Gay in the Bay | Vol. 2023, Issue 22

Queer Intro

Welcome to the Gay in the Bay Blog! I am Josie, a queer writer and videographer that loves to document what I see around me. This started out as a writing blog but has grown to include events that more people should know about.

This post is for the week of

Do you have a live event that needs filming? I’m a videographer! Please check out the Sweeney Media on your way to the About > Contact page. I look forward to working with you.

How to Film the Golden Gate Bridge

I took a break from writing this past week. This isn’t to say I didn’t write a single word; I did, but everything feels stale. But what wasn’t stale was my first time lapse!

The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world. There’s just something alluring about this structure. I decided make the trek down to Marshall’s Beach and film a time lapse. Here's what I learned:

  1. Know your subject. This applies to the camera just as much as the subject itself. Questions to ask: what are you shooting? What exactly are you achieving here? This will apply for platforms; think film (fiction or documentary), commercial, or maybe a YouTube video. What format is required? Where does the customer want the shot? Questions such as these will help you figure out the best way to get that “money shot.” The more questions you ask the customer or yourself, the more prepared you will be.

  2. Learn the best time of year to film. June, to my surprise, is not the best time to film the GGB. The sun dips behind the mountains this time of year. Which, don’t get me wrong, this is still beautiful! But the light doesn’t hit the bridge the same way. Know when the sun will hit the bridge during the golden hour.

  3. Know your place. Location, location, location! I had no idea where a safe place was to set up. As a result, I was close to the steps (which is safe for me and my gear) but I wasn’t close enough to the water. The best commercial photos of the GGB looks like the camera is right on the rocks and water. But make sure the tide doesn’t take you out with it. Find a safe place to set up.

  4. Bring the right gear. This may vary between photographer and videographer. But I decided to bring my GoPro Hero9, a lightweight tripod, and a 5LBS sandbag. This may be different the next time I go out and film. But don’t expect every shoot to require the same amount of gear. Create a checklist of your gear and stick with it.

  5. Bring your boots. An off-shoot of #1. Going to Marshall’s Beach requires you to climb down a steep hillside. If you are like me, out of shape or have terrible lungs, you will know to take breaks on the way down and up. Getting a great landscape photo/video will require some hoofin’ it.

I am updating my portfolio, and beginning to learn more about marketing for myself and my photos/videos. It’s a great time to become more focused and find my target audience.

There were many people that walked in front of my camera, as you’ll see in the YouTube video I uploaded. But toward the end, someone approached me and asked me to take his photo with his parents. They had driven all the way from Yosemite to the edge of San Francisco. I felt like an NPC in their life journey that day. That is to say, something came about it, and it felt great. Now I know what to expect the next time I go out to film the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are photos and a couple of vlog-type videos below.

She’s a Witch!

Simona Kossak was considered a witch in her day. She was an incredibly smart woman who held a PhD in Biology, an author, photographer, and an uncompromising conservation activist. She refused to follow the trends and styles of her day. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that she was connected to being a witch.

Here, however, we focus on the incredible photos that she contributed to the world. There is an intimacy that we don’t often see in the wild outdoors. The very first picture we see has a boar sitting at (and on top of) a wooden table. This isn’t something we see very often. And if I’m being honest, this is something I would love to see more of; the wild and civilized being brought into a weird mish-mash of humanity living quietly with nature.

Simona was called a lot of things (witch, activist being two) that is oft considered negative. But they should be positive connotations, as they are things that bring us closer to nature. And that is something we could all have more of; including myself.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

This isn’t a full review. It really couldn’t be, because I’d be far too biased toward this film. Quite frankly, this is my favorite animated film of all time. Yes, this even surpasses the original.

The joke I’ve had with everyone I’ve spoken to about this is: “They pulled a Matrix.” Meaning, the first film established the universe-skipping group of characters and the world in which they interact. Now, there is a duology of movies happening with almost too much going on. There are so many one-liners, references, and memes to keep count. And I can’t wait until the third movie, coming out next year.

Pop Culture

Each week I include media that I’ve enjoyed. If you’re a creator of any kind, please email me to be included in this list. I love discovering new artists; from singer-songwriters to upcoming directors, and beyond.