An amazing area.

Whole acres of classic warehouses and administrative buildings have been left to rot. The windows are smashed, barbed wire fences erected to prevent access. Signs warn of danger and forbid trespassing.

This is the area in east San Francisco on the bay known as Dogpatch and Pier 70.

Home to some of the oldest buildings in the city, many having survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, Dogpatch is not what you would call pretty. Gritty and exhausted is more like it. But that in no way lessens the picture opportunities. I spoke with one of the guards and he told me that most of the warehouses date from the turn of the previous century, that the roads used to be made of beautiful cobbles, now asphalted over, and that a light rail line led right into the industrial center of Pier 70.

It’s sad to see all the wonderful potential of these buildings wasted. A less corrupt city would develop these into mixed use housing though the issuance of tax free bonds and enjoy the bounty of property and sales taxes which would ensue. But don’t hold your breath. This is California, after all.

When I first processed these as pretty much straight-out-of-the-camera renditions, I tried them on a friend who advised “This series would suit a more grunge type effect” so I went back, added some contrast, vignetting, vibrance and grain in LR3 and have to agree that the results are far more dramatic and effective.

All snapped on the Panny G1 with the kit lens, ISO 320.

If you find yourself in the area, check out the Hard Knox Cafe on 3rd Avenue – and order their excellent shrimp gumbo with the Hard Knox draft ale.

Snapped on an iPhone 3G.

The interior of this unpretentious place has walls lined with rusted corrugated iron, which perfectly fits the feel of the Dogpatch. They even have half-decent, free, broadband.