Grizzly Peak view of the Oakland Bay Bridge & San Francisco

This image of the Oakland Bay Bridge and San Francisco Bay was taken from Grizzly Peak. To get there, you'll need access to a car. First, drive up Grizzly Peak Blvd behind the UC Berkeley campus into the hills. The road is winding, but well-paved and very manageable. Park in the large dirt turnout at the GPS coordinates and then face southwest toward the city and bridges.

You can photograph at this location year round. Check the weather beforehand and make sure there will be foggy conditions for a similar look at Grizzly Peak. January-April and November-December will be the months in which the sun will set the closest behind the city. As a result of this, you'll have more dynamic lighting in your shot.

Watching the golden light of sunrise and sunset dance across the Bay brings the scene to life and gives the landscape additional dimension.

For extra safety precautions, bring a friend with you. Also, don't leave anything in your vehicle when parked.

I've always used my 100-400mm lens and recommend using a telephoto to be able to compress the scene together and get those nice details of the city.

Make sure to bring a sturdy tripod as the light fades away (it's tough to keep the frame in place when zoomed in at 400mm).

When photographing this location, look for ways where your frame can feel balanced. Notice the size of the buildings, the architecture of the bridge, the pattern of the fog and make sure everything is proportional.

There are a lot of hikes in the area. It's also a beautiful drive up to Grizzly Peak, so if you don't feel like hiking, you can enjoy the views from your car.