Chapter 6. Conservatory of Flowers
A view of the Conservatory of Flowers taken on a slightly overcast fall afternoon. Taken at ISO 200, f/8, 1/50 second with a 14–24mm lens.
Why It's Worth a Photograph
The Conservatory of Flowers is a large Victorian greenhouse in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The conservatory has a central dome rising nearly 60 feet high and arch wings extending from it for a length of 240 feet. It sits on top of a gentle slope overlooking Conservatory Valley. It is the oldest building in Golden Gate Park and the oldest wooden conservatory remaining in the United States. The Conservatory of Flowers is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This conservatory houses hundreds of rare and exotic specimens that offer you a wonderful opportunity to photograph plants, flowers, and butterflies you may never see outside this location.
Where Can I Get the Best Shot?
To get the best shots, I recommend two places. The first is inside the Conservatory of Flowers (see A on the map); the second is on John F Kennedy Drive (see B on the map).
The best locations from which to photograph the Conservatory of Flowers: (A) inside the Conservatory, (B) John F Kennedy Drive. Other photo ops: (2) California Academy of Sciences, (13) Japanese Tea Garden, (16) M.H. de Young Museum, ...
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