Smoker on Eddy Street, Tenderloin, San Francisco
 

I spent some time in San Francisco's Tenderloin last evening and thought I'd share this photo.

The neighborhood is much unchanged and remains a challenging and dangerous place to photograph, in particular at night.

People have been "reading into" a changing San Francisco that the Tenderloin is "clean(er)" and "safer" to walk around in.

Sadly, this is untrue.

The Tenderloin remains a very troubled place, and is probably less safe than I have seen it in quite some time.

I DO NOT recommend photographers walk through the Tenderloin at night photographing unless you are very good at blending in and don't expose expensive (or any) camera gear.

Simply navigating some of the streets at night without a confrontation, much less with a camera taking photos, is iffy and honestly, simply foolish.

This isn't about  "well you just have to have city street sense" and "stay alert", and "be aware of your surroundings".

It is much, much beyond that.

I took this photo from a car.