Hidden Alcatraz - The Fortress Revealed

 The recently published book brings together images from a diverse group of photographers who participated in special behind-the-scenes workshops organized by The PhotoAlliance. Multi-day and overnight trips granted them unique access to this notorious and popular "rock" in the middle of the San Francisco Bay; the result is a collection of rarely if ever seen views taken at all hours of the day. Amazon.com has the book in stock http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Alcatraz-Fortress-Deborah-Roundtree/dp/0520260848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302315144&sr=8-1

 The book opens with an image I made from the ferry evoking the romantic and historical aspects of Alcatraz.

 The workshops offered access to most corners of the prison as well as the roof of the main cellblock. Up there you really get the feeling of being isolated in the middle of it all!

The prison was fully contained with medical clinics. My image on the right shows the west facing shop floor of the old Industries bldg. where the inmates made who-knows-what.

Building Boom in Mission Bay, Spring 2011

It certainly feels like pre-crisis times in this corner of the San Francisco! 3 construction cranes have been busy at work since the beginning of the year and a 4th yellow tower is being erected today at the hospital site. Mission Bay still has a way to go before being totally built out but it no longer looks like a clump of buildings looking for a connection with the city.

 

Miles of I-beam piles have been pounded into the former tidal marsh to create solid footings for the buildings. The bedrock is a loooong way down as indicated by the numbers on the steel!

Finally an image from 2003 showing the just completed building which is home to Old Navy in the background.