Pacific Coast Silhouettes and a San Francisco Skyline

Last year, Eli and I finally crossed a major destination off our Oregon bucket list: Crater Lake National Park.

Despite living in Oregon for a few years, we had never made the six hour trek from Portland. Something always got in the way. Back then, we were younger, trying hard to be financially responsible and just getting acclimated to life in the Pacific Northwest. I was juggling late night newspaper delivery routes in downtown Portland, dropping off the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and others to a lineup of high rise buildings (I had to go floor by floor, often alone, long before the city woke up). After that came early morning photo sessions at dawn, followed by getting emotionally/ financially wrecked trying to trade stocks during market hours (Let’s just say, money or time did not come easy then, thus no Crater Lake).

After wrapping up our time at Crater Lake (remind me to tell you about the crow that tried to break into our car when we visited), we headed west toward the Pacific Coast. Driving along US 101 never gets old. Winding roads, the scent of ocean air, and the crashing of distant waves as you hug the rugged coastline all come together for a kind of tranquility you cannot get just anywhere.

Waves crash rhythmically against a rugged stretch of California’s coastline, where jagged rock formations rise from the Pacific Ocean in dramatic fashion. Along the roadside, people have pulled over to watch the view, sitting on car hoods and leaning against railings as the surf rolls in. The scene captures the raw power of the sea and the quiet awe it inspires in those who stop to witness it.

This time, we took it further. For the first time, we drove the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, California’s State Route 1. We had dreamed of doing this for years, but back in 2017 and 2018, a massive landslide shut down part of the route for over a year. So when we finally made it, we lingered longer than planned.

We initially meant to stop for just a couple of hours, but the dramatic seascapes, rocky outcroppings, and golden hour glow drew us in. Every roadside pullout was packed with people snapping photos, relaxing in beach chairs, and soaking in the view as the sun crept lower toward the horizon. So we stayed. And stayed. The result? Some of the best silhouetted coastal shots I have ever taken.

Us along the California coast, holding hands and celebrating the sunset as the Pacific Ocean glows behind them in shades of orange and violet.

A playful silhouette moment at sunset along the California coast as the sky glows orange over the Pacific Ocean.

To be honest, I always try to plan for the unexpected. But if you travel enough, you learn that carefully laid plans often fall apart as soon as the trip begins. Planning, for me, is less about strict scheduling and more about visualizing a base outcome. What actually happens tends to be something else entirely.

A quiet silhouette stands at the edge of the California coast, watching the sunset cast a soft orange and blue gradient across the Pacific horizon.

Silhouette of me pointing as my wife and I watch sunset on the coast.

But that extra time came at a cost. Our golden hour at the Golden Gate Bridge had officially turned into a nighttime shoot.

Still, I was not about to pass up a chance to capture San Francisco’s most iconic landmark. So we headed toward Golden Gate National Recreation Area. To get to our viewpoint, we passed through the Baker Barry Tunnel. It is a narrow passage regulated by a stoplight, and sitting there alone in the dark, waiting for that green signal, which was programmed for every five minutes, felt more eerie than scenic.

Ten minutes of winding roads later, still surrounded by pitch black hills, we finally caught our first glimpse. The glowing Golden Gate Bridge emerged from the darkness as we looped through a roundabout on Conzelman Road. And just beyond the suspension wires, San Francisco's skyline shimmered like a mirage on the horizon. The contrast between the silence of nature and the pulse of the city was unforgettable.

We made our way to Battery Spencer, one of the best vantage points. Before I jumped out, I gave Eli a mock serious instruction. Lock the doors, stay alert, and if I am not back in thirty minutes, presume I have been eaten by coyotes. She laughed. I think.

Me standing in silhouette against the glowing Golden Gate Bridge, a moment of stillness above the city.

Golden Gate Bridge glowing under a clear night sky, captured from Battery Spencer with San Francisco lights faintly glowing in the background.

Navigating the battery ruins in near total darkness, flashlight in one hand, tripod in the other, felt like something out of a post apocalyptic film. The wind whipped through the old structures, and part of me wondered whether I should turn back. But then the bridge revealed itself, one glowing curve at a time. I set up the tripod and started shooting.

San Francisco’s skyline glows under nightfall, with the Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower lit up.

The bridge was mostly deserted, except for a crew doing routine maintenance on a closed lane. The combination of empty roads, city lights, and the hum of wind made for a surreal, almost meditative experience. I was so absorbed in the moment that I nearly forgot about my thirty minute timer.

A full view of the Golden Gate Bridge spanning San Francisco Bay, shimmering beneath a clear night sky.

Eli, of course, had not.

But that night reminded me that sometimes the best photos come not from the perfect plan, but from leaning into the unexpected.

A close nighttime view of the Golden Gate Bridge's upper tower and suspension cables under starlight.