Last week I spent a beautiful summer day doing a photowalk through San Francisco. I did some online research on great photo spots in the city, and learned from another photoblog about the fantastic view from atop the Grand Hyatt hotel. The post was from a few years ago, and stated the view was from a restaurant on the top floor, for which the photographer had to surreptitiously sneak around and setup his tripod for a shot. As such, I did not hold out much hope for getting a photo, but decided to try my luck anyway. So I hiked from the Embarcadero to the hotel, hopped in the elevator, and was whisked to the 36th floor. I  peeked around the corner of the elevator and expected a hostess or some other such guard to sabotage my quest or only let me shoot the view in exchange for a hundred-dollar cafe au lait and a croissant. As it turns out, luck was on my side-the restaurant was not there, but the view was! Apparently the restaurant had been moved to the first floor and the space converted into a huge meeting space, complete with wall-to-wall windows showcasing the beautiful SF skyline. I was so pleased that there were no obstacles to traverse, no sneaking around to get my shot, and no four-figure pastries to purchase. I walked around the space, gaping at the magnificent 180 degree views of the city. This shot here showcases the downtown and North Beach areas of the city, including the iconic TransAmerica Pyramid and Coit Tower.

Downtown San Francisco