Golden Hour Portraits at Battery Godfrey overlooking GG Bridge

Hey everyone! I’ve got an exciting idea for a Meetup - portraits at Battery Godfrey overlooking the breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge!

We'll gather at the parking lot before heading out. Scheduled for Sunday, October 26th at 4 pm, just in time for the golden hour. The sun sets at 6:12 pm, so we’ll have about two hours before and after sunset to capture. We can also continue capturing during skylight, a moment when the sun’s light still illuminates the sky even after sunset. This gives us moody light. If weather is not so good, this Meetup may be postponed to the following Sunday. Let's hope for great weather!

Now, I’m on the lookout for a few brave souls to volunteer as models. If you’re a couple and willing to pose, that would be absolutely fantastic! If you know anyone who might be interested, please invite them to our Meetup. In return for their time and effort, I’d be happy to provide them with some photos as a token of appreciation. And hey, if you’re new to portrait photography, don’t worry! I’m more than happy to share my knowledge and help you get started. I always learn from others, so feel free to ask questions or share your knowledge.

Now, let’s talk about the best camera gear for portrait photography. While any camera can be used, here are some recommendations based on different formats:

For 35mm film, I recommend using a 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/2.0, or 35mm f/2.0 lens (or larger apertures like f/1.2 or f/1.4).

For medium format cameras like 120 film, I suggest using a 75mm f/2.8, 80mm f/2.8, or up to 140mm f/2.8 lens (larger apertures are also great, like f/2.0).

For film, I recommend color and black and white. But if you’re using film like 100 or lower, you can shoot wider apertures in brighter light, which creates a shallow depth of field. But if you’re using faster films like 400 or higher, you may need to stop down, which reduces the shallow depth of field. Of course, you can use ND filters to mitigate these effects. In the end, keep it simple because the most important thing is to have fun and learn from each other.