Happy Chinese New Year ! A look back to the Gold Rush...

This amazing atmospheric view from our private collection transports me back to another era - it almost looks like a scene out of Deadwood, yet it is real. Can you hear the wagons wheel percussion as they traverse the cobblestone street of the booming young City by the Bay?
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"Chinaman" Carrying Supplies, San Francisco, c.1860

Gold Rush lured many Chinese to California who later migrated to urban areas in the 1860’s and ‘70’s. They became a dominant work force in industries of canning, cigars, woolen mills, shoes, and sewing, and in restaurants and laundries. They were such hard workers they were perceived as a labor threat which led to many conflicts and regretul incidents prejudice, violence and injustice.

For the Chinese women it was worse - often brought here in slavery or under a variety of false pretenses, foot-binding and prostitution were common, suffering by Chinese woman was the norm, as immigration problems, drugs, corruption intertwined with the times and the 'powers that be' made life difficult to say the best.

Digital remastered from vintage 'snap shot',
on permanent exhibit at the U.S. District Courts, San Francisco

Image available through our World Wide Archive web galleries

Children's Playground, Golden Gate Park c1887

Not far from these rather pastoral swings, with the air carrying the laughter of children were grizzly bears. Real, live bears in dark steel cages. Although safely, we all thought in these restraints, the sense of an exotic environment prevailed, rides on Elephants were popular, were  for a nickle you could take a grand ride, for a moment pretend you were India, and have experience remembered for a lifetime.  
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photographer unknown, possibly Taber from original albumen print
Collection of San Francisco Images / World Wide Archive.

references
Golden Gate Park's Children's Playground
http://www.outsidelands.org/swendsen3.php

Chinese in ceremonial costumes in Golden Gate Park c1880

One of my favorite views in our collection by famed San Francisco photographer

W.C. Billington - Palm Avenue runs to the gate on the left. The gate is now gone but the pair of lions that were in front of it are still there although they may be copies.   This is from an original Albumen print - also available in case you are interested in acquiring it on Ebay
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New Years sale today to Midnight - 25% OFF EVERYTHING

Everything in our Web galleries is on sale today - 25% reduction

discount Code: NewYear

Fort Point viewing to golden Gate and Marin Headland, c1890

Fort Point was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1853 and 1861 to prevent entrance of a hostile fleet into San Francisco Bay during the Civil War. Between 1933 and 1937 the Fort was used as a base of operations for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

New Years Ball coming down, Hyatt Regency, San Francisco

The Intensity of Dance as the New Year Approaches

Swirling lights illuminate a future with promise that remains unknown, the moment is what matters now, the world celebrates, the ball drops, fireworks explode, the Change is hoped for, the sound is deafening, we went all in this time.  Memories last a lifetime.

Embarcadero Center, New Years Eve
San Francisco 1975
Hand-tinted gelatin Silver Print

New Years Day Rising

Last year's calender pages fly out windows in Financial District, covering the street like paper snow, crowds cheer, drink softens hard edges, trees are recycled and here comes another year as the winds blow through our concrete canyons
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"New Years Rising, 1976" 1/1
Hand-tinted gelatin silver print photograph © Bennett Hall

Montgomery and Market Street
Abandoned Christmas Tree, Montgomery BART station

San Francisco Images Collection - available framed pieces

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

San Francisco photography - framed pieces for gifts, home or office

I am having a clearance on our current pieces in stock as we complete our shift to web galleries - these are the last of our collection and I am making them available at significant discounts (30-75%) - in many cases less than the wholesale value of the framing -

send me an email or call me at 415-434-8745 to make an appointment to come to the studio.