Going to California, what should i shoot?

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

04/02/2007 04:36:26 PM · #1

Hey, well im off to California on the 25th of april for 2 weeks! This will be my first vacation ever lol and i wanna have some nice memories. Im gunna try to pick me up a tamron 28-75/2.8 before i go, to have along with my 50/1.8. We'll be staying in Anaheim, im not sure what that is/isn't close too, but can anyone suggest some good spots to get some nice shots? My friend suggested going to the San Fransisco zoo before i go, besides that where should i go?

LanceW

Nikon Z9

04/02/2007 04:39:06 PM · #2

Ehh...Isn't Anaheim in LA? How are you going to the SFO zoo? It's about a 5 hour drive at least. ;-)

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/02/2007 04:40:24 PM · #3

San Francisco and Anaheim are 300+ miles apart. Anaheim is southern California so look for places around the greater LA area. Anaheim is not far from the coast either.

2 weeks should give you a lot of time to explore. I would definitely consider a side trip to the San Diego area in addition to the LA area stuff.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/02/2007 04:41:05 PM · #4

Palomar Mountain, between LA and San Diego. It's also an excellent excuse for a drive in the mountains:

04/02/2007 04:41:08 PM · #5

Anaheim is about 450 miles South of the San Francisco Zoo. Not to mention that the San Francisco Zoo isn't one of the world's greatest zoos. The Los Angeles Zoo is a better zoo and much closer. Anaheim is the home of Disneyland. I would definitely go there. What types of things are you looking to see?

04/02/2007 04:41:36 PM · #6

Originally posted by tooohip:

Ehh...Isn't Anaheim in LA? How are you going to the SFO zoo? It's about a 5 hour drive at least. ;-)

Lol hell if i know, ive never been so i dont know the distance haha.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/02/2007 04:42:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

That might be the one im thinking of lol,i just remember him saying zoo.. so i just did a google for zoo's round there thats thats the first one i found :P We are actually going to disneyland, i know its kinda childish lol but ive wanted to go since i was a wee lad so i thought id give it a go while im there :P Other than that i dont know what there is to see out there.

Message edited by author 2007-04-02 16:44:35.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

04/02/2007 04:44:15 PM · #8

If you're going to a zoo go to San Diego.

If you search around a bit, there are two or three really good previous threads on this topic.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/02/2007 04:52:48 PM · #9

Disney Hall

I think the Disney concert hall in downtown LA is worth a trip. Ditto what they said about the SD zoo.

I've heard they also have a cool wild animal park in SD?? Anyone?

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/02/2007 04:52:55 PM · #10

First of all, the San Francisco Zoo and Anaheim are about 6-8 hours driving distance apart straight down the 5 freeway.

Anaheim, also known as Orange County, is where Disney Land, Lego Land, and one other amusement park that escapes my long term memory right now.

The LA Angels have their home.

San Diego is about a 2 hour drive South. Long Beach is about an 45 minute drive South. LA is about 2 hours North.

Some great beaches are right there in Anaheim.

Do not stop in Compton, or South Central for a picture opp. If you don't get shot, you will be mugged.

Do not ask to "shoot" anyone with tat's on their neck, or a tat of an tear drop on their face. You will get "shot".

Do not shoot any LAPD. You will get shot.

The Sheriff and the LAFD are good people to shoot. But, be careful, they may think you are Canadian and just shoot you.

Do not shoot any homeless people in LA. You will be spat on, or shot, or both.

Do not shoot any passing cars while driving. You will get into an accident, or you will get shot and into an accident.

If you find yourself on Venice Beach. IGNORE the roller skate, guitar playing, long haired, can't dress himself, hand out guy. If you don't take heed, this guy will follow you until you give him money. Or, you may get shot.

I hope you have fun in our fair city.

Happy shooting.

Message edited by author 2007-04-02 16:55:23.

irisheyes

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

04/02/2007 04:54:47 PM · #11

Just relax and enjoy... you'll know it when you see it. Maybe some hot babes on the beach or something.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED

04/02/2007 05:00:36 PM · #12

Originally posted by kawana:

We are actually going to disneyland, i know its kinda childish lol but ive wanted to go since i was a wee lad so i thought id give it a go while im there :P Other than that i dont know what there is to see out there.

It's fun for all ages! I lived down there for over 20 years. Every time someone visited from out of state we went to Disneyland. My dad even worked there when he was in high school selling balloons. If you wanted to make a theme park adventure out of the trip you could go to Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, and Knott's Berry Farm as well.

Other things people usually go to the LA area to see would include the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Blvd (although it's pretty ghetto), Beverly Hills (my SO for some unknown reason can't resist getting those maps to movie star's homes and driving around to them all), Melrose Ave (for trendy shopping), Rodeo Drive (for overpriced high end shopping), Olvera Street (romanticized version of the Mexican beginnings of Los Angeles), Griffith Observatory/Park, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Museum, Venice Beach, really the list goes on and on so it comes back to what you're interested in.

liltritter

Nikon D70s

04/02/2007 05:03:50 PM · #13

Knotts Berry Farm. And if you plan things right, you can do breakfast at the beach, lunch in the mountains and dinner in the desert. I would also give you an opportunity to shoot a verity of landscapes.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/02/2007 05:05:04 PM · #14

FYI, the LA Zoo is in shambles right now due to construction. I would say not worth the hour's drive up from Anaheim. I have a membership, but never go for that reason. Like the General said, the SD Zoo is the zoo to see, probably an hour and a half drive though. If you're going that far, something to check out is the Wild Animal Park. A different experience altogether in a more natural environment.

You should check out the beaches too. Huntington is probably the closest to you, but I prefer Newport which is just a little south from there. Take the 5 South to the 55 West until it ends. Newport is a peninsula with a beach on one side and a harbor on the other and beach houses in between. If you go all the way to the end (South side) of the peninsula and walk out to the jetty, that's called "The Wedge" and you can get some nice body-surfing shots there. If the weather's right, the waves can crest 15 feet or more and have a very unique shape to them and crash almost right on the sand so the surfers aren't that far out. Oh yeah, LOT'S of bikini's too. :-) -Did I just say that?

Just south from Newport is Laguna Nigel, an upscale artsy community with beautiful beaches with cliffs and big rocks. Good photo ops there, especially at sunset.

Lot's of photo ops in LA, if you don't mind driving a little bit and braving the traffic. Have fun!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/02/2007 05:11:16 PM · #15

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

You should check out the beaches too. Huntington is probably the closest to you...

And if you go to Huntington and enjoy good music you should make yourself a fake ID so you can go to The Brigg. Spend the day on the beach and then have a few beers and see some bands.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

04/02/2007 05:13:43 PM · #16

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

Originally posted by Telehubbie:
You should check out the beaches too. Huntington is probably the closest to you...

And if you go to Huntington and enjoy good music you should make yourself a fake ID so you can go to The Brigg. Spend the day on the beach and then have a few beers and see some bands.

Tsk, tsk... corrupting minors, are we? ;-)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/02/2007 05:18:41 PM · #17

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Tsk, tsk... corrupting minors, are we? ;-)

Only a little bit :) He's legal to drink where he lives. I'm just telling him to break the laws of another country.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/02/2007 05:50:48 PM · #18

Democrats ;)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/02/2007 06:06:11 PM · #19

Originally posted by American_Horse:

...If you find yourself on Venice Beach. IGNORE the roller skate, guitar playing, long haired, can't dress himself, hand out guy...

you mean this guy??

fotomann_forever

04/02/2007 06:08:23 PM · #20

If ya happen to get anywhere near Sandra Bullock ... wait, are ya even taking requests?

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/02/2007 06:08:50 PM · #21

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by American_Horse:
...If you find yourself on Venice Beach. IGNORE the roller skate, guitar playing, long haired, can't dress himself, hand out guy...

you mean this guy??

Yeah, that's him.