
This is the beginning of my new art and photography News Feed which I’ve been wanting to do for over 20 years now…better late than never! This News Feed will focus on quicker everyday experiences both in my art and photography and just thoughts in general, kinda like an art and photography and general thoughts diary that will be updated on a more regular basis than my BLogs but still very IRregular basis! Got it? Good! 🙂 So here we go…
A Day at the New SFO Air Deck and other SFO International Airport Adventures
On this somewhat sunny and occasional hazy Presidents Day weekend Sunday, February 16th, 2020, I took my son to SFO International Airport after reading about the new Air Observation Deck that just opened up this past Friday, February 14th, 2020. The Air Deck allows people to view the airplanes and runways on a leisure outdoor deck – yea, such is the mundane 3-day weekend life of an artist/photographer and his poor family! LOL! Nonetheless, the trip was pleasant as my son attest. We left our house in the East Bay around 9:15am and took BART towards Warm Springs/Fremont and transferring at the MacArthur station to SFO. We’ve taken BART to San Francisco many times so the ride was not a new experience, and though I’ve only gone as far as SFO on BART two other times, that route is really nothing to write home about. We got to SFO around 10:30am and hopped onto SFO’s Air Train that basically loops around all the airport terminals, some interesting views throughout the ride but taking photographs can be tricky as the subjects come into and out of view fairly quick, really have to have a fast eye and trigger! The International Terminal and Air Control Tower are both good photo opportunities. We got off the Air Train at Terminal 2 where the new Air Deck is located, though actually finding the Air Deck can be a challenge. I asked the Information booth person where it was and even after getting the instructions, it was still fairly well hidden. The trick is, find the Starbucks on level 2 of Terminal 2 just before the security checkpoint, get a cuppa Joe and some pastries, and the Air Deck is tucked right behind Starbucks up either the stairs or elevator. Before you get to the Air Deck, you will have to go through a loosely held security check, though the Air Deck which is in a Pre-Boarding area didn’t seem to be any cause for security concerns. I guess if you had tools and a ladder, there would be a concern for someone jumping the glass wall?
And speaking of glass wall, the Air Deck is surrounded by glass walls which is great for most viewing purposes, but it does pose a challenge for photography, specifically reflections. I tried a number of photographing angles that would give both good shots of the jet airplanes taking off and at the same time avoid the window glass reflections, and ended up luckily with some level of success.
But back to the Air Deck itself, it’s probably about 50’ wide by 40’ deep (guestimate from memory) of outdoor space partially covered by the building overhang, but still a lot of open sun space on sunny days or even slightly hazy days like on this day we visited. A few wooden lounge chairs and benches are available, it’s first come first serve but they seem to be very sufficient. It wasn’t too crowded, maybe about 30 people at the most, and all the kids that were there clearly enjoyed it. The Air Deck is definitely a welcome hideaway getaway from the hustle and bustle of the airport. The Starbucks cuppa Joe and pastries were a good idea too.
After spending about 30 pleasant minutes at the Air Deck (you can stay there as long as you want but 30 minutes was sufficient for my son and me), we got back on the Air Train and headed to the new SFO Airport Grand Hyatt Hotel for lunch and a few photo ops. We had to look around for the restaurant at the Grand Hyatt as it is well hidden down some stairs with no sign on the level above the restaurant as far as I could remember. It seems just about everything that’s not a terminal or a ticket booth is well hidden at the airport! LOL
Nonetheless, we arrived at the “Quail & Crane” restaurant. The menu was limited maybe due to it being brunch day, and the hostess tried pushing the Continental Breakfast on us but we weren’t that hungry so I ended up having the burger and my son had the pizza. The names of these 2 dishes were much more catchy but for the life of me I can’t remember what their names were. I had 2 Guinnesses along with my lunch, but “2” here is probably misleading since the glasses were the size of small complimentary water glasses and I would be lucky if the 2 glasses of beer even made up a whole pint. The restaurant was not very crowded, maybe 2 or 3 other parties while we were there. This is likely due to it being a Sunday and the fact the Hotel is still fairly new. Fact is, the Hotel is targeted towards weekday business and meeting goers. The total of our lunch for the two of us came out to be just over $60 plus tips, and I’m a very good tipper so you do the math! Actually still not terribly bad especially when you factor in the two so-called “glasses” of Guinness, alcoholic beverages tend to inflate the cost of any lunch!
After lunch, we walked around the SFO Grand Hyatt Hotel which had a whole floor of ballroom and meeting room space but they were all locked so I wasn’t able to see if they were of any interest. So we walked outside for a few photo ops of the Hotel which has a nice gentle curve facade with the SFO Air Train going past it at one end. Aside from getting to the SFO Grand Hyatt from the Air Train, you can drive up S. McDonnell Road to the porte cochere and hotel entrance. On the other side of the street from the hotel is the fenced off Airport. And even though that street is a public road, I got the feeling we shouldn’t be walking there since foot traffic was non-existent and the fact that airports in general are extremely protective of their grounds! In any case, we weren’t harassed or anything but there were probably cameras making sure we kept our distance.
After getting a few good photographs of the SFO Grand Hyatt, we headed back to the Air Train to go to the SFO Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum in the International Terminal. And this is another one of SFO’s hidden treasures, literally “hidden”. Starting to get the trend here? Everything non Airport operations is hidden! LOL. It is tucked in the back corner of the G Gates at the International Terminal but it is well worth dropping by. The museum is not very large but it does contain some interesting flight artifacts of days gone by, around the era of Amelia Earhart when the notion of flight was in vogue and evoked the lure of adventure.
There are some large scaled models of vintage airline airplanes hung from the ceiling of this two story space including 3 Pan American Airway China Clippers, a very nice DC3, plus a few other airplanes (Pick here for more on San Francisco’s Crissy Field where the China Clippers sometimes landed along its shores). When we got there, I asked the nice lady at the front desk if I could take flash photography and she gladly said yes. As a photographer, I know it is important to respect any establishment I intend to take pictures of especially if I needed to use a flash, most will allow it, some will deny it. Since I got the ok to use flash photography, I went on and started photographing the large scaled model airplanes which were the more interesting pieces in the museum. There are a lot of photographic scenes that I visit where I take pictures purely for its fascination or its historical properties knowing that someday those scenes will no longer exist and pictures will be all we have left, sort of a documentary photography, this is one of them.
Well the day was going well until we got to the second floor and while I was taking pictures of those model airplanes, someone from my left uttered out, “no flash!” I didn’t see her at first, but she spoke out again, “no flash!” like she was some museum authority. I turned towards her and explained to her that I had asked the nice lady at the front desk and had gotten the ok. Apparently, the lady who uttered “no flash” was not an authority at the museum, just another visitor, and just thought she could make up her own rules and impose it on the public! LOL! I went off and continued my “flash” photography. Note to the general public, photographers are your friends, they are there so that one day when all is gone, you and your grandfamilies can still enjoy what once was there…..don’t try to trick them into thinking you speak out of authority! But you say we have the Internet now, we don’t need photographers! …..eh, where do you think those lovely internet photographs come/came from!?
Anyhow, the day was fun and it went well, the self-proclaimed non-museum authority random rule maker at the Aviation Museum notwithstanding! LOL! We took BART and got back home around 4:30pm, enough time for a nice glass of wine and a stogey stub in the backyard before downloading my day’s photographs and processing them for the public to enjoy for now and into the future.
News Feed focuses on quick everyday experiences both in my art and photography and just thoughts in general. Excerpts from latest logs below…
- “Valkyrie – An Odin Maiden Warrior” Museum Quality Print by Wingsdomain Art and PhotographyThis masterful artwork captures the fierce, ethereal presence of a Norse Valkyrie, weaving intricate historical mythology with a dark, cinematic aesthetic. The composition draws the viewer into the warrior’s piercing gaze, framed by trailing blood-like warpaint that dramatically contrasts against her pale complexion and intricately braided blonde hair. Every inch of her ornate, golden winged ...continue reading...
- “The Three Supreme Greek Brother Gods – Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades” Museum Quality Print by Wingsdomain Art and PhotographyThis majestic triptych captures the awe-inspiring power of the Big Three of Greek mythology – Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades – through a masterfully detailed, neo-classical work of art that echoes the dramatic grandeur of Baroque art. Employing a rich, saturated palette dominated by royal crimsons, deep ocean teals, and shimmering antique golds, the artwork brilliantly ...continue reading...
- “Hades, Ruler of The Greek Underworld” Museum Quality Print by Wingsdomain Art and PhotographyThis stunning artwork captures Hades, the sovereign of the Underworld, in a triumph of Neo-Classical and Dark Fantasy artistic grandeur. The artist brilliantly utilizes a rich, dramatic chiaroscuro palette dominated by deep crimson drapes, decaying golds, and earthy bronze tones to cultivate an atmospheric tension that feels both ancient and cinematic. Every inch of the ...continue reading...
MUSEUM QUALITY PRINTS can be purchased from any image on my website. If you just want a simple print that’s rolled in a tube, that’s great! If you want it framed, we’ll do that too! We also sell canvas prints, metal prints, and more. All of our premium papers and canvases are acid-free and, with proper care, will last for generations. Unframed prints are shipped in sturdy 1/4″ cardboard tubes and include a 1″ white border to allow for future matting and framing. Prints may also be shipped in flat packaging upon request. Pick your favorite art and photography from my website, and a museum-quality masterpiece will be on its way to you within 2 – 3 business days!
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