A sterile place.

While there’s no denying the magnificent job done by the City of San Francisco in rebuilding the old Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, the result is curiously sterile and uninviting.

The lower level is a food hall with few places to sit with that awful chi chi feel of inauthenticity. You know, places selling ‘artisan cheeses’, ‘hand pressed olive oil’ and ‘gourmet caviar’. Please. A haven, in other words, for those who cannot distinguish price from quality. At least some of the sales clerks are pretty.

G1, kit lens @ 17mm, ISO 800

Segue to the upper level, shown below, which seems comprised solely of offices for the least productive (also known as lawyers) and the feeling of sterility is even greater. People are rarely seen, there are no plaques on the doors, no hustle and bustle. No life. I suppose someone works there but it’s hard to tell. At least the natural lighting is great.

G1, kit lens @ 17mm, ISO 800

The G1’s smallish sensor holds up nicely at ISO 800 here, as long as you don’t underexpose. Proper exposure really helps to keep the noise down and a 13″ x 19″ print is just fine. The color rendering is just lovely in this muted light.