Areas around SoCal

Are there any areas around SoCal that would be good to use 3200 film with?
I know the weather isn't so perfect for photography at the moment, but I won't be shooting until next week.

Any places you guys might know of?

Any place that's kinda dark?

Just teasin' ya.

This kind of weather can be a great time to use high speed B+W film. Any subject is good-the even light will open up the shadows. The grain, IMO, helps keep things from looking too flat. When storms start to break up they can produce some very dramatic skies. The high speed allows you to keep shooting even as it approaches nightfall.

You have to use a fast film to get the photo before the landscape washes away.

PE

Ain't that the truth! I was smart: I sandbagged as soon as it started, and am doing just fine. A section of one of the bridges on the Santa Ana Wash nearby collapsed this morning. The 'authorities' didn't even realize it was failing until a Sheriff's deputy drove across it and knew it didn't feel right; then he saw chunks of concrete falling off it. 15 minutes later it collapsed.
Several hillsides around town have failed. We have some very steep hillsides (canyonsides, actually) and the people who build houses next to them like to take out the native grasses and then plant stuff that doesn't hold the dirt in place as well. Now their little trees are at the bottom and their irrigation pipes are hanging in air. The hillsides erode naturally to an extent in heavy rains, so with decreased stability, well...
Also, almost no one around here prepares. They forget there is this thing called the elements (except sunshine). I'm a SoCal boy, but I lived in rural Northern California where rains like these aren't uncommon. This has been like what we often got up there. Steady rain for days, then a dumper. Where I lived an inch an hour wasn't all that uncommon, but here it's a big, big deal. A quarter inch an hour for more than about 15 minutes is a big deal. Some places have gotten just about their average yearly total in the past 5 days.
This has been an unusual year. A rather cool summer, some record-breaking heat in fall, almost no Santa Ana winds or brushfires, a couple of good early rains, now this. I wonder what's next. Hmmm, maybe I should ask Chris...

I feel sorry for that post. I really feel for all you guys out there and would not want anyone to feel that I'm insensitive to their losses. I hope that things clear for them.

PE

Don't worry PE- I got a good laugh from it! Weather happens, and as I said, few prepare. We choose to live here, and Mother Nature will do what she's been doing for a long time. We have some big mountains around here, and fairly warm, wet storms (it's 52 degrees out right now) mean snow only at high elevations during the day, so there's a tremendous amount of water coming off them.
It's just a part of living here, is how I see it.

Looks like we're going to get three days to dry out, starting tomorrow.

Just put a ND8 filter on it and you can use it like Tri-X 400!

lxdude said:

I wonder what's next. Hmmm, maybe I should ask Chris...

Click to expand...

Please don't.

Even though they've debunked the Palmdale bulge, remember that we are still due "the big one".

"Ask Chris" is the big one!

Sirius Glass said:

Just put a ND8 filter on it and you can use it like Tri-X 400!

Click to expand...

Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose? :confused:

BrianShaw said:

Please don't.

Even though they've debunked the Palmdale bulge, remember that we are still due "the big one".

Click to expand...

Speaking of Bulges, I thought "the big one" was Chris' backside. Is he coming out here to visit?

Look at the positive side, not Chris backside which he calls Saint Andreas. Come march it should be a fabulous wildflower season in the desert an hour East of Redlands.

cheesecrackers said:

Are there any areas around SoCal that would be good to use 3200 film with?
I know the weather isn't so perfect for photography at the moment, but I won't be shooting until next week.

Any places you guys might know of?

Click to expand...

I guess this never really got answered.
SoCal is a big place; it would help to know what your interests are, and where you are.

If you really want to shoot fast film, why not shoot at Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood. Interesting place and interesting clientele. Food isn't bad either. If you smile and wink at the bouncer he'll make sure the bruises look manly and no bones actually get broken.

Even Hollywood Blvd at night should be interesting.

wblynch said:

Even Hollywood Blvd at night should be interesting.

Click to expand...

Oh, yeah. The Sunset Strip, too.

At night or in a bar you could use 3200 but daylight (without a storm) with the smog is usually f11/film speed, on a clear day sunny16.

cheesecrackers said:

Sirius Glass said:

Just put a ND8 filter on it and you can use it like Tri-X 400!

Click to expand...

Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose? :confused:

Click to expand...

You broke the code!

Holy Jim Canyon is dear to my heart, I don't think they've had a flood like this since '62

If you've got the 4WD and weather permits, you could go up the road and get some shots of gritty washed out cabins.

They'd look good on any film, but I think storm-ravaged shots on 3200 would be be an appropriate combination.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/hikers-281109-canyon-four.html

Eh, I can't get into a bar alone yet.
My very religious aunt has expressed her opinions on taking me to any bar ages and ages ago.

I am in LA, to narrow it down even more, North Hollywood, one street over from the Sunset Strip. If you wanna know more... PM me. ;D
-notaseriousoffer-

cheesecrackers said:

Eh, I can't get into a bar alone yet.
My very religious aunt has expressed her opinions on taking me to any bar ages and ages ago.

Click to expand...

This may help: If you have to ask, then it is not Kosher.

Steve

You have lots of opportunities for some great shots right nearby. Enjoy it and then pick up more film at Freestyle, and have some more fun!

I prefer Samy's. I ordered stuff from FreeStyle and I never got them.
Twice. >.>

I'm not that familiar with the LA area, I mean I can get around, but when it comes to "YOUNEEDTOGOHEREANDTAKEPICTURES" I'm lost.

I know Mulholland has gorgeous views from the Hills. That's about it.

cheesecrackers, do you drive? Have a car?

Steve

I do drive.
In the state of Florida.

Only visiting the lovely state of California, sadly.