Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area...

Ara Ghajanian · Aug 24, 2005

Hey all,
I'm planning on moving to the San Francisco Bay Area on October 19. Basically, I'm doing it as a career move and because I love the place. I have many other reasons I'm sure no one wants to hear about. The main reason I've stayed in Rhode Island for so long are my dear friends. I will miss them, but I need to move on for my own benefit.

Here's the thing: I want to make new friends in the Bay Area and I figured "what better way than through APUG?" At least I'll have something in common with everyone I meet here... film!

Anyone feel like corresponding before the big move happens, feel free to email or PM me.
Ara

Bighead · Aug 24, 2005

Ara Ghajanian said:
Hey all,
I have many other reasons I'm sure no one wants to hear about.

I am sure they are the same reasons I'd like to live in the area.... Good luck on the move. The next time I visit, I hope we can get a GTG planned.

Dave Wooten · Aug 24, 2005

You are also leaving a lovely place I attended last year Music Educators National Convention in Providence R.I.

Well I live in Las Vegas and we are a suburb of San Fran and L. A. and San Diego, also Tonopah Nevada, so welcome welcome to the wild west.

Paul Sorensen · Aug 24, 2005

I am a bit curious as to why you needed to wait until Aggie was gone. Hmmmm. I have a friend who is leaving tomorrow to go to the San Francisco Art Institute to study photography. I am very envious of both of you.

Aggie · Aug 24, 2005

You move in just after I move out. There is quite a community of apuggers here. In fact one camera store that supplies mostly analog materials has a manager that is an apugger. Geary (galyons) is sort of the unoffical host of the area. No matter which part of the bay area you live in, you will find an apugger within a few miles. I would strongly suggest staying in the East Bay. or the South bay as the prices may be a bit cheaper, and the traffic not as big a mess as San Francisco proper. There is a good bart line that goes into the east bay, and in the future the bart is to be extended down to San Jose.

jss · Aug 24, 2005

i live in san francisco. im moving next week but will still be in the city limits.

Ara Ghajanian · Aug 24, 2005

Aggie said:
You move in just after I move out. There is quite a community of apuggers here. In fact one camera store that supplies mostly analog materials has a manager that is an apugger. Geary (galyons) is sort of the unoffical host of the area. No matter which part of the bay area you live in, you will find an apugger within a few miles. I would strongly suggest staying in the East Bay. or the South bay as the prices may be a bit cheaper, and the traffic not as big a mess as San Francisco proper. There is a good bart line that goes into the east bay, and in the future the bart is to be extended down to San Jose.

What is the name of that camera store? When I was in SF a few weeks ago I went to Calumet for all my film. Man, those people working there are harsh. It seems like if you're not there to buy a Hasselblad H1 then you're nobody.

I'm staying in San Mateo for a few months and, unless I find a more suitable place, I'm probably going to get an apartment in that area. That's considered the South Bay, right? Traffic? You haven't been to Boston lately, have you? What a freakin' mess!

Sorry to see you go. Why are you leaving SF?
Ara

kaiyen · Aug 24, 2005

San Mateo is considered the Peninsula. South bay is about Mountain view and south (roughly - some consider it to be Sunnyvale and south).

I live in Redwood City and work at Stanford, so I'm not more than 20 minutes or so from where you'll be. Feel free to holla at me, even though I'm not a very veteran apugger. I like me some photography, though.

allan

grahamp · Aug 24, 2005

I think a lot of us in the East Bay use Looking Glass (http://www.lookingglassphoto.com) for materials. Their stock is good and they are open seven days a week. They are in walking distance of my office in Berkeley, too If you are on the Peninsula, Keeble & Schuchat in Palo Alto is another option.

I expect you know about property prices around here?

Ara Ghajanian · Aug 24, 2005

grahamp said:
I expect you know about property prices around here?

Property prices is the reason I stayed away for so long. I finally just said screw it, you only live once.

MattCarey · Aug 24, 2005

Ara Ghajanian said:
I'm staying in San Mateo for a few months and, unless I find a more suitable place, I'm probably going to get an apartment in that area.

Check out Keeble and Suchat in Palo Alto. Also, Calypso imaging (Sunnyvale?) for processing.

Glad to have you in the area.

Matt

Aggie · Aug 24, 2005

Looking Glass in berkeley is the place I'm refering too. tomtom (che pronounces shay) is the manager there that is an apugger. There is also Adolph Gassers in the city. They are a couple blocks south of Market on 2nd. Nice thing about Gasser's is they have free off road parking.

I'm leaving because of the prices. This housing market is crazy. A new house by me when we moved here was 250K the same house by the same builder in the same area, is now 750K. For that much I can get a really great house with land and enough extra for a state of the art darkroom facility for more than myself built se3perate from the house. I would still have money left over. I will be close enough that I can shoot over here in a days drive. Hubby's job is such that he can work from home, and live anywhere he wants too. I may not have seen Boston lately, but according to MSN and a article a few months back San Francisco area has 4 of the top 10 worst traffic areas in the country. L.A. had 3, and Seattle one. So east coast is tame compared to this mess.

kaiyen · Aug 24, 2005

Keeble and Shuchat has a big selection, but the prices make you want to cry out in angst (especially for accessories). Calypso is down in Santa Clara, on Scott and Martin. Best prices on processing in the bay area, I think, and great people.

allan

brent8927 · Aug 24, 2005

Between Keeble and Shuchat and Looking Glass, I definetely prefer Looking Glass; the people there are much nicer, and I believe the prices might be better too, though they don't have as large of an inventory as Keeble and Shuchat. The only problem is Looking Glass is in Berkeley... about 45 min away. Then again, so is Keeble and Shuchat; I live in Fremont, so I guess I lucked out

Personally I actually don't like the Bay Area- it's too crowded, though Marin County sure is nice, especially with Point Reyes so close. Unfortunately it's a bit pricey up there. Anyway, once I finish school I'll look forward to living somewhere where there are more trees than cars; considering I'd like to work for the National Park Service or the Forest Service, I think that dream will probably come true!

Aggie- I understand your reason for moving- my parents bought our house about 20 years ago, I believe for $200,00, but it might have been $250,000, and our house could probably easily get at least $750,000 right now, maybe closer to $1,000,000-- people really want their kids to go to the high school nearby! I don't really understand it; I didn't think the school was that great.

roteague · Aug 24, 2005

kaiyen said:
Calypso is down in Santa Clara, on Scott and Martin. Best prices on processing in the bay area, I think, and great people.

I use Calypso all the way over in Hawaii - they are excellent. I also found Looking Glass to be a great place to shop - che gave me a really good deal on some outdated QuickLoads.

MattCarey · Aug 24, 2005

There is also San Jose Camera--which may be a bit closer to San Mateo than the East Bay. I haven't really used them, but they are bigger than your average small shop.

Matt

bjorke · Aug 24, 2005

San Mateo is Peninsula, not South Bay. Keeble's, in Palo Alto, is the closest place of merit. San Jose Camera is darkroom-unfriendly (in fact GENERALLY unfriendly) -- they are all about volume of high-volume products. "Cameras & More" in San Jose is my prefered South Bay supplier these days, close to University Art supply, and Kamera Korner is a few blocks away (at Bascom where it crosses hwy 280). Gasser's in SF is the old standby, I can't say much favorable about the camera-sales guys but the darkroom guys in the basement are a good lot.

For a drive, Seagate Photo up in Ross may be a good bet for used camera gear. -- about the same distance I'd guess to Looking Glass over on Telegraph in Berkeley

brent8927 · Aug 24, 2005

I second the fact fact that San Jose Camera is generally unfriently; I will never shop there again, and if I'm in the area and am in a hurry for film and can't get to Palo Alto, I'd also go to Cameras and More (who are very friendly).

Honestly though, I usually just buy in bulk from B&H whenever I need something else from them...

pelerin · Aug 25, 2005

bjorke said:
San Mateo is Peninsula, not South Bay. Keeble's, in Palo Alto, is the closest place of merit. San Jose Camera is darkroom-unfriendly (in fact GENERALLY unfriendly) -- they are all about volume of high-volume products. "Cameras & More" in San Jose is my prefered South Bay supplier these days, close to University Art supply, and Kamera Korner is a few blocks away (at Bascom where it crosses hwy 280). Gasser's in SF is the old standby, I can't say much favorable about the camera-sales guys but the darkroom guys in the basement are a good lot.

For a drive, Seagate Photo up in Ross may be a good bet for used camera gear. -- about the same distance I'd guess to Looking Glass over on Telegraph in Berkeley

Hey,
I think perhaps you are thinking of Seawood Photo in San Anselmo.
Celac.

bjorke · Aug 25, 2005

pelerin said:
Hey,
I think perhaps you are thinking of Seawood Photo in San Anselmo.
Celac.

Seawood, yeah, not "Seagate" ^_^;;
They are in downtown San Anselmo, which for most practical purposes is Ross, iirc (moved from Mill Valley some years ago)

pelerin · Aug 26, 2005

bjorke said:
Seawood, yeah, not "Seagate" ^_^;;
They are in downtown San Anselmo, which for most practical purposes is Ross, iirc (moved from Mill Valley some years ago)

Yep,
Across from the cops. While Ross and San Anselmo might abut each other they seem quite distant otherwise, at least to me. Dead Link Removed ... I have always been dealt with courteously.
Celac.

Ara Ghajanian · Aug 29, 2005

Now that we're on the topic of camera stores, does anyone know of a store in the Bay Area which carries used Leica M cameras and lenses?
Ara

removed account4 · Aug 29, 2005

hey ara -

we'll get together before you leave.

as for calumet ... that is the "nice" store in boston, you want attitude, you have got to go to ep levines

-john

Ara Ghajanian said:
What is the name of that camera store? When I was in SF a few weeks ago I went to Calumet for all my film. Man, those people working there are harsh. It seems like if you're not there to buy a Hasselblad H1 then you're nobody.
Ara

Aggie · Aug 29, 2005

Ara Ghajanian said:
Now that we're on the topic of camera stores, does anyone know of a store in the Bay Area which carries used Leica M cameras and lenses?
Ara

One of the best used and new lecia stores is just a bit south of the bay area in Monterey. Camera West is the store. Sean Cranor is one of the owners. He is a great guy to work with. It wouldn't take you long to get down there. maybe an hour and a half, or less. I make it in under 2 hours and have to start out further away.

blansky · Aug 29, 2005

Ara Ghajanian said:
Now that we're on the topic of camera stores, does anyone know of a store in the Bay Area which carries used Leica M cameras and lenses?
Ara

Maybe Keeble and Shuchat in Palo Alto.

Michael

Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area...

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