Photochrome Camera Club

Into the Past
Photographs and story by Garrett Griffin

On a recent cool but sunny Saturday morning several members of Photochrome walked through a twelve foot brick wall and steel clad Star Gate into the middle of the 19th century. Well, not really. It was a structure from that time, Fort Point to be exact. A Civil War era Army building, Fort Point was built to defend the Golden Gate, not the bridge of that name, but the entrance to a destination that promised riches to all who passed through, San Francisco Bay and environs.

The members weren’t there for a history lesson, although we all learned something new that day, I’m sure. We were there to find that illusive one picture. You know, the one that gets the photographer that crown of laurel.

I suppose that is an over statement. We were all there just to take pictures, to create a memorable image or at least try. Once inside, our Photochrome knot came undone, members scattering on their own to find that image.

We wandered among cathedral-like passages and into dark, dusty corners, crossed the parapets of the high protective walls and tripped over rusty steel cleats that once anchored long gone gun emplacements. The sun filled courtyard made a great foreground for pictures of the tower on the battlements while the Golden Gate Bridge created a most dramatic background. Stored barrels of gun powder, ready for the defending cannons, lay neatly stacked on a rack like fine ageing wine. We discovered repeating doorways, framing long halls to infinity and dusty blue belly Army uniforms in dustier display cases.

There was something for every eye. Our members did well, recording numerous images throughout the morning. One picture, at least, must be that sought after masterpiece we all search for. I know it was there. I only hope one of us found it.

The members returned through that brick and steel Star Gate to the 21st century, and a few hungry souls adjourned to the Warming Hut at Crissy Field for sustenance and conversation after their memorable foray into the past.