9-20-2025

San Francisco, California

Through my Lens: Photographing the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco

Special Place in my Heart

San Francisco has always held a special place in my life. My family’s connection to the city goes back generations — my relatives were among those who walked across the Golden Gate Bridge when it first opened in 1937. Over the years, some of my family even made the city their home.

As a child, I remember taking many family trips to San Francisco — the excitement of the drive, the beauty of the bay, and the feeling that something magical always awaited us there. Later in life, I continued the tradition, visiting often with my own children and creating new memories together.

One of my most cherished memories is from when Marcus and I first started dating — it was with him that I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge for the very first time, and back again. That walk wasn’t just a milestone in our relationship; it deepened my love for the city and the history it holds within my family.

San Francisco is more than just a place to me — it’s a part of my story, filled with history, love, and memories that continue to inspire me.

Mary Lee Richardson

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of those places that feels both familiar and new every time you see it.

We’ve all seen it in postcards, movies, and travel guides, but standing there with a camera in hand is a completely different experience. The bridge isn’t just a piece of architecture—it’s alive with light, weather, and perspective.

On this particular day, the fog had lifted just enough to reveal the rust-colored towers in full, glowing warmly against the cliffs and the sea. I stood by the water’s edge, my camera ready, trying to frame not just the bridge itself, but the feeling of being there. The sound of the waves hitting the rocks, the wind tugging at my jacket, the sheer scale of the structure—it all became part of the story I wanted to capture.

What makes photographing the Golden Gate so special is its versatility. From sunrise to sunset, from foggy mornings to clear afternoons, it transforms constantly. Every angle tells a new story: the sweeping view from the Marin Headlands, the perspective from below, or even the intimate moments of people walking across it. For me, it’s never about taking the same picture twice—it’s about finding my own moment with it.

As I clicked the shutter, I thought about how photography allows us to see the familiar in a new way. The Golden Gate may be one of the most photographed bridges in the world, but through my lens, it became personal—a memory tied to that particular light, that particular breeze, and that particular day.

Sometimes, the beauty isn’t just in what we see, but in how we choose to frame it.

Mary Lee Richardson

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