San Diego, Locations, C41film labs

Hi Folks

I will be taking in a course in San Diego during March, and am looking to tag on a week or so of shooting.
1. Can anyone suggest a good lab for C41 process only, and also a good supplier of Fuji- 120 film there, I will need quickturnaroud on the process.
2. As well I am looking for locations, We will be going into the desert area to shoot the wildflowers which are considered very photogenic, but I am also looking for different areas to consider as flowers are really not my thing, but my wife is crazy about them.
Not looking for rocks and trees either any suggestions??
Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Bob,

For Pro processing, Chrome is about the only game in town. There are a couple of other smaller players, but Chrome has been around the longest and has a good reputation. For film in 120 I would look into either George's or Nelson's, either should carry a full range of Kodak and Fuji films in 35, 120 and 4X5 (I'm a big fan of Nelson's not such a happy camper with George's).

As far as shooting locations for flowers and other greenery;

Quail Botanical Gardens

Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo (they're right next to each other), Balboa Park has a gorgeous Botanical Garden, as well a Japanese Friendship Garden. The Botanical Building is 100% free, the Japanese Garden has a small entrance fee.

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad (may or may not be in bloom around the time of your arrival)

There are many other things to see and do as well. Tide pools in La Jolla and Point Loma (just below the Cabrillo National Monument). The Mount Palomar area (home the the world famous telescope) and Mount Laguna have some gorgeous scenery as well.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Andrew

The San Diego Zoo is a good one for flora as well as fauna and it's well-known for all the botannicals throughout. Balboa Park is always well-planted as well. You might want to visit the Old Town/Presidio area, and the Mission San Diego de Alcala (the first of the Spanish Catholic Missions in California). The Cabrillo monument provides a spectacular panoramic view of San Diego, the Harbor, the airport, etc. The downtown area has undergone a renaissance and is quite picturesque. The Embarcadero area has the maritime museum on the old USS Midway. The old sailing ship, the Star of India is also berthed there.

A trip to Coronado is a good way to spend a day...food, sightseeing, etc. The old (and spectacular) Hotel Del Coronado is located there...it's also a haunted hotel!

If you're a golfer, bring the sticks...it's a golfer's paradise here.

s

Thanks for the replies

I should have mentioned I am not into rocks trees or flowers, but my wife is a flower nut and she is worth a couple of days of pain for me.
I am looking for quirky, kind of locations, where I can isolate some still life type of images. Hard to explain , but basically off the beaten track type of events or places.


Bob

Hi Bob,

I guess the question I should be asking is, what do you like to photograph? What interests you?

We've got architecture, rocks and trees, as well as maritime and rail museums. We run the gamut here. The only thing I won't suggest right now is Tijuana. I'd stay away for the time being, but Tecate (a hour or so to the east) might be worth your while (plus they offer tours of the brewery there, free samples anyone?).

If you don't mind a bit of a drive, Salvation Mountain (right near the Salton Sea) is pretty wild (interesting for the believer and non-believer alike). You can find more information about it here: http://www.salvationmountain.us/

Hope this a little more helpful.

Cheers,
Andrew

All the above are great suggestions. I love the convention center at night. It's very cool architecture and lighting is a lot of fun. For "snobby rich people" street photography I would go to Prospect street in La Jolla, it's great place to people watch and the cove is fun too. For "strange Californian" street shooting go to Pacific Beach or Mission Beach. Both communities have lots of beach bum types all over. Mission bay has a great old wooden roller coaster too. Old Town is fun to walk around and get a great Mexican dinner at the Old Town Mexican Cafe. There is also the San Diego Mission. I forget exactly where it is but there is a hang gliding and sail plane glidger port on the cliffs above the pacific in La Jolla too.

Hope it helps.

D.

The Mission San Diego de Alcala is located in (appropriately) Mission Valley near Qualcomm Stadium but on the East side of I-15. Oh, yeah...there's also a huge gas tank farm just north of Qualcomm Stadium...in fact, I think they had a tanker fire there last year. San Diego is the 7th or 8th largest city in the US and second largest in California but it has a small-town feel about it.