Lombard Street with Light Trails

This photo was taken along Lombard Street in San Francisco. You can park anywhere along the top of the street and then walk down the stairs to the driveway. Reference the GPS coordinates and you'll reach the exact location where I stood to get this perspective.

Lombard Street can be photographed year round.

In order to get the light trails in your shot, you'll need it to be dark outside. Blue hour is great because there'll be more cars going down the street than there will be late at night. I also recommend checking the weather before you go so you can try to visit on a day when the clouds are more dynamic.

A wide-angle lens will allow you to incorporate the architecture in the background.

I think it's best to use a shutter release so you can time the light trails much easier as the cars drive down the street.

Some car lights can blow out your frame at certain heights. Make sure to take many photos at varying heights to avoid this.

All of San Francisco is at your fingertips! If you're photographing at night, I highly recommend grabbing a late night slice of pizza or some Mexican food. There are endless options for both in the area.