A LOVE LETTER TO HER HOME CITY./
GENA BRIGHAM'S LOVE FOR SAN FRANCISCO IS INFECTIOUS./ WHEN WE APPROACHED HER, SHE WAS ACTUALLY PLANNING A MOVE TO THE OPPOSITE COAST, BUT SHE STILL WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HER TAKE ON SAN FRANCISCO./ "THE TIMING IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL," SHE EXPLAINED, "BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO MOVE TO NYC."/ THIS PROJECT "WILL BE DOUBLING AS A LITTLE LOVE LETTER TO MY HOME CITY."/
THROUGH HER PHOTOGRAPHY, GENA SEEKS TO EXPRESS THE BEAUTY FOUND IN THE SEEMINGLY MUNDANE./ SO IT WAS OF LITTLE SURPRISE THAT HER RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ALL ABOUT FINDING A UNIQUE TAKE ON SOME OTHERWISE WELL-KNOWN PLACES./ AFTER ALL, SOMETHING MAY SEEM OBVIOUS, UNTIL YOU SCRATCH BENEATH THE SURFACE./
HERE ARE A FEW OF GENA'S FAVOURITE PLACES IN SF...
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SUTRO BATHS
"This, above any place in San Francisco, is my favourite spot of all + over everything. I never get sick of it. Not to knock the Cliff House restaurant - no shade meant at all - but the best way to go about it is to get out from behind the glass + four walls. Walk around the bath ruins you see. Hop the wall (safely) + chill on a rock or the ground. And it's right by Land's End as well. - The best part about Sutro Baths is that it never really looks the same from day to day. Different types of weather + different times of day all create a different experience + character."
VICTORIAN HOUSES
"Technically not a place, but they're still a "place!". I love going on walking tours to hunt out these beauties + if you broaden your adventure from the 5 or 6 Painted Ladies (aka the 'Full House' houses to visitors), you'll see ones that are even more stunning. If you start around that area, I'd recommend specifically exploring along Oak Street, Bush Street, Steiner Street + a few of the other surrounding ones. Personally, I get reminded of cake when I look at a lot of them. Don't ask me why, but it does. And I don't even like to eat most cake!"
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
"You might groan at first. Of course, right? Thinking I'm being too predictable? Hear me out! - Yes, it's beautiful + iconic + a good walk/run/bike ride, with good views. But I'm talking about our GGB's nooks. Her crannies. Her shapes. If you get a little curious + a little creative, they create really awesome perspectives of the surrounding scenery. Next time you take a walk there, stop every now + then to bend, tilt your head, + peek through the beams + bars. The sights will be so much more whimsical than you think."
All photos are copyright Gena Brigham. This feature was not paid for in any way.