Here are some snapshots from a trip I took with my wife (who planned the excursion) and two teenage sons to San Francisco between Christmas and New Years.  We left Christmas Day, just missing the big storm that paralyzed travel in the northeast.  We rented a wonderful, spacious apartment in a 1907 house in the Nob Hill area (www.VRBO.com/302341).  We did all the tourist things, hiked the neighborhoods, rode a cable car, saw the murals in the Coit Tower, visited the Palace of Fine Arts, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, explored Lands End, took a bus to Haight Ashbury, took the boat to Alcatraz at sunset, had a fun guided tour of China Town with Linda Lee (highly recommended), visited the SF Museum of Modern Art, went to Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais….. saw a great performance at Teatro Zinzanni.  And that was just our first day…  I love being a tourist with a camera.  It’s like washing down a good burger with a cold beer.  However, my favorite pic from this trip was made by my 13-year-old son, Aidan.

All those wires – Filbert Street, North Beach, Telegraph Hill area (on our way to Coit Tower).

Before sunset, from the Cliff House, I could see something pink and fluttering down by the Sutro Baths. I did not expect for a moment it would be wrapped around a person. As I descended along the path I was surprised to find a young lady in high heels and a party dress draped in a swirl of pink chiffon. The wind was raging. I watched as she got down on all fours to maintain balance, stay out of the water and keep her dress from continually blowing over her head.

China Town – I was disappointed to find that a similar pic graces the cover of a current SF travel guide. It supports my suspicion that I have not made an original image since about 1989.

My 13-year-old son Aidan lay on his belly on the Golden Gate Bridge to get this shot. Bikes whizzed by and no one stepped on him. Miracles do happen.

I’m beginning to feel like a practitioner of a new and makeshift form of genteel voodoo and each fresh photograph becomes a spell or incantation.  In so many ways, photography is magical.  It’s easy to get carried away by the process.  I recently told someone (with a straight face) that I make photographs to ward off evil.  I have not posted any pics in awhile.  So I thought I’d start with some still life made in December and January (they are works in progress).

I set out to make a picture for my annual Christmas card. One thing led to another and this is what I came up with. I didn’t use it. But somehow, I think it kept my new cat from toppling the tree.

I am tentatively calling this Luck. So far, so good.

I made this to commemorate my very recent 50th birthday. It is open to interpretation.