August 31, 2024

Fogust is over

August in San Francisco is a very special month. It’s a proper celebration of the city’s iconic fog. While I didn’t go out enough to capture images this month, whenever I did, I wasn’t disappointed. Here is small set of images from around town during August.

The term “Fogust” emerged as a playful portmanteau of “fog” and “August,” reflecting the peak of fog season in the city. The reason we have this thick blanket of mist – aka natural air conditioning – is due to a combination of geographical and meteorological factors:

Cold Ocean Currents
Warm Inland Temperatures
Pressure Differential
Topography — the city’s hills and the Golden Gate — acts as a funnel, drawing the fog into the bay and over the city.

This fog provides a natural air conditioning system for San Francisco. It also creates a mysterious atmosphere that is an integral part of the city’s identity. I am a sucker for fog and the role it plays in my photography. A long time ago, I noted that

I simply love waking up to fog enveloping the city of San Francisco. Somehow it mutes the sounds of the city enough to make you feel that you are someplace else.

It hasn’t changed one bit —regardless of all that has changed about the place.

Aug. 31, 2024, San Francisco