More than once, I’ve photographed the R-Evolution statue on the Embarcadero in front of the Ferry Building during the day. It’s a striking work of public art. I read that it’s illuminated at night, so I went into San Francisco on Saturday night well before nightfall to see what it looks like after dark.
I took this photo just after 8 p.m (as you can see from the Ferry Building clock), which was about a half-hour before sunset.
As the sky got darker, around 8:30, the colored lights shining on the statue became visible. The lights in the Ferry Building also came on.
At 8:45, we were deeper into the blue hour, and the colors on the statue were more saturated. The lights shining on the statue change color; they transition from one to another in a rotating pattern.
At 9, as the ambient light goes down further, the colors on the statue become even richer.
Taken at about 8:50 with my 28mm lens, the photo below shows more of the environment. The sign at right is from the San Francisco Marathon, which was run that day.
One of the main challenges was waiting for no people to be in the photo—pretty much impossible—or waiting for a good composition with them in it. I know I can take them out later in post, but I’d rather keep photos as true to the actual scene as possible.
The statue is controversial in a minor way—some people object to it because it’s a nude woman; others because they think the city shouldn’t waste money on public art. Personally, I think it’s original and fun, and all the tourists taking selfies with it must agree.
