I made my first visit to Alcatraz Island last month. The excursion was sponsored by my sister. What a surprise, The Rock. I'd always assumed it was pretty much a tourist trap. Or even worse, a tourist prison. Not so.
For a photographer, the island is worth the time, and worth another visit. Be prepared to be patient, though. You'll see something to photograph, but it's surrounded by visitors. You'll compose a beautiful photo, admiring it through your viewfinder. The image will convey the solitary magnificence of the island, but somebody in a red Nike windbreaker steals the scene to tie his sneakers. Also, access to the island is quite limited, mostly for safety. Roads and paths are closed or barricaded. Makes you feel a bit like a prisoner, too. You see something which would make a stunning image, but there's no way to reach it.
Before the visit, I was concerned about freedom of movement on the island. Maybe they'd march us off the ferry, line us up, and make us follow the tour guide like a chain gang. Not so. The National Park Service employees there let you wander through the areas which are open. They're around if you have questions, but they don't get in the way of your own self-guided tour. You have the feeling of exploring the island at your own pace. Of course, when you're done with your visit and ready to take the ferry back to San Francisco, they do make you get a signature from a federal parole officer. That's only a formality, though. Slip 'em a fiver and you're on your way.
The beauty of the setting is outstanding. Alcatraz Island gives you excellent views of the bay in all directions: San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County, Angel Island, the East Bay, and the Bay Bridge. There's always something going on. The sky is a wonder. If you get there early enough, you can watch the fog burn off into a blue sky. You can watch clouds cover the Golden Gate, then drift over you, then float over to Berkeley -where they turn left. The airliners approaching San Francisco International and Oakland International are low enough to appreciate. There are oil tankers and ferries and sailboats on the bay. Swimmers, too.
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If you've read this far, here's the story behind the headline for this post. According to numerous news sources, Sean Connery actually did reside in a cabin at Alcatraz. He had signed up for the movie, "The Rock," and did not want to make the trip from a hotel in San Francisco to Alcatraz -and then back- each day. He insisted that the producers have a cabin built for him on Alcatraz so he could avoid the commute. Connery got his cabin. Of course, the word "cabin" means many things. I think of a cabin in the woods, or maybe a Lincoln log cabin, or even Log Cabin Maple Syrup. When Sean Connery says "cabin," I suppose he's thinking of the cabin in a Gulfstream private jet. Or the cabin in the Disco Volante yacht. Maybe a cabin that looks like a suite at the Fairmont.







