Hollywood Revisited: A Vine Street Sunset

Sometimes, photography is about seeing how far you’ve grown. I had originally planned to shoot at Griffith Park, but when that fell through, I decided to revisit a classic spot I hadn't properly photographed in years: the view over the 101 Freeway looking down Vine Street.

I have a bit of history with this specific vantage point. I first shot it back in 2007 with an old 8MP DSLR, which came out decent for the time, and tried again in 2012 with results that were mediocre at best. Standing there this time, looking at the Capitol Records spire and the Broadway building, I realized how much the gear—and my eye—has changed.

It wasn't an easy capture, though. This location is tricky because you have to balance the intense light values of the city against the dark freeway shadows. To make things more complicated, the traffic on Vine was slower and lighter than ideal, making it a challenge to get those deep, streaking light trails I was hoping for. But despite the slow flow, getting to update this shot with a much higher resolution camera felt like the perfect way to close out the evening.

Composing a Visual Melody

I’ve driven past "The Melody" countless times, always telling myself I’d come back to photograph it properly. There is something about the retro signage and the architecture that is very pleasing to my eye, but I knew a mid-day shot wouldn't do it justice. I really wanted to capture it at twilight—that brief window where the warm glow of the sconces balances perfectly with the cotton-candy colors of the sunset.

To get the shot, I set up my tripod right in the median of West Olive Avenue. It’s a surprisingly busy spot, sandwiched right next to the massive walls of the Warner Bros. lot, but the traffic actually worked in my favor. I spent some time working through different angles, letting the passing cars paint streaks of light across the frame. I kept shooting until the color finally faded from the sky, and despite the rush of standing in the middle of a busy avenue, I’m happy with the final composition.

Unexpected Stops: Why the Unplanned Shots Often Become Our Favorites

I was out at CSUN earlier today getting some test shots with the Fuji GFX 100 II, just seeing what this beast of a camera can do. As I was walking back to the car, this scene just grabbed me.

I had seen the "Northridge" mural before many times in passing, and always wanted to get a shot. This was the opportunity seeing the mural next to the lit up 76 station with the perfect blue hour mix. The contrast between the glow of the station lights and the deep blue fading in the sky was a must get.

I set up the tripod right there on the sidewalk near a bus stop. I wanted to drag the shutter a bit to catch the traffic passing by—adding a little motion to the stillness of the mural. There was a guy sitting on the bench wating for a bus which added some personality.

Honestly, the files out of the GFX 100 II are incredible. It turns a quick roadside stop into something that feels almost cinematic.

Sometimes the best shots aren't the ones you plan for, but the ones you stumble upon on the way home.

Vintage Glow: DTLA Through a Canon 5D

Looking at this photo takes me right back to 2008. I remember driving over to the old Temple Hospital site specifically for this vantage point. The hospital was technically still open, but it felt like it was running on fumes, and I knew the building itself was eventually destined for demolition. I grabbed a few atmosphere shots on the ground level first—including that classic Western Exterminator sign—before finding my way up to the roof. Any mild nervousness I had about being up there completely evaporated the second I saw the view. It was just peaceful being high above the city noise.

I set up my tripod, genuinely excited because I was shooting with the Canon 5D. It’s funny to think about now in our current era of massive sensors, but back then, its full-frame, 13-megapixel resolution was an absolute game-changer and a huge step up for me. Paired with my favorite 24-105mm lens, it felt like the perfect setup. This image actually ended up in my 2011 book, Downtown Turnaround. I’ve cycled through so many cameras since that night, but looking back at this file—even with "only" 13 megapixels—I’m really glad I was there to capture it. I lalways think about how a photo will be seen years into the future. Many photos that seem ordinary can be eyeopening years later for various reasons. The specs have changed, but the moment remains.

Oldest operating mcdonald’s

The city of Downey, CA, which is about 12 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles has the oldest operating McDonald’s in the world. This location opened in 1953 and has been serving burgers ever since. I first snapped a photo of it 15 years ago in 2010 when in the area photographing a soccer tournament. The drab overcast, wet conditions were not flattering at all, and I knew I’d need to go back when the light was more agreeable. And everything lined up in late May. It was a 30-40min drive, and luckily the light was great. I do want to go back and photograph the Bob’s Big Boy Broiler also in Downey a few miles away. One of these days it’ll line up.

Pacific Coast Highway Reopens

On January 7, wildfires erupted in the Pacific Palisades, quickly sweeping through the region and devastating large swaths of land, including parts of Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway. The blaze took weeks to fully contain, leaving behind a charred landscape and forcing the closure of an 11-mile stretch of the PCH.

Abandoned vehicles were reduced to skeletal frames, haunting reminders of lives once lived there—of commutes, routines, and homes now reduced to ash. Even with the highway partially reopened, traffic moves slowly, restricted to 25 miles per hour. As of today, westbound traffic past Topanga Canyon was relatively light.

Checkpoints remain in place for access to local neighborhoods, but the highway is now passable, offering a sobering view of the fire’s aftermath. Some oceanfront homes stand miraculously untouched, while others lie in complete ruin.

In the wake of such destruction, many residents are left questioning the long-term risks of living along this beautiful yet volatile coastline. With the threat of future wildfires, mudslides, and floods ever-present, few will forget the harrowing scenes from earlier this year—and many hope nothing will rival the devastation left behind.

A change of pace

It’s so nice to get a break from Los Angeles. A change of pace is necessary now and then. I was in Virginia for a couple weeks and it was so nice to slow things down a bit. This shot is kind of a representation of that slower pace and eye-pleasing scenery. I have shot this before, but I feel like there are so many shots that need revisiting, sometimes I need multiple attempts to capture it the way I see it in my head. Sometimes I will photograph a scene even though it’s not exactly what I want, knowing that I could do it better. Sometimes I get to go back and make it better, and other times I have to accept what I got. I’m mostly happy with this, but I wish I had allowed more room on the left side of the frame, and snapped about 10-15min earlier. That’s part of photography, learning what you did and how you can improve it.

A slice of time

I have bee meaning to photograph this place for some time. I had passed by it months back, registered that it was a cool older pizza establishment with a cool sign, but then kinda forgot about it. I happened to be driving by it the other day in the rain, and snapped a photo with my phone while waiting for the light. Then I did some research on it and made a point to try and make a photo on the weekend when I would have some time. Early Saturday morning I went by to scout it out, even though the lighting was not what I was looking for. I was more curious about the lens choice and spatial issues. The lot is small and there are a lot of sign poles that obstruct clear views at least from the sidewalk or street. So the scout confirmed my camera and lens choice. I wanted to shoot it with my medium format camera as I really appreciate the quality, and how it handles the overall exposure. So Sunday evening during twilight I went over and set up my tripod and snapped three angles. Originally I wanted the front, flat head on shot, sign lit up, ideally with no cars blocking the front facade. But there were cars parked, the sign was missing some bulbs, and I could only move back so far without cluttering the frame. But I ended up getting two angles that I was happy with. The one I had entertained in my head is the one posted here. It actually worked out that a greeter opened the door or someone which allowed some nice motion into the shot. I would like to eventually shoot another version with the sign fully lit and no cars. But the experience of planning the shoot, scouting and finally executing the shot is so enjoyable to me, and the most rewarding part of photography.

I’ll be DAMNED

The park and public areas around the Sepulveda Dam is a quite large open area to roam around, and explore. The site of the Dam has had cameos in many music videos and films such as Escape from New York, The Italian Job, and Iron Man 2. The expansive flat cement area just west of the 405 Freeway is frequently inhabited by BMX bikes, motorcycles, e-bikes, content creators looking for a unique backdrop. And the dam has been coated with so much graffiti that you’ll see large 20-30 ft rectangles of paint covering up the colorful messages. The cycle repeats over and over. If you have never been, it’s fun place to spend a hour or two. And you never know what you might see when you do.

A BUG’S LIFE

This 1973 or ‘74 VW Beetle has not moved in the few years I’ve lived in the neighborhood. It’s just parked on the street, baking in the sun, collecting dust and dirt. Its history is on display for everybody to question what the backstory is on this bug. The seats suggests it’s been through quite a lot and has some stories to tell. I wish I could hear some of those stories.