A Dead Shark but No Lions

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO320)

Pier 39 is a famous tourist spot. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe which is always a sign that you are at the very centre of tourism.

There is nothing wrong with that of course. Tourist spots are popular for a reason. And even though you can find all the usually suspects like small candy and ice cream shops, fridge magnet and other gift stores and of course a Bubba Gump restaurant there is still enough to discover like Lefty’s.

Finally a store made for me. When I came here for the first time I bought a tea mug for left handed people. I still have it and use it in the office. If one of my colleagues would “borrow” it they would ruin their shirt. I will always remember that when I bought the mug using my credit card the cashier, a very nice lady, had a long look at the picture in my old driving licence. Of course I have changed a little. “Is this you?” “Yes, a little younger perhaps – but it’s me.” “You looked like the young Dennis Quaid”. I think I didn’t say much beside “Thank you.” but what I really thought was “How the hell do I look like today?”

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/450 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/9, 1/400 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/9, 1/750 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO320)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO400)

Pier39 is famous for its many sea lions but it seems that they are all gone as you can see on the picture with the empty floating platforms. There were hardly any sea lions at all.

Luckily we saw many sea elephants early on that trip and because we visited the place early morning it was just the sea elephants and the two of us without any tourists. We visited the super small museum where we finally found some sea lions and a stuffed great white shark (the main reason why all sea lions prefer to stay outside the water if they don’t have to hunt for food).

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/9, 1/300 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/9, 1/320 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/10, 1/550 sec, ISO200)

If you look at the Exif data below the shots you can see that this is another XF14/2.8R only blog post. Seems that I don’t like to switch lenses often and that the 14/2.8 is my walk around lens.

Of course I also shoot with the 23/2 or the 35/1.4 from time to time but only the 14/2.8 gives you a real impression of the location. That’s true here but it’s even more true in the crowded cities of Asia where the 14/2.8 is THE lens. I will definitely have a close look on the upcoming XF16/2.8WR but I can’t imagine that it will replace my favourite lens from Fuji.

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/7.1, 1/900 sec, ISO200)