The San Francisco 49ers are going to the Superbowl!

. . .

On Sunday, February 3, 2013, the San Francisco 49ers faced off against the Baltimore Ravens in Superbowl XLVII. Taking place in New Orleans, this marked the Niners’ first appearance in the big game since 1995.

 

There's always a crowd to get into Niners games at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, USA
There’s always a crowd to get into Niners games at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, USA

. . .

San Francisco 49ers Games @ Candlestick Park

Although it was designed to be a baseball stadium for the San Francisco Giants, the 49ers have called Candlestick Park home since 1971. Located in Bayview Heights and alongside the San Francisco Bay, up to 70,000 screaming fans flock to “the Stick” for every home game.

 

A sea of red fans at Candlestick Park
A sea of red fans at Candlestick Park

 

A fisheye panorama photo of Candlestick Park from the upper deck midfield
A fisheye panorama photo of Candlestick Park from the upper deck midfield

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Photographing the San Francisco 49ers

All photographs on this page were taken on November 13, 2011, during a late-season game versus the New York Giants that I attended with my friends Randy and Damon. It was an incredible afternoon at Candlestick, as the Niners came back with 15 points in the 4th quarter to win the game 27-20.

 

A closeup of the 49ers endzone at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California
A closeup of the 49ers endzone at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California

 

Damon, Randy and me outside Candlestick Park
Damon, Randy and me outside Candlestick Park

 . . .

Details in and Around Candlestick Park

Candlestick Park is a traditional stadium for the era it was built. This means lots of concrete, no focus on views beyond the field, and the dimensions of a giant oval. For a photographer, this setup offers a bonanza of subjects to point my camera at.

 

Escalator to the Upper Deck - Candlestick Park
Escalator to the Upper Deck – Candlestick Park

 

Stadium Lights at The Stick
Stadium Lights at The Stick

 

The scenic view over the South Bay and out to Oakland from Candlestick Park
The scenic view over the South Bay and out to Oakland from Candlestick Park

 

Underneath the upper deck seats at Candlestick Park in San Francisco
Underneath the upper deck seats at Candlestick Park in San Francisco

. . .

Even Yoda is a San Francisco 49ers Fan!

This Sunday is the big game! Will the Niners prevail or will the Superbowl trophy head back east to Baltimore? Both teams will try their hardest, but with a powerful fan like Master Yoda on the 49ers’ side, “there is no try; only do.”

[UPDATE] Sadly, the Baltimore Ravens wound up winning that Superbowl by the incredibly close score of 34-31.

[UPDATE] The San Francisco 49ers moved to a new stadium after the 2013 season. Candlestick has since been demolished, and only lives on in memories and photographs.

 

Even Yoda is a San Francisco 49ers Fan
Even Yoda is a San Francisco 49ers Fan

 

The San Francisco 49ers play a game of football at Candlestick park on November 13, 2011
The San Francisco 49ers play a game of football at Candlestick park on November 13, 2011