I'm often working on files in a directory that I have open in Finder and navigate to this folder from an Open/Save dialog box.
A quick and easy way to send any of these dialogs to the desired folder is to just drag the little title bar icon (I've seen this in previous hints to copy the folder's path to Terminal for example) to the folder drop down at the top of the dialog -- takes you straight there.
[crarko adds: I tested this, and it works as described. Not an earth shattering hint but a useful time saver.]
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2011011815241684