Four dollars a gallon.

[colrehogan]

This country has about zero transportation outside large cities. We are a car culture. Look on a map and see just how large California is. Compare it to Italy.

I've seen this thread both here and on the LF forum and Curt's comment above really sums it up. In the midwest, public transportation within cities isn't that great either. We have so much sprawl here and it takes driving to get from one place to another.

 

[mark]

I am driving an 8 year old car that, when I drive normal speed limit gets between 33-35 miles per gallon highway. It is American made and smooth as silk at 120 mph. It is not an SUV, not a diesel, and is not a very small car. The tech exists here and has for at least 8 years.

We will be living in Page AZ, this summer, dealing with the estate, so I will be taking lots of pictures around there. Can't help but drive in that neck of the woods.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Redneck!

You know I'm kidding.

Ron

An' Proud of It!

 

[pauliej]

Yes, I can still remember when gas was fairly cheap, back in the late 60's and early 70's. Back when American money was still worth something, not like the play-money we have these days. I just pray that we dont get into a war with Venus or Mars, as we would be taxed to death to pay for that kind of skirmish. Yikes!

paulie

 

[AZLF]

A U.S. gallon of gas costs about $3.00 at present in Tucson, Az.. I drive a car that gets 25 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the highway. I also have a V-twin motorcycle that gets about 42 mpg in town and closer to 50 mpg highway. My last photo trip in the car to the north end of the state only took a tank and a half of gas there and back. I'm planning another trip to the Grand Canyon in May this time on the motorcycle and will take a Crown Graphic and a large Bogen tripod as well as my camping gear(and other cameras). I don't really care what the gas costs. This is what I do for fun and relaxation and is cheap when compared to many other leisure activities.

 

[patrickjames]

I pretty much stopped traveling for photographs. The reason I moved to California was to be closer to the "West" but I don't see it anymore. The price of gas has had a huge effect on me.

Patrick

 

[Nick Zentena]

This country has about zero transportation outside large cities. We are a car culture. Look on a map and see just how large California is. Compare it to Italy.

In many ways so is Italy. Outside of the big cities trains and buses will drive you to cars A small town won't have a train route anymore. Buses will be aimed at kids going to school and if enough demand to workers going to the nearby bigger town. But neither is going to be every 15 minutes. It'll be a couple of morning buses and maybe a few in the afternoon.

I'm paying about $2 a litre for diesel. But my car which isn't that small [it's a five seater] gets over 60 mpg [Imperial not sure about US gallon] Considering half the time I"m driving up a 45degree hill that's not bad.

 

[c.d.ewen]

WOW, 20 cents / gallon? Thats a lot. I remember when it was 10 cents / gallon! I'm old.

PE

Ron: I ain't quite that old, but you and I remember something these 'kids' don't: gas wars. Didn't I ever tell you this story?:

In 1969, while stationed at an Air Force base in Texas, I decided that I would drive a couple of hundred miles to Dallas, as that was the closest place I could buy my brand of English pipe tobacco (Balkan Sobranie). You did that kind of thing then, particularly in Texas. Arriving late back at the base, I didn't stop to fill the tank with gas, available everywhere at $0.19 per gallon. The next morning, EVERYBODY had raised their prices to $0.29.

Back on topic:

Several years ago, I calculated that I was using about 2000 gallons of gas a year (yes, that's a lot of driving). I bought a honking big 1998 diesel Suburban, and had it fitted out to run on vegetable oil. Last year, I drove about 40,000 miles on about 600 gallons of diesel and about 1400 gallons of oil......and there's tons of room for tons of equipment.

Charley

 

[Nick Zentena]

One more thing. Because of the geography I'd say the average trip in Italy is longer then the average trip in North America. If the straight line distance on the map is 10km the road trip will be at least 20km. The 2x rule of thumb is pretty often the case in my expierence.

 

[23mjm]

Hail to the Chief--Halliburton

But I hear you. I drive a Chevy Silverado 2500 Diesel. I use to drive a Toyota Tacoma but moved up to the full size truck, Why you might ask? Well the Chevy gets the same fuel mileage as the Toyota??? Who would have thunk it. But is sucks paying $3.69 a gallon.

 

[Curt]

Another point, during the first oil embargo my wife and I were driving a Ford Pinto, don't laugh, it got a wopping 19 miles per gallon. This new century I bought a brand new Jeep Wrangler and it get's a wopping 19 miles per gallon. Now that's what I call innovation.

I'm like Jason, I would have bought a diesel version in a heart beat. I would love to hear from someone or one's who have RV's and live in Europe. I know they camp and RV there, what do they drive and what kind of milage do they expect? Or is it like here where you have to pay to play?

I noticed that when John McCain started to talk about energy the others slowly started to speak of it and GW was shocked to hear that gas is going to $4.00 the other morning. I actually was watching that news conference when he was s**t faced when it came up. When was the last time he went to the pump? It's just "bring the car around" or "the car is being brought around" to someone like him.

 

[Jack Lusted]

I used to drive a Land Rover Discovery which was something like a 2.4 diesel - got about 25 mpg mixed motoring. Great car - but UK child seat belt regulation put pay to that and now have a worthy but dull Toyota people carrier.
Most SUV drivers in UK seem to be urban based mums doing the shopping and school run.

SUV - Sub-Urban-Vulgarity.

Jack

 

[PhotoJim]

I remember when gas was .20 cents a gallon back in '69. You could get a clean but old downtown hotel room for $2.50 a night and buy a decent 3 bedroom home in California for $20,000.

I bought a decent 3-bedroom house here in Saskatchewan in 1992 for $58,500. The price of the house is now closing in on $300,000 and climbing rapidly.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with decimal point problems. My $112.9 per litre gas (I meant $1.129 ) was a little expensive, but a fifth of a cent a gallon for gas is a steal.

 

[Photo Engineer]

A friend of ours converted his van to run on vegetable oil. Getting spent oil from restaurants is illegal in NY, but he did it anyhow from a Chinese restaurant. Now his van smells like egg rolls. And, if it leaks on your driveway on a hot day you get hungry.

PE

 

[Jersey Vic]

I'm 30 minutes south of Albany NY today in the Hudson Valley and Diesel is $4.09. The increase in fuel costs has greatly eroded the 'disposable' income of many people I know in the Hudson Valley (to the point where they're chopping wood to heat their homes and need their late 80s' 12 mpg truck to haul it) but has not changed the spending patterns of many wealthier people I know living in or around NYC .

I'm blessed to presently live both near NYC and 120 miles north of there in the Hudson Valley. Both provide ample photographic opportunities but then again so does my backyard as does certain light hitting certain objects in our homes. When I'm at our place in New Jersey, travel to NYC for me is $2.50 O/W by bus.
Here in the Hudson Valley, gas is between 3.29 - 3.49 a gallon for us and these days we certainly save trips and combine errands and when the weather is warmer, the old 50 mpg Motocycle becomes my primary transportation.

Life is changing here if you watch and listen carefully.

 

[Andy K]

I don't know why you all pretend to still be driving those prehistoric gas guzzlers, we know you all drive small cars when no-one's looking...

 

[Nick Zentena]

I was shopping last week and parked next to a big Chevy Suburan with German plates. I don't even want to guess what that cost to drive from Germany to central Italy.

 

[Snapshot]

One more thing. Because of the geography I'd say the average trip in Italy is longer then the average trip in North America. If the straight line distance on the map is 10km the road trip will be at least 20km. The 2x rule of thumb is pretty often the case in my expierence.

I would love to ride my motorcycle in Italy. Sounds like there are lots of twisties.

 

[panastasia]

.....When I photograph, I find that I usually work by myself. Not that I’m anti-social but photography is a private time for me. I like to look, see, study what I’m photographing and then take my time. A rush photograph looks just like that rushed. I never go with my wife or kids. They just don’t get it. “It’s hurry, hurry hurry. We want to go......”

.....I would like to know what you have to say and share on this subject. I do see myself curtailing my outings to certain times, locations and destinations. What do plan to do?

I drive a little compact car so the price of gas doesn't curtail any plan. It's usually time that's limited. I like to stay fairly near home (150 mile radius) and plan day trips that could also be overnighters. I like to explore alone and when I find a good experience, I go back with my children.

When the snow melts some more I'm planning on driving about 150 miles, then hike up a steep trail in the Berkshire Mts, in Massachusetts. The trail passes a 200 ft waterfall/cascade and connects with a trail that goes into Connecticut at high elevations, up to 3 or 4000 ft. I've never been there, but I have explored the surrounding area. The ridge trail traverses two mountains and is in an area of some of the last stands of old growth pine forest. I plan to be back home by dinner time.

Oh! And I forgot! There's a great view of the Catskill Mts. in NY., looking west. (I've been told).

Paul

 

[Antje]

I just returned from Knoxville, TN, and it struck me again how folks down there seem to think that only a big car is a safe car. Hey, you go only at around 65 miles per hour. Don't you think a car that was built so that you can survive a crash against a truck at 240 km/h in should be reasonably safe?

Antje

 

[mikebarger]

Who drives that slow in TN? I drive across TN every other summer and run about 85 on I-40, I don't pass too many people.

Mike

 

[Shawn Mielke]

Great thread, if a little misplaced in the Exposure Discussion section? Indeed, though, I am feeling exposed to the importance of this discussion: the medium for our medium. As for myself, I live somewhat near San Francisco and the Bay Area, my current preferred shooting location, and I do not own a car (nor have i owned car for several years). I do not find my immediate living area particularly photogenic and the closest locations of interest are quite rural and require a car. I may move to Los Angeles later in the year where it is assumed by everyone that I will neeeed a car. God willing, I shall be able to strategize adequately and overcome this need. Photography came into my life after choosing the no car lifestyle, and for the most part, it blends in quite perfectly. Photography, for me, is about exploring the world around us, and making series after series of sound decisions. It's about walking the earth, literally and spiritually. Somehow, the working around not having a car brings me closer to that process of exploration and logistics (a definition of photography!).

And I use primes anyway so the concept of "zooming with my feet" is even further reinforced! ;-]

OTOH I do not (yet) shoot for a living, which could change my tune somewhat. But not owning a car has been an important aspect of growth for me, regardless.

 

[Robert Brummitt]

OK, lets change this a bit.

First, sorry for putting this in the wrong category. My mistake.
As it was stated earlier, I did place this thread in many other photo websites. I wanted to get as broad arrange of thoughts and responses and I think I did.
What I hear from the Appugers is this "Damn the gas pump! I'm heading out to photograph!" Most of you have either a second econ car or don't care about cost. What about your bottom line?
From a more commercial photo site, I heard photographers saying that they are charging more for their services to cover the gas. Fine art photographers, who make a living selling prints say that they have increased their print prices to cover gas.
I also heard from one person who does workshops on both coasts and he's really feeling the pinch. He say's that airline flights have almost doubled. He fears that if he raises the tuition, his clientele will bulk.
Most of you, I'm sure, don't attend too many workshops or events. But if you do when does the cost of traveling come into your considering a workshop?
I'm also really fascinated by the response this thread has gotten from our European photographers. They have felt the gas pinch a lot earlier then we here in the States. I had always thought because of the train service in Europe has so vastly greater then here. The trains was the best means of travel. I guess I'm a victim of Hollywood.
Thanks for all the great responses!

 

[Curt]

Regular gas is $3.47 a gallon, nothing has changed, yet. When it goes to $4.00 I'll have to pay that, when it goes to $5.00 I'll have to pay that too. When it goes above that we will all have a collective pain at the pump and if no one does anything then those who can't pay will be stranded or riding bicycles or skateboards or walking. Electric scooters to the grocery store, won't need to carry much the prices will be so high we won't be able to buy a lot.

Ever wonder why some older people eat all of the chicken off the bone leaving no meat at all? They went through the great depression.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Back in the depression, people hunted deer, squirrel and rabbitt for dinner when times were tough. I remember my dad kidding me that when I had squirrel his life would be complete. He would have seen a nut eat a squirrel.

Yes, times were tough, but I'll bet you that within the next 50 years they will be tougher. This poor old world cannot supply enough food and energy for the population projected in that time span. So it is either cut back or perhaps a pandemic.

I hate to be a pessimist, but I have read the data too. Tough times are coming. Have fun.

PE