I had lived in San Francisco for 2 years, and even after I moved to Seattle, I visited there often for another 2 years. Although I hadn't been there recently, I remember the smell of the city. To me, it smells elegant. When I was in San Francisco, I had a mixed feeling of hope, anxiety, and loneliness. Yet, deep inside my heart, I felt the city had a mysterious power and I could overcome my hardship because of that.

The guard of the jewelry shop wearing plain clothes was so fashionable. He said it's not a good idea to take a photo in front of the shop and walked on the street until he found the good spot for me to photograph him. I wasn't even their customer, but he was so kind. And, let me add he was a handsome boy who is reliable when something happens.

There's a romance here and there in this city. While the man was into talking shaking his heard and hands, the woman was just listening to and looking at him. How sweet.

After the conference, I went to a hotel to attend a meeting. These IT engineers were having a mini party before dinner. The big light covered by the thin cloth was soft and beautiful.

The night face of the Union Square area is mysterious and intriguing. I feel like stepping into the big current of people of mixed ethnicity rushing home or travelling. And, I wonder where this current ends.

It's a shame if I go straight back to the hotel and sleep. The best way to enjoy time is to hit a bar in downtown. No one cares about who I am. Oh, they also have Yoichi, Taketsuru, and Hakushu (Japanese whiskies). How international!

When I went back to the hotel feeling a buzz and see this smile, I almost feel like asking if she would like a drink. But, I don't because I'm a matured adult of wisdom. You know, if she refuses, I will ruin my day!

One of the charming sights of San Francisco is the cable car going up and down the hills under the Californian blue sky. It's a bit expensive ($6 per ride and they also have a day-pass), but it's essential element of the city and has been coloring the city for over a century.

I often see young women with dogs. Mostly I see small and pretty ones, but is it the San Francisco style? This seemingly ferocious dog with a muzzle never noticed a suspicious guy sneaking a shot...

The size of the city is neither too big nor too small, and it brings me a refreshing and smooth morning. While Seattle is like a mini-San Francisco both in terms of topography and culture, San Francisco is more laid-back. Anyway, this is the city which made me decide on living in the States permanently, and I have a special feeling to this town. So, I should visit here more often.

I use my 21mm lens more often these days because it has a good color reproduction and a high clarity. And, the depth of field lets me shoot more instantaneously. Although it cannot produce big bokeh, the pan-focused images are refreshing. I sometimes crop images, but the image quality is still high even though it's a quarter-century-old lens. Because I don't want accuracy like a blueprint, I don't care about the distortion aberration or vignetting, and I use them as positive features to put emotions to my images. I believe, unlike other lenses, Ultra-wide angle lenses make scenes refreshing and alive.