Sutro Bath Ruins
Built in 1896 and destroyed by fire in 1966, the Sutro Baths ruins sit tucked into the cliffs at Lands End, where the remnants of the massive swimming complex frame dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and Seal Rock. The crumbling concrete pools, tunnels, and walls give you strong geometric shapes to work with, and low tide reveals more of the structure and creates reflective water in the pools for mirror-like compositions. Shoot from the upper trail looking down for a wide establishing shot, or drop into the ruins themselves for tighter frames using the arched tunnel entrances as natural borders. Overcast days work beautifully here, softening the contrast and bringing out the green of the algae on the walls. A wide angle lens handles the scale well. Arrive early to avoid crowds, and wear shoes with good grip on the wet, uneven surfaces. (San Francisco, California, United States)
