Like many major cities, San Francisco faces its struggles. The popular “doom loop” narrative often paints the entire city as a dystopia. Some neighborhoods are facing real trouble, but the city is very much not a dystopia. I made the following video to counterbalance that narrative. I wanted to show that, while there are many (many) critical problems to fix, SF is still a beautiful place worth visiting.
Best of San Francisco in 4K, a video with high-resolution footage taken by me (the song is also mine, so please subscribe to my YouTube music channel if you like it!). I couldn’t visit every top attraction in San Francisco, but I hope I captured some of your favorites.
What was included
Including the Golden Gate Bridge was a no-brainer. A visit there led me through the Presidio and also to the Palace of Fine Arts. Other obvious additions are Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Cable Cars, Union Square and the Financial District, SF City Hall, Chinatown, Japantown, and the Castro. Capturing an SF Giants game at Oracle Park was also important to me. I didn’t want to just show touristy must-see landmarks; I also wanted to showcase the love and culture that exists among the people who live in the city.
What wasn’t included
There were also some failed attempts, namely when I tried to film Sutro Tower all lit up with laser lights during a temporary art installation only to find it obscured behind a dense layer of fog (Karl gonna Karl). The Ferry Building was also camera shy, as the current retrofit has it behind a shield of construction scaffolding. I also didn’t get a chance to make it up to Twin Peaks, nor did I get great video of Haight-Ashbury or the Painted Ladies. If I missed any of your favorite San Francisco attractions, please let me know in the comments.
It’s not fine art, and I’m not a talented videographer; this was an exercise of love for a city that holds so much beauty and history, even in sometimes troubled times. I hope you like it.
To watch the video in 4K, you may need to select the resolution under the Settings menu (the gear below the video). And if you enjoy this video, please consider “liking” and subscribing on YouTube.
