Photo Op/Store suggestions for Seattle/Portland?

zauhar

zauhar

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Any suggestions for photo opportunities or photo shops to visit in Seattle and Portland (Oregon, of course).

This is a brief trip, with no agenda, for my kids' Spring break (and celebrating my eldest starting college in the Fall). Probably our last family trip for a while. ;-(

We will be pretty much limited to the confines of each city, no car and no time for a side trip up the Olympic peninsula.

If it means anything, the choice of destination was inspired by the enthusiasm of my eldest and me for the TV show 'Portlandia'. My wife still doesn't understand why we're going there.

Thanks in advance,
Randy
 
Welcome to Portland.
The largest and best stocked photo store in Portland is Pro Photo on the corner of Marshall and 19th street. It is in NW Portland. They still have a good selction of film, paper and some chems. Back a year ago they had a walk in fridge with film but they did downsize recently to a fridge out in the store for film.
If you like street photography the Pearl Dsistrict always have some interesting characters and is only a few minutes walk from Pro photo. The Pearl district from around 7th to 23th on the north side of Burnside St. From 7th and down is the old China town with a Chinese garden that should be interesting right now with Camellias and other flowers in full bloom.
A little to the West is the Japanese Garden, one of the largest in the US and always worth a visit. Busses can take you there from downtown. The Garden is located in Washington Park.
Just a few things to get started on.
 
Check out Blue Moon Camera and Machine in the St. Johns neighborhood. All analog, all of the time. Also, the Blue Sky Gallery is a nice place to visit. As far as places to take pictures, I say just hit the streets and explore.
 
In Seattle stop by Glazers Camera. It's in the south Lake Union district. For shooting locations my personal favorites include the Pike Place Market, the Olympic Sculpture Park and Fishermen's Terminal.
 
Thanks Jan, animal hairs & Bob! Your advice is much appreciated.

I will make an effort to visit one or more of the photo stores, and the hoods mentioned by Jan and Bob.

The only place I have been to before is Fisherman's terminal, but that was way back when I was a kid.

I was born in WA, my Dad was stationed there, but on the other side of the state - only got to Seattle once!

Randy
 
Along the Willamette Riverwalk in PDX, for sure, if the weather is decent. They may start their Saturday Market this coming weekend in that neighborhood.

Just in from the river, near the Burnside Bridge is CHinatown, and the so-called original "Skid Row" (skid road for logs). Some fine old buildings, some gritty urban life, and a nice broad treed boulevard up the hill toward Powells**. Pioneer Square downtown is well-peopled; 23rd Street for pedestrian shopping, decent deli/coffee/food + people-shooting (and you can get there on the free light rail from downtown).

**Be sure to allow some time for Powells City of Books. Especially if it's really raining.
 
In Seattle, the NOAA Soundgarden at the north end of Lake Washington is a nice area. Cool if someone in the family was ever into the Seattle grunge group by the same name and a nice quiet spot. I'm not sure how close it is to public transit though. I have an affinity for it having been a weather guesser back in the Navy for my first enlistment.

Pike Place Market is great. The Space Needle may be open and rotating at the Seattle convention center. The Fremont Troll is a cool statue that sits under the Aurora Bridge.

Taking a ferry to Whidbey Island and walking around Ft. Casey is cool. Always one of my favorite spots to go when I was stationed up there.

As mentioned, in Portland there is Powell's books.
Both cities have decent public transit but are spread out a bit more than Philly so walking isn't as convenient.
Have fun and I hope you get some sunshine out there!

Phil Forrest
 
Thanks Bob and Phil and Vic for the additional suggestions.

Surprised that all of you mentioned Powell's books. I have been a long-time customer of theirs, especially back when they had a full selection of technical books (I do not buy from Amazon). City of Books was already on my list (actually the only thing at this point).

Randy
 
If you make it to Seattle and would like to meet for a walkabout in the evening or anytime on a weekend send me a PM/email. Happy to show you around to a few spots if interested.

One of my favorite spots is the Ballard Locks just down the street from the Fisherman's Terminal.
 
You can rent out a darkroom in Portland at the Newspace Center for Photography if you want to develop and/or print your photos right away instead of risking film in the x-ray machine. They've got all the fixin's, and supporting community darkrooms is cool.

🙂

Edit: Oh, and please bring me a steak from Geno's. It's murder trying to get a good one out here. Wiz, without.
 
A second on Glazers Camera, ask for Mark he's the Leica Guy. Kenmore camera at the north end of Lake Washington is also a great place. Both stores have a large used selection, all with 14 day no question returns if not happy.

You can burn up more than a few rolls at Pike Place Market area, lots of odd folks & great Seattle shots to be had. Also you might try vintage air museum at Paine Field in Everett.
If the weather is nice and on a weekend you will see restored vintage WW11 aircraft. I would call first.
 
Folks, thanks again, I have to run but I am condensing this all into a doc I can print.

Mick, I love that suggestion, but this is such a compressed trip I may not be able to visit the community lab. I will if I can.

BTW, Geno's is my kids favorite (I prefer Pat's), would happily haul one for you, but I am afraid it would be a puddle of glop by the time you got it - probably just like what you get out West!

Randy
 
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