California in June

[Ralph Barker]

As you may have guessed by now, Bruce, the only thing wrong with your plan is extending your trip by days, rather than years. There is so much nice scenery around where you'll be, you'll have trouble narrowing your choices. All of the suggestions already mentioned are excellent.

The key factor may be whether the Tioga Pass is open when you reach Yosemite. If so, I'd concur with the suggestions of heading over to Highway 395. From there, Mono Lake, Bodie, and various other great locations are within striking distance. And, as noted, be prepared for temperature extremes. Bodie, for example, is above 10,000 feet, and can be quite cool even on a nice June day. Sun screen is essential, too. If you do a search on Highway 395, you'll find a couple of good sidtes that can help in your planning. By June, Death Valley is a bit too toasty for most folks and most film - unless you have a good ice chest for the film.

Whatever you decide on, it should be a memorable trip, though. Have a great time.

[Sharon S.]

'BTW - there is nothing photogenic in L. A.' - only if you go through the city with your eyes closed. I guess the Getty Center, Disney Concert Hall, the Arboretum, the Huntington Library, Union Station, and Echo Park should just close shop...

by the way, be sure to have a lot of insect repellant around...lots of water=lots of mosquitoes. Especially near standing pools in Yosemite Valley.

[John Berry ( Roadkill )]

I went to The big Y about 6 yrs ago. Figgers it would be raining the one day I had there. The pass was still snowed in at the end of may when I went, so my mono plans were out. I was on my way to Zion and antelope canyon. Ralphs mention of the heat and film, reminded me that what I used, was one of those battery powerd coolers. It keeps stuff 30-40 degrees cooler than ambiant temp. Kept it cool enough to preserve ,but the cool part was it was warm enough I could pull it out of the cooler and shoot it. Draw on battery is enough I wouldn't leave it pluged in while I was out on a couple hours treck, but it worked great and it is what I recomend if your going to the warmer areas. My old ford courier had 2-50 air conditioning. ( 2 windows down and 50 miles an hour) I like-ta died but $ 400.00 worth of film was nice and comfy.
John

[Steve Feldman]

Ok guys. I'll stand corrected. There are a *few* spots in LA worth burning film on. Yup, the Disney Concert Hall is a challenging photographic structure. The Getty Center has too much art, the Arboretum too flat - I like some mountains with foliage, the Huntington Library too many books, Union Station - trains, and Echo Park - well . . . . it echos.

BTW - Cast me another vote for Oregon. Last time I was there I found covered bridges. Lots of them. Old, well kept up, falling down, hard to get an angle on, impossible to find, in private roads, in a Von's parking lot, up a long dirt road. And on well marked highways. I loved it.

So long wifey. I'm off for a week . . . . or 2 . . . . . or . . . . .

Oh.

Yes dear.

~S.

[Brian Ellis]

"BTW there's nothing photogenic in LA."

Ray McSavaney would disagree. He's almost made a career out of photographing people and structures in LA. Take a look at his book "Explorations" some time. Unfortunately it doesn't contain any of his LA street portraits but it has some of his freeway and other LA things. That book is the most interesting combination of photographs and text that I have, well worth getting even if you have no interest in LA.

[Sharon S.]

By the way, as you drive (I'm assuming you're driving) through California's Central Valley, you'll be driving through some of the most scenic areas around...the orchards, farms and fields. Most people just pass them by on their way to somewhere else.

Oh, and anyone who goes to the Huntington Library to shoot the books or the Getty to shoot the art or Union Station to only shoot trains ought to be...well, shot. You would be missing out on some of the most beautiful architecture and gardens anywhere. Jeez...

[John Kasaian]

Good chow along the way---

The Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining(Ahi tuna)
Erna's Elderberry House in Oakhurst(reservations)
The White Horse in Three Rivers(green lipped mussels)
Mammoth Orange at the 152 & 99 junction(relic of the past with delightfully coronary clogging fried food and fresh squeezed OJ)
Sherwood Inn near Minkler(I haven't been here in awhile---try at your own risk)
The Ahwanee(maytag blue cheeseburger!)
The Wawona Hotel(just about everything the Ahwanee has but about 20% cheaper)
The Vineyard in Madera
The Basque Hotel in Fresno
The Kirkwood Inn in Kirkwood(Zak's fries)
Chukchansi Gold Casino in Coarsegold (buffet for serious pigging out)
Mel's in Jackson(milk shakes)

And Wineries!

Bullene in Three Rivers
Chatom in Murphy's
Radanovich near Mariposa
Fresno State (CSUF) in Clovis

4x5 sheet film usually stocked at:

Horn's at Fig Garden Village in Fresno(tri-x and polaroid)
Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley(Ilford the last time I was there---call 'em for info)

Best place to watch eagles:
Duecy's Lodge upstairs deck/ bar at Bass Lake

Best place to see bears drinking stolen beer:
Granite Creek campground on Beasore Rd. and
Red's Meadows near Mammoth

Best trout fishing:

(I'm not saying!)

Cheapest Gas I know of:

Costco right off Frwy 41 in Fresno, take the Herndon Exit and
Costco in Carson City at the intersection of HWYS 50 & 395

Dirtiest Lavatories:

Mariposa Grove, especially on hot summer days

Cleanest Outhouses:

Saddlebag Lake

Hidden old overgrown cemetaries in the area:

Akers Cemetary in Minkler(on the way to KCNP)
Foresta Cemetary in Foresta(inside YNP--watch out for the snake!)

Neatest old cemetaries still being kept up:

Oakhurst(a stones throw from Mc Donald's and Burger King)
St. Joseph's in Mariposa

Handiest thing to keep in your car when driving through the San Joaquin Valley in the summer:

A scotchbrite pad for scrubbing bugs off your windshield(the wooden handled thingys at gas stations are worthless!)

Art Gallery featuring LF photography where you'd least expect it:

Ashcroft Gallery in Oakhurst

I hope this helps!