San Francisco Panorama - How Was It Taken

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• San Francisco Panorama - How Was It Taken

"Muybridge started at about 11am. and, probably with the help of an assistant, made each section within a matter of 15 minutes. The seventh panel from the left was taken last; it is a second shot of a section that was not successful on the first try. He used a 40 inch near telephoto lens, which determined the number of 20 inch wide glass negatives needed to make the complete circle. He had chosen the day for the execution of the panorama carefully; the shadows are sharp and the atmosphere clear"

[Ventura-Mosley, A., 1972, p62]

This photo shows a detail from the 12th panel in the sequence (looking south). It is of the Baldwin, U.S. Mint, the Portreros; and the Calvary Church. For a larger version of this photo please see Panel 12 Photo (will open as PDF)

©All Images copyright Kingston Museum and Heritage Service

Panoramic views resulted naturally following the discovery of photography. Muybridge photographed the full sweep of San Francisco from the tower of Hopkins House, 400 feet above the bay. This was his third magnum-opus; earlier in 1878 a fire had destroyed the negatives of the previous two panoramas taken in 1877.

The fifth and eighth panel in the series.  For larger versions of these photos please see Panel 5 Photo and Panel 8 Photo. (will open as PDF)

©All Images copyright Kingston Museum and Heritage Service