Category: diaries

Photo by Brandon Doran, taken in front of the Transbay Terminal

We’ve been admiring Brandon Doran‘s photographs almost all year. For someone who is new to photography, Brandon certainly could have fooled us. We talk to Brandon about what he loves best about photographing Muni.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into photography.
I got into photography about 6 months ago when I bought a DSLR for the birth of my daughter. The idea of photography always sounded interesting to me but I never took the step to research the gear or learn basic techniques. Since then I have become obsessed with photography and I rarely go anywhere without my camera. I find I am more observant now, always looking for something that would make an interesting photo. San Francisco is an amazing place to shoot. It’s really a photographers paradise.

What is it about Muni that inspires you to take photos there?
San Francisco has so many postcard shots but there’s also a lot of grit. Both are great to photograph. Muni encompasses both the grit, with lines like the 38 and 14 and the postcard, with the cable cars and street cars. I like to find interesting photos in the common everyday situations and Muni is a great example of that.

Got a favorite Muni line?
My favorite Muni line would have to be the 38/38L. This is my daily commute. It’s never a dull ride. An incident that stands out in my mind occurred on the 38 when a homeless man decided he wanted off and proceeded to climb out of one of the top, side windows of the moving bus.

Photo by Brandon Doran, taken at the Transbay Terminal.

Photo by Brandon Doran

You can see more of Brandon’s photos on his Flickr page. Want more interviews of photographers whose images of Muni inspire us? Check out our interviews of Brian Brooks and Kristen Holden. And don’t forget to add your Muni photos to our Muni Flickr pool.

Photo by Whole Wheat Toast

If you didn’t get to catch a glimpse of the Transbay Terminal tour before it closed, contributor Whole Wheat Toast at The Toasted Blog shot some great pictures and documented the last run at the terminal:

Last hurrah for the Transbay Terminal. But there weren’t people that were going to let this go away without a night of shooting (pictures) and at one point a group of rollerbladers came in and blasted Billie Jean. Not only that, Muni brought in one of their old Fishbowls (aka Jimmies) for all to see, so, yeah, if you didn’t come, you missed out. Wonder why AC Transit didn’t bring in one of their old vehicles…

Check out more pictures from the last run at The Toasted Blog.

Photo by Flickr user Brian Brooks

It’s been a pretty great week despite the fog…Prop 8, Elena Kagan, restoring some Muni service…in other Muni news:

• Fatter checks for Muni drivers (SF Examiner)
• Transportation officials to review Muni pay hikes (ABC 7)
• Battle over control slows drive for Muni reform (SFGate)
• Plan to increase penalties for crime on Muni moves forward (City Insider)
• Newsom and SFMTA Announce Partial Service Restoration for Muni (SF Citizen)
• Planners to discuss land use issues of Central Subway at SPUR (Under the Dome)
• Guilty plea in Muni assault on actor (SFGate)
• ‘The Other Guys’ Movie Poster Disarmed By Muni (SF Weekly)
• What is Muni worth? (City Insider)
• Safety escorts become available for Muni riders (ABC 7)

Enjoy your weekend and these photos!

Photo by Flickr user Justin Beck

Photo by Flickr user Brandon Doran

Photo by Troy Holden