San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area has a way of getting under your skin. Our seven by seven mile slice of NorCal has so much to offer for tourists and locals alike. Between 62 Michelin starred restaurants, the driven and innovative culture, and a host of spell-binding sights, San Francisco makes us want to keep coming back for more.
The only problem with loving a place is that all too often we have to say goodbye. A vacation ends; we have to go home to our jobs and everyday lives. We find a new job that takes us elsewhere, or maybe we even fall in love and move to be with someone else. Maybe we just get tired of paying the inflated rent of a housing crisis.
As with any urban area, people always come and go. That doesn’t make the time we spend there any less meaningful.
If only there was a way to take a little piece of San Francisco with you. And no—we’re not talking about souvenir mugs or fridge magnets!
San Francisco Wall Art by Zach Matthai
As a fine art photographer, my job is to use a camera as an instrument for art. I create unique photos that capture my subject’s unique sense of place. When you look at one of my shots, I want you to feel like you’re standing right in front of the landscape, gazing out in wonder with the wind in your hair.
I’ve lived in the Bay Area for many years now, and by this point I know what makes this city so special. I’ve seen all sides of this town, heard its heartbeat from this inside, and I’ve made it my mission to capture that essence in photography so that you too can enjoy it from anywhere in the world.
My goal is to provide a product that not only reminds you of the good times in San Francisco but also to create beautiful art that anyone can enjoy. Pictures, replicas, and other souvenirs are a dime a dozen throughout the city, but San Francisco fine art photography is something truly special.
Golden Gate Bridge Fine Art Photography
They said it couldn’t be built.
Of course, we have to start with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Stretching 1.7 miles from Presido to the Marin headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public in 1937 and in that time has earned the title of one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Visitors flock to this famous landmark for good reason. Not only is it one of America’s most impressive feats of engineering, it’s also downright gorgeous. Some of my most memorable shots were of the Golden Gate Bridge at dawn. The sky’s bright colors reflecting off the water below, the sky-reaching towers of the bridge itself, and the city standing proud in the background: what a sight to behold!
Want to see more? Check out our Golden Gate Bridge Wall Art Gallery to view some of my favorite shots.
Fog City
Another San Fran classic that I celebrate in my art is the near-omnipresent fog. San Franciscans lovingly dubbed it Karl the Fog, and someone even created a Twitter for it (him?), @KarlTheFog.
Fog is ubiquitous in the Bay Area and among its inhabits. More than a simple fact of life, Karl signifies how this unique weather affects the culture and psychology of our city. Its reputation as dramatic and captivating makes it a prime subject for artists of all sorts, including writers, musicians, and, of course, photographers.
Consider this 1916 poem by Carl Sandburg:
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Simply put, the fog pervades our imaginations to the same extent it permeates our streets and saturates our skies. There are few things that bring you back to San Francisco like a good foggy day.
Remembering San Francisco
This city means so many different things to so many people. From the hippies and other free-spirits that called this city home in the 60’s and 70’s to the current generation of techies, innovators, and adventurers, San Francisco is, more than anything else, defined by its people.
Whether you left to join a startup in Austin or Portland, set out to start a new life somewhere else, or just finished a trip, the memories that you made in San Francisco will stay with you for a lifetime. It’s hard to say goodbye.
So, if you’re looking for a great way to remember San Francisco, take a look at our limited edition wall art. Hang a piece next to your bed and start your day on a foggy San Francisco morning, no matter where you are. Decorate your living room and make it feel more like home.
Wherever you decide to hang your San Francisco fine art photography, you’ll be transported right back to the place you love.
